Featured Archives - Page 7 of 9 - Undefined Declarations

Personal Post: Revealing the Mystery behind this Lifestyle Blogger

Ironically, as I sit to write this post at a cafe in the JBR Walk, at a table nearby sits a family from my country. They remind me of the life that i had left behind in the summer of 2009…a decision that I take pride in making – despite all the challenges, confusions and compromises that came with it.

Today’s post is a sequel to my previous personal post about my lonely single life…it is also the first in a series of personal posts that I aim to publish on a weekly basis as part of my new blogging schedule. I would like to start by thanking everyone who commented on that post and expressed their concern by sharing their views and opinions from personal experiences. Your care and support is highly appreciated and I’m truly blessed to have loyal and genuine fans and friends.

Publishing that post actually helped me greatly in understanding some of the reasons behind my single status at this age (check my About page for a clue). The answers came from my supportive followers, and they clarified a lot of the confusion surrounding this topic. Basically, the comments and discussions brought to my attention a very important point; the fact that I need to sort out my own life before I can be ready for any commitment. What this means is that prior to thinking about being in a serious relationship with anyone, I need to achieve some personal career goals and reach more advanced levels in the personal, career and financial areas of my life.

This is not to say that I have been lounging around the house (or city in my case) for the past couple of years. I simply chose to change careers into a not so easy field – journalism – at a not so great time – world recession. Add to that, my illusions and high expectations of thinking that I had super powers and would be able to reach that goal without going back to school!

Fast forward four years later and endless trails and errors, I enroll at University to take an undergraduate course in journalism.

A decision that I am proud to take.

Now how is getting a degree in journalism and becoming successful relate to my single status? Simply said, getting a degree from an International University and then aiming to become successful career wise and financially should inevitably attract the right kind of men my way. Plus, when I’m more happy and comfortable in my own skin, I will undoubtedly emit positive vibes that will attract decent and successful men, not push them away…

So for now, focusing on my education and blog seem to be the right thing to do, for various reasons.

Not that I had been doing anything different really…I just wanted to write this post as a justification for my obsessive compulsive blogging behavior and to provide a clear explanation for my followers and friends!

The next time you find me preoccupied with my next blog post, or glued to my i-phone updating my blog’s Facebook Page, you’ll understand that I now have legitimate reasons for my compulsive blogging habits. And you will realize the long-term vision and reasoning behind my eternally “busy” state of mind!

Another enlightening conversation that I recently had with my American friend who labels me as “blog crazy” confirmed the comments from my followers on the subject…while in the Arab and Eastern culture generally, it’s agreed on that the man’s role in the relationship is to provide for the family, this is definitely not the case in the Western social system. My friend summed it up as: “what can you bring to the relationship?”. And that is exactly the missing element in my story. Since I come from a Middle-eastern background, I was always accustomed to having my father support me throughout the different stages of my life. Yes, I was working at some point when I was living in Saudi, and at that time I was capable of supporting myself. But once I have decided to change careers, things have taken a different turn.

Many people have told me to take it easy and to “not blog too much” or “work too hard”, but without knowing the main goals behind my commitment, they can’t be blamed, can they?

Apart from finding a partner and realizing my career goals, becoming financially independent will help me detach from my family. Which is one of the main goals of my life. Why would I want to do that, you may ask…I think we can leave that for another post 🙂

Will I progress from being a somewhat pampered and spoiled GCC born and raised brat to the successful and financially independent journalist and blogger that I aspire to be?

At least when I finally reach my goal and realize my dream, I can proudly and firmly say that I did it all by myself…and most importantly; that along the process, I managed to live two widely and extremely diverse lives…

Thank you to Pink Pepper Photography for the fabulous images!

Undefined Declarations’ List: Top 10 Facts About the Gulf Region

1. Not everyone is super rich.

2. There are only two seasons in a year; summer and winter. The skies are mostly clear and sunny, and it rarely rains.

3. Life happens in shopping malls.

4. Apart from some designated areas, you rarely can walk from one place to another. The streets are not walkable.

5. Food plays a major role in our daily lives. We tend to eat big meals for lunch AND dinner.

6. We are very family-oriented.

7. We are used to the comfortable lifestyle and don’t enjoy struggling for anything! (although I am learning to appreciate the rewards of hard work).

Me at Macy Gray's Concert! — Me at Macy Gray’s Concert!

8. Islam is the main religion that is practiced between GCC citizens.

9. Car drifting is a popular hobby amongst the youth, especially in Saudi.

10. PDA’s are not acceptable and are against the law. You could be punished if caught.

Random Post: Where is He?!

In Dubai, I can say that I mostly live the expat life. This means that although I’m Saudi and from this region, my lifestyle is not exactly similar to that of most local or Arab people. Since I’m single and living alone, I get the opportunity to explore the places and do the activities that I choose to do. I spend my free time doing things that I usually plan in advance with my expat friends. Yes, most of my friends are expats from different nationalities and backgrounds. And most importantly, I get to meet new people on a regular basis. I think that one of the great aspects of living in cosmopolitan Dubai is the possibility to meet and network with people from all around the world, to exchange cultural knowledge and to build an ever-expanding network of friends and business contacts.

Now I can’t complain much, because I’ve always enjoyed being independent and free from my parents’ obsessive controlling ways, but these days, I can’t help but feel exhausted, tired and in a way…hopeless!

Maybe it’s the accumulated stress of taking an undergraduate course at a University located at the other end of town from where I live, trying to update the blog whenever I get the chance, and making sure that my Facebook Page stays alive and my followers engaged and entertained.

But lately, I have been feeling an increased sense of loneliness and solitude creeping up on me, I am no longer enjoying my personal space and freedom as much as I used to, the idea of being single and free doesn’t appeal to me that much, and most of all, I’m fed up and tired of all the responsibilities that come with being single in the city!

Actually, it’s not my first time to talk about this subject, you might remember my post on my visit to a legendary spiritual temple in Hong Kong. While there, I even prayed for a husband and specifically made the prayers on the male statue which is believed to save single women! you can read all about that post here.

They say that you’ll meet that special someone when you stop looking and start doing the things that you love most. Well, that’s precisely what I’ve been doing all of my life! I was never actively looking or putting effort into that area of my life. I was always focused on career and education, and am proud to say that I still am. I constantly had other priorities in life, and still do!

So could it be that that’s the main reason that the Universe still didn’t bring that person my way? that maybe I need to start putting more effort into attracting him into my life? do I need to implement or follow some strategies that will bring us closer together? 😀

Here’s a short video from Sex and the City that summarizes what I’m trying to say in this post (note: the early dating part doesn’t exactly apply to my story):

Sex and the city – Charlotte

Of all the elements that being single brings, the one that I mostly despise is having to act as both a lady and a man in one person’s body. By saying this I am talking about the endless responsibilities that come with living alone and having to do everything by yourself. Therefore, if you are ‘the one’ and you happen to be reading this, I would highly suggest that you are prepared for the following responsibilities:

All technical and computer related issues.
Handling the payment of utility and services bills.
All legal matters (anything that requires preparing important documents and submitting them to official entities. Example: Visa application process).
All rent related issues. These could range from looking for an apartment, to viewing it, to negotiating a contract, to signing the agreement and everything in between.
Setting up stuff, assembling furniture, connecting electronic devices. (and of course maintenance and fixing when anything goes wrong).
All travel bookings, hotel reservations and other travel related arrangements.
Help in grocery shopping and general stuff around the house.

Now that I’ve got that sorted out, I would like to ask you ladies (single, engaged, married): What are your views on being single and emotional stability and security? Do you think that it’s possible to be single and living alone and still feel emotionally stable? how do you cope with loneliness in the city? who do you turn to for moral support? how significant is sharing your life with a partner is to you? at what stage of your life did you feel at your most happy and secure?

And finally, in searching for or finding that special someone, what did you find has worked most for you?

I conclude this post with the ever popular Rihanna and “Where Have You Been”:

Where Have You Been- Rihanna

A huge thank you to the highly talented photographer at Pink Pepper Photography for the images used in this post 🙂

Stay tuned to my Facebook Page for more images from that fun photo shoot at Pink Pepper Photography studios!

Event Review: The UAE International Coffee & Tea Festival

“Did you know that the UAE is the only country that has a coffee pot on its currency?”

I never really paid any attention to this fact until Sofia Khan, Marketing Manager at the International Conferences & Exhibitions organization told me about it as I sampled a freshly brewed cappuccino at the espresso and brew bar.

The espresso bar was one of many stands at the fifth edition of the Dubai Coffee & Tea Festival. An event that brings together coffee and tea exhibitors, talented baristas and caffeine addicts like me 🙂

The cappuccino made from Nicaraguan coffee beans was not my first coffee cup for the day. In fact, from the time that I had arrived at the caffeine-infused trade show and while waiting to meet with the organizers to get quotes for my journalism feature story, I had been sampling various types of coffee from the different exhibitors. So by the time I had met with the organizers, I was already in an extremely hyper and high-energy mode! The caffeine high left me with no choice but to attack the organizers with my endless questions on everything from the event aim and vision, to the coffee industry in the UAE, the types of coffee and tea and the coffee roasting and brewing process!

I even sat in a corner of the hall near the organizers’ section and I had what one of the organizers called “my own office”!

I greatly enjoyed my conversation with the event director, Ryan Godinho. Ryan had so many interesting facts to share with me about coffee and about the event.

For example, did you know that there are more than 50,000 types of coffee? and more than 200,000 tea varieties?

Ryan, who started his career as an apprentice barista in Australia, also spoke to me about the progressive coffee industry there, the developed cafe culture and the highly-respected and well-paid barista profession.

The event wasn’t only about exhibitors promoting their coffee products or coffee machines though. The event hosted SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) certified training workshops. These programs covered coffee grading and evaluation techniques, coffee preparation and craft roasting skills.

Another main feature of the show was the National Barista Championship. In which local baristas compete in front of an International panel of judges who came from various destinations. The winner of the UAE Championship gets the opportunity to represent the country at the 2014 World Barista Championship taking place in Rimini, Italy.

I was also delighted to speak to Anselm Godinho, Managing Director at the International Conferences & Exhibitions organization. Anselm explained to me about the event and the coffee industry from a rich business perspective. He gave me insight on a lot of topics including the original route of coffee history. He said: “Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, then moved to Yemen, Turkey, Austria and finally London.”

Anselm helped answer my query about the lack of organic coffee exhibitors by explaining to me that there is no certifying body for organic coffee. In addition, organic coffee looses a lot of its positive effects through the heating process. That’s why it’s not very common to brew organic coffee.

After noting down a total of 23 pages of quotes and information at the show, I think I can confidently say that I was undoubtedly alert with extremely high energy levels from all the coffee that I sampled at the event!

With a gold-trimmed box containing an exotic selection of Swiss luxury organic tea blends and highly informative and interesting conversations with friendly event organizers, who wouldn’t want to return to the UAE International Coffee & Tea Festival next year?!

I know I definitely will…if not for another blog post or feature story, at least to gratify my uncontrollable coffee addiction 🙂

Boon Coffee: Ethiopian Beans Roasted in the UAE

My Complimentary Luxury Organic Tea Blends :) — My Complimentary Luxury Organic Tea Blends 🙂

Personal Makeup Artist Course at The Annex Institute Dubai

I don’t want to sound like a drama queen, but when I was growing up, I always tended to do things at a later stage than my friends. Starting and learning how to put on makeup was no exception! I guess my mind was always preoccupied with other life-changing decisions…like mapping out and working on my next plan to get more personal space and freedom. For example, in the summer before I left Saudi to go study in London, I was busy communicating with London College of Fashion to enroll at a course there, preparing and sending my documents, taking the IELTS test, deciding on accommodation options and other legal matters.

Makeup was always something in the back of my head. I had the basic products and I knew how to use them at beginner level I would say. I had no idea how to do an evening look or blend different eye shadow colors to make a cool effect. My personal concept of makeup began and ended with mascara and a tinted lip balm 🙂

If you were following my blog lately, you might have read my post on the Annex Institute; a brand new creative school based in Downtown Dubai. The school offers various creative courses covering hair, Makeup, film and photography.

I was lucky to attend a ‘Personal Makeup Artist‘ course at the school. Where I finally got the opportunity to make use of my Smokey Eyes kit that I had bought over the summer and never got a chance to test out since I have no clue as to how to achieve the look!

During the day course, Chief Creative Officer and Makeup Artist Aqeel Al Nasser used me as a model for a highly elegant and sultry brown Smokey Eyes look. While applying the makeup, Aqeel explained every step that he did with high precision and detail. I must admit that I learned so many makeup tricks that I wasn’t previously aware of like:

The correct way to apply and blend eye shadow and blusher powder.
How to avoid the smudged mascara look (that I’m famous for sporting).
Essential contouring and highlighting techniques.
The correct way to apply eye liner.
The types of brushes to use for each product.
As much as I hate to admit this, but I was introduced to gel liner for the first time 😀

Aqeel even went on to explain to us the right way to clean our makeup brushes, which after trying out myself, I couldn’t imagine how increasingly efficient and effective it was! It makes your life so much easier, that you wonder how you would previously spend hours washing brushes in the sink with liquid soap and water! Or maybe that was just me being lost in my own world of life-changing missions and not knowing about this basic tip 🙂

Whether you are an expert in makeup application and evening looks or are a basic makeup user like me (who only owns a total of 4 brushes), the super friendly team at the Annex Institute will help you progress to the next level of your learning curve…their courses are certified by Internationally acclaimed organizations and institutions. With their many hair and makeup courses, they can accommodate to all levels and skills. Just drop them a line and they will offer you a course based on your requirements and interests.

Being the tom boyish girl that I am, I am now looking forward to taking my next course at the Annex: Creative Business Course. It’s a three-day Introductory business course to help you start your own creative business.

But before that, I must finish reading my Blog Inc. book…and I need to make time for the course once my University term ends or at the beginning of my next semester 🙂

Yes, despite being a Diva, I also have a very masculine and career-oriented side to me that you can’t ever hide 🙂

Now that I know how to put my own makeup in a professional way, it’s your turn to learn the essential tips and tricks of makeup and beauty. Check out the Annex Institute’s web site and follow them on Facebook!

Web Site: http://www.annex.ae/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/annexdxb

P.S. Do follow the Annex’s Facebook Page, as they regularly post useful and interesting hair and makeup tips on a daily basis! I’m a fan and I can say that I’ve learned a good number of tricks from that page 🙂

My Unsponsored Beach Day!

So it seems that most of my fans can’t really afford to spend time reading my posts…and I’m honestly getting tired of trying to promote my posts, my Facebook Page or my baby blog. That’s why, I have decided to write short posts (OK mostly because I don’t have the time to write long posts anymore with the University commitments and stuff) and to spare you the agony of having to go through lines and paragraphs of content that you might not even find interesting!

Having said that, if you are someone who just happens to actually read my posts from beginning to end, then speak now or forever hold your peace (or something like that). Oh and do comment on my Facebook Page’s link to the post, as the comments section on the blog’s web site is currently messed up and I haven’t got the time to sort it out (didn’t I tell you I’m short on time these days?!)

I had done a couple of brutally honest beach club reviews before the crazy Dubai summer months began. You can check out my latest one here.

But since I felt like I was melting in the shade while doing that review and since it wasn’t sponsored by any entity and since I developed a small facial skin defect after doing that review, I decided that I had gone too far with my blogging compromises and that it was time to regain some of my sanity before I went out and did another Dubai Beach Club Review.

Fast forward four months later, I find myself back on the beach club review track. This time, joining the Russian, Italian and British tourists at one of JBR’s private stretches of beach: Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa.

As my blog’s title suggests, my day at the resort wasn’t sponsored in any way. I paid the exact fee for the weekend day pass (350 AED), I took my own photos, I paid for my own lunch at the walk and later the two refreshingly tasty iced coffees that I had!

And I would like to add that I was doing this for the rest of the beach club reviews that I had previously done on this awesome (even if no one agrees!) blog.

Now in staying true to my words in keeping this post short and simple, I present to you: My Unsponsored Beach Day in images 😀

The Rebellious Saudi Diva after a stressful week of blogging and studying

A Failed Attempt to Read my Blog inc. Book

See? didn’t I promise to keep this post short and sweet? That was my lovely beach day in a nutshell…I was delighted to have my intelligent and sweet friend Sarah as my buddy for the day. We always have fun and interesting conversations since we both come from similar backgrounds and cultures (Iran and Saudi)…We basically support and empower one another since our parents always seem to be against what we are doing or even planning 🙂 Yes, it can be tricky and complicated at times….well, more like all the time 😀

I’ll never forget that summer night when me and Sarah were sitting at one of the juice bar cafes at JBR walk (over a year ago) when we first met…we were talking about how our lives are full of struggles and how nothing ever comes easily to us. Then Sarah lifts up her small bottle of water and says: “For us, even this is a struggle.” Referring to the act of drinking bottled water! Yes, it’s a sad reality I know….and I hope that you will sympathize with us by at least following my random and silly posts on my blog’s Facebook Page and maybe commenting on a post or two.

OK, so maybe the post didn’t end up being as short as I had planned it to be…but I guess I still have to practice writing shorter posts. Especially after the extended and detailed reviews that I was mentally doing earlier.

Until the next post, you can continue to hear my endless rants and follow my silly posts by becoming a fan of my Facebook Page.

Beach Diva Signing Off…

Random Post: The Killers at Sandance, Physical and Emotional Exhaustion and Overall Chaos!

As I sit to write this post while sitting at my favorite cafe, I can feel the rapid pulse of my heart beat as I place my left index finger on the side of my neck. Yes, I’ve always been a weirdo and I tend to do silly things in public too!

Where have I been?

I must start by apologizing for not writing in such a long time. As many of you know by now, I have just started an undergraduate journalism course at a University in Dubai. Since I’ve decided to put this degree as a priority, blogging had to wait until I had the time for it once I was done with my assignments, University hectic commute and daily house errands.

I’m glad that I took the time off (unintentionally) though, as the break allowed me to reflect on my blogging ways and revise my strategy a little bit…well, more like go back to what I was doing when I first started this blog a little over a year ago. But I’ll leave that for you readers to discover 🙂

The Killers at Sandance Gig

At the time of planning this post, I had just gone to The Killers concert at the ever-popular Nasimi Beach and so this topic was in my notes for this blog post. The ironic thing about this show was that my British friend Lianne had told me about it way back in Ramadan…and when I told her that I wasn’t sure of who ‘The Killers” were, she played a music clip from her phone with one of their famous songs. For some reason, I assumed that “The Killers” were a British band and that I would be having an authentic British experience with a group of cool Brits (my friend Lianne and her friends).

Then while standing at the show with my new cool group of British expat friends, I explain my excitement to one of the members of the group, only to find out that The Killers are actually an American band from Las Vegas, Nevada!

That didn’t change the thrilling factor of the experience. As I still managed to have a great night with my British friends. Plus, being a fan of indie/alternative rock music meant that I still sang along and enjoyed most of the songs that were played that night. The Killers’ music style reminded me a lot of the band Green Day; one of my favorite bands that I used to listen to as a teenager.

Exhausted!

When I first started my course at University, I was trying my best to keep the blog and my usual active lifestyle going as much as I could. This however proved to be so draining as the semester went on and we started to have assignments to hand in. As much as I enjoyed attending all sorts of social and work related events and meetups, I now realize that I must keep it to a minimum if I wish to maintain my sanity and health!

It certainly isn’t an easy task trying to juggle all of the following at the same time:

Attending University classes and working on assignments.
Attending main social and work related events and other meetups.
Going for blog reviews, topics and writing posts.
Updating my Facebook Page (glad to discover scheduled posts!).
Following the world news and current affairs (on TV and radio) to be able to get at least one answer right at the Media Law and Ethics weekly news quiz :s
Attempting to read my current book on successful blogging.
Grocery shopping and other essential errands.
Housework chores (washing dishes, laundry, ironing clothes…)
Catching up with friends and making sure that I don’t disappear from the real world 😉

Revised Priorities

In a desperate attempt to save what’s left of my pride and self-integrity…

I will no longer push myself to attend social or work related events when I’m not in the mood for it or lack the required energy and stamina for socializing in a decent manner with other individuals!
I will put working for my journalism course first and everything else will come after that.
I will not bother much about giving my business card to new people and telling them about my Facebook page. Mainly because most will only store the card somewhere and will never put in the effort to type the name of my Facebook Page in the search box to check it out.
I will pay more attention to spending time with friends and the people who matter.
I will allocate more ‘me-time’ and try to relax with much-needed spa treatments and movie nights!

My Halloween Weekend

I plan to spend my long weekend doing low-key activities namely: lounging by the beach and reading, going to the cinema, having dinner with friends and getting a rejuvenating massage.

I will not dress up for Halloween or attend any parties…because I’m too tired to go shopping for a costume or dress up for the occasion! Yes, as you can tell I am seriously exhausted and could use a short break from an active social life.

Conclusion

Since this post is dragging for too long, I decided to leave some other topics for next time.

In the meantime, you could participate by telling me the following:

Do you sometimes feel like you have no control over your life? and that no matter how hard you try, things are just getting chaotic and messed up?

If so, what techniques and methods do you follow to get you back on track?

The Rebellious Saudi Diva Signing Off…

Dubai Beauty Center Review: Machka Beauty & Body Designs

I was delighted to accept an invite from May Khazal, Managing Partner at Machka Beauty & Body Designs and I was ecstatic after my experience at this top of the line beauty center.

When I asked May about what makes Machka unique from other beauty salons in the city, she said: “We want the client to feel like she is pampered and can do everything at one place. We offer superior quality while having competitive prices.”

May also explained to me how Machka’s concept is not just that of a beauty salon. “The salon is only part of the concept.” she said.

I personally believe that the strength of this high quality beauty center lies in its ability to act as a fitness center, beauty salon and spa all in one.

This proves highly convenient for Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle, where one can’t afford to make several visits to different centers and spas to get their services done.

Machka has these main departments:

Hypoxi (slimming technique using special equipment).
Hair and Nail Services.
Facials.
A wide range of Body Treatments.
Other services (Waxing, Threading, Tinting & Bleaching).
Bridal and Makeup.

Why Machka

Another feature about this high standard beauty center is the superior levels of hygiene and excellent maintenance of the facilities. The center shines and smells of cleanliness and freshness, the decor is contemporary and inviting and the interiors are brand new and well-maintained. Anyone visiting the center can see the attention to detail and care given to every aspect of the place. I was truly impressed by how neat and clean the place looked.

Marrakech Moroccan Bath

The therapist doing the Moroccan Bath at Machka is undoubtedly one of the best in town. She is originally from Morocco and has a complete understanding of the treatment and products used. She also takes her time and does an authentic bath treatment in a highly professional way.

The Moroccan Bath at Machka takes from one hour to two hours depending on the type chosen by the client.

The steps taken during the Moroccan Bath include:

The hair is shampooed and a hair mask is applied. Then the hair is wrapped to retain the moisture.
A mixture containing Moroccan soap and Henna is applied all over the body.
The body is rinsed.
The whole body is scrubbed with a special Moroccan Loofah. The feet are also scrubbed using a foot scrub.
A combination of mud and herbs mixture is applied to the body and face.
After each application, the client gets to sit in the steam for 15 minutes.
After applying the mud mixture, the body is wrapped in a plastic wrapper.
The body and face are rinsed.
As a final step, the body is rinsed with a special water mixed with rose water, oils and natural herbs.
Rose water oil is applied on the face.

Benefits of the Moroccan Bath:

Removes dead skin cells.
Improves blood circulation.
Invigorates and refreshes the body.
Reduces stress.
Enhances the overall well-being and mood.
Relaxes the body and tired soul.
Proven to effectively aid in slimming the body.
Tones the body.
Regenerates the skin.

Results:

Shiny skin
Fairer skin tone
Brighter complexion
healthy, natural glow
Relaxed, less stressed self

What distinguishes the Moroccan Bath from other body treatments is that it uses all-natural ingredients which help detox the body and take it to its natural and original state. It’s also greatly useful for sensitive skin. And since I have extremely sensitive skin, I can say that the treatment worked wonders for my body and my skin had no reaction whatsoever to any of the products used.

Thai Massage

After my Moroccan Bath treatment, I got to relax and unwind with a Thai massage done by a professionally certified Thai therapist.

The massage was highly rejuvenating, the ambiance was truly relaxing and I left the treatment room feeling chilled with a sense of unmatched calm and peacefulness.

As the therapist has a total of 10 years of experience in the field, she is an expert in relieving tension from the muscles and focuses on problem areas with high professionalism.

Price

The Moroccan Bath treatment is priced at AED 200, while the Marrakech (special) Moroccan Bath treatment is priced at AED 350.

Contact

Check out Machka’s Website for a list of their extensive treatments and services. And don’t forget to check out their Facebook Page too!

Until next time, Have a wonderfully pampered time 🙂

Treatment Room at Machka Beauty Center Dubai

Hair and Nail Care at Machka Beauty Center

Dubai Creative School Recommendation: The Annex Institute

Being a creative professional, I always found it so challenging to learn the right skills and tricks to make it in the creative world. Growing up and living in Saudi for most of my life hasn’t helped much either. Since there aren’t many opportunities to work in a creative industry or explore your creative potential and flair. That’s why I had to move all the way to London to take a course in a creative field.

Today though, you can find a highly professional and high-standard school for all your creative passions right here in Dubai! The Annex Institute is a new inspiring school in the heart of Dubai that trains creative individuals on beauty, hair, makeup, photography and film!

All of The Annex Institute‘s courses are certified by the KHDA and are vocational courses that will help you gain all the knowledge and skills that you need to start the creative career of your choice.

The Annex is the only creative school in Dubai that offers essential Basic Health and Safety courses for salons and salon professionals.

Me Checking out the school on the Girls' Day In Event! — Me Checking out the school on the Girls’ Day In Event!

Head of Hair Education at The Annex Institute; Yessenia Cano

Professional Hair Educator Yessenia Cano

Head of Hair Education and LA native Yessenia Cano has worked with Hollywood celebrities as a hair stylist as part of her extensive and unique portfolio! Someone with Beverly Hills experience in Dubai? Only at The Annex!

The Annex use the most professional hair and beauty products

Stay tuned to the blog for my next exciting post about The Annex! Where I get to take a Personal Makeup Artist course at the school with the highly talented Chief Creative Officer and Makeup Artist – Aqeel Al Nasser and flaunt a glamorous and contemporary brown smokey eyes look!

In the meantime, check out the school’s web site and Facebook Page and get inspired with the coolest creative school in town!

Dubai Boutique and Cafe Review: Spontiphoria

Spontiphoria: a combination of Spontaneous Euphoria or “Sudden Joy” is the idea behind the creative name of a newly opened concept store in Al Wasl Square, Dubai.

Spontiphoria is a home-grown unique store that effortlessly blends the convenience of a boutique and cafe concept. The bright and inviting decor of this boutique/cafe was the first element that caught my attention. I absolutely adored the vintage-style wallpaper, neat seating arrangement and overall fresh and elegant look of the store.

Managing Director Sidiqa Sohail spoke to me about the store’s concept, baked items offered in-store and other products, as I sipped some soothing lemon ginger tea and sampled delicious treats. Sidiqa wanted to bring something new and unique to the market, hence the idea of a boutique and cafe in one store. There’s even a bakery at the store where wholesome baked goods are freshly made every morning. Sidiqa; who started baking at age 16 can also be seen wearing a uniform and baking some specialty desserts. During our lovely conversation about her store and studying in the UK, I got to try out an Oreo and Nutella trifle. Which I must admit was simply divine! Another genius creation and specialty of the store are the unbelievably light and tasty Nutella cookies.

No Sugar Added to the Nutella Dessert

The great thing about Spontiphoria’s baked goods is that they follow home-made recipes; and that their Nutella dessert doesn’t contain any added sugar. Apart from the sweetness of the Nutella chocolate and other ingredients, no additional sugar is added to the recipe. This makes for a delightful guilt-free dessert that tastes so wonderfully light and gratifying!

Jumeirah-born Concept Store

Having opened only one month ago, the store is a unique addition to the Wasl Square block. While most Dubai cafes and boutiques offer similar commercial products and services, Spontiphoria brings in a new range of products and services which are home-grown and authentic.

“Our desserts and baked items’ focus is home-made and wholesome, and within that range falls both eastern and western desserts.” Explains Sidiqa.

Beautifully embellished Eastern Kaftans and stylish evening gowns can be seen on the racks at this airy and bright store. The outfits, accessories and gifts are imported from various countries in the U.S. and Europe.

Breakfast Spot

Since the store is open from 8 am, it would be a good place to start your day in a relaxed setting (classical music playing in the background) and in an unconventional way.

Freshly baked croissant and juice or coffee would be ideal for a place like Spontiphoria. Also, make sure not to miss out on the traditional “Karak Chai” that is freshly brewed twice a day (in the morning and at high tea time).

Window into Eastern Culture

There are countless International cafes and franchise chain stores scattered around Dubai. But what this city lacks is an authentic concept that gives visitors an opportunity to experience and uncover a broader and more cultured type of cafe and boutique.

Sidiqa wanted to introduce a different and unique type of store to the generic and International cafe scene in Dubai. And I believe that she has succeeded in doing just that. Because the last thing this city needs is another International cafe chain or fully imported boutique name.

If you would like to have a different kind of afternoon tea in a chilled and bright setting, want to start your day with home-made goodness or just happen to be in the area, then I would suggest that you drop by Spontiphoria for a rich insight into the opulent Eastern style and food culture.

I would highly recommend this spot for Western expats who are new to the region and unfamiliar with the Eastern culture. As Spontiphoria offers visitors an authentic taste of the region’s extravagant style and food scene.

Contact Details

Web site: http://spontiphoria.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/spontiphoria?fref=ts

Location: Wasl Square, Jumeirah, Dubai.