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My Beauty and Home Fragrance Essentials: Bath & Body Works

Let me let you in on a little secret about my blogging rituals (as I like to call them); every night when I’m working on my laptop from home, and the comfort of my own bed – well mainly because I don’t have enough space for a desk in my studio apartment – I play a CD of chill-out or jazz tunes and light up a scented candle.

Not any scented candle though…I have developed a healthy type of obsession with Bath & Body Works collection of scented candles. My obsession started when a friend of mine presented me with their anti-stress stress relief scented candle as a birthday gift on my birthday. Yes, she’s a very caring and loving friend who thought that I could use some stress-relieving candles to combat my chronic stress that she could obviously sense every time we met 😀

Honestly, I’m very thankful for that friend for introducing me to the Bath & Body Works home fragrance collection. As I’ve been a big fan of their scented candles collection since that birthday present. My favorite scent is the Pineapple Mango (pictured above); it has a very sweet and fruity scent to it that is so strong and energizing.

You don’t want to miss out on the “Buy one get one free” promotions that the store has on its home fragrance range. That’s the time when you would see me at the store with a basket full of scented candles of all size and type. I tell you, they are highly addictive 🙂

Another product range from the beauty-lovers’ dream store that I’m a big fan of is their True Blue Spa range. I think the first product that I tried from that range was a body butter or lotion, before being hooked on their Callus Treatment tough love foot cream. It’s the most intensive yet light foot cream that you will ever come across. The foot scrub from the same collection is also great and effective. So is the hand lotion.

The good news is that Bath & Body Works Middle East have just introduced the True Blue Spa Shower Smoothies and Body Bars Collection. The smoothies come in a number of exotic fragrances in a rich formula with a blend of moisturizing yogurt and vitamins. Since the Smoothies come in the form of a creamy cleanser, you can expect your skin to be gently cleansed and hydrated at the same time. The Body Bars also come in various scents and help nourish and replenish your skin. Which means that you will enjoy a healthy, hydrated and refreshing shower experience!

The Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Range is a staple on my night stand

The 10 oz Shower Smoothie is priced at AED 80, while the 7 oz Body Bar is sold at AED 40.

I personally can’t wait to try this new collection from the wonderful and rich True Blue Spa range. You’ll most likely see me in a Bath & Body Works store with a basket full of goodies…especially when there are promotional offers being held, which is a regular thing with this fresh American brand. In the Middle East, they always run weekend offers which goes on from Tuesday to Saturday, in addition to their weekly offers. In Dubai, there are five store namely in Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Mall & Ibn Battuta.

In the end, I must admit that the sweet and relaxing scent from this brand’s scented candles collection has greatly contributed to my well-being and calmness. I don’t think I would have the patience and peacefulness that is essential for sitting down to write a blog post if it weren’t for Bath & Body Works’ wonderful collection of relaxing and invigorating scented candles 🙂

Watch this space for a cool and exciting giveaway with Bath & Body Works Middle East for a chance to sample their amazing and neat products.

For more details about UAE store locations, check out this link.

To find out more about the offers at the store and their uber cool collections, check out and “like” their Facebook Page.

Dubai Beauty Salon Review: Sisters Beauty Lounge

Being a regular client at Sisters Beauty Lounge Mall of the Emirates branch means that it’s the go-to salon for my hair cut, hair color, hair roots touch-up, and the fabulous Red Ken hair treatment. What I wasn’t aware of though, was that they also offer an exceptional classic manicure and pedicure!

Why is the Sisters Beauty Lounge mani/pedi unique?

Honestly speaking, this was my first time to experience a manicure/pedicure that uses a Brazilian mani/pedi kit. This basically means that water is not used to soak your hands. Instead, both hands and feet are wrapped in disposable gloves filled with a moisturizing Brazilian cream (includes copaiba oil). This is a highly hygienic method that acts as a great moisturizing treatment for the hands and feet. And I was informed by my nail therapist Amelia that Sisters is the only salon that uses this progressive and wonderful method in its manicures and pedicures.

Products Used in the Treatment

With a total of 13 years of experience in this business, it’s no wonder that Amelia is an expert in everything related to nails. She recommended the right products for my nail status and type, and also helped me select a good nail polish color to match my skin tone and that is also on trend.

Amelia used the “Rebuild” Perfect Nail nail hardener as a base coat treatment for my nails, since they are soft and chipped at the ends. A drop of Solar Oil was also massaged into my hands and cuticles. The oil contains essential oils (jojoba oil, almond oil) that help replenish and moisturize the nails and cuticles. This oil works just as well with polished nails.

Brazilian Pedicure

As everyone knows, pedicures in this region must involve a thorough foot scrub. I must admit that it’s my favorite part of the nail treatment! It just feels so good to get the skin on your feet polished and the rough skin removed. A tangerine scented foot scrub was used on my feet and I could tell that the product was of high quality from the rich texture of the scrub granules. It was simply divine….

Scrubbing the feet before applying the nail polish ensures that your feet are clean and fresh and ready to be extra pampered with a lovely nail polish 🙂

Nail Polish Brand Used

I was delighted to try the newly launched long-lasting nail polish by US brand CND. Vinylux offers a new nail treatment breakthrough with polish that lasts up to seven days without chipping!

The innovative range gives you durable, shiny and week-long wear polish with the use of a strengthening top coat. What’s more is that this polish can be applied directly to the nails without the need for a base coat. This allows a faster and more effective two-step process.

Amelia applied two coats of the CND Vinylux polish followed by a transparent top coat. I was amazed at how quickly the polish dried! it was almost instant and I didn’t need to sit at a drying bar or wait for it to dry! 😀

Brazilian Pedicure at Sisters Beauty Lounge

Main Pros of Sisters Beauty Lounge Nail Treatment

Highly experienced nail technicians. Amelia really knows what she’s talking about and has extensive knowledge about the products that must be used for the different nail and cuticle types.
Strong lighting above the nail station translates to a more efficient and effective session.
The salon follows high hygiene and safety standards with the use of disposable nail kits.
The use of the gloves with the cream to soften the hands really helps in achieving smooth and replenished hands.
The use of high quality and reputable product brands.
Relaxed and chilled ambiance.

Me being pampered at Sisters Beauty Lounge

As if my treatment wasn’t rejuvenating enough, I could hear The Cranberries “Salvation” playing in the background. With the vocalist screaming the words: “Salvation, Salvation, Salvation is free“….Being a 90’s girl who grew up in this region and always dreamed of breaking free from my constraining lifestyle and cultural background, I think nothing could top that song at the end of my mani/pedi and as a declaration of my independence 😀

By now I guess you know all the reasons as to why I adore Sisters Beauty Lounge Mall of the Emirates branch. Yes, playing cool music all the time is one of them 🙂

Price: AED 75 for the Classic Manicure and AED 85 for the Classic Pedicure

Web Site: Sisters Beauty Lounge

Facebook Page: Sisters Beauty Lounge

Giveaway # 2: Professional Photography Session with Yasir Saeed Photography

Have you been dreaming of having your photos taken by a professional photographer, but never got the opportunity to turn that dream into reality?

Well, now is your chance as we are giving one lucky winner a complimentary professional photo session with a total of 10 images compiled in a digital smart phone application that allows you to share the album with your friends and family.

What’s more is that this package is originally valued at 1,000 AED!

Why Yasir Saeed Photography?

Yasir creates “Contemporary Portraits” with a flair of fashion.
95% of his subjects are not models; and a makeup artist is not employed on most of his shoots.
Fashion photo shoots mostly change what the person looks like, while his work keeps people looking as they are naturally.
Yasir’s photography is a unique blend of standard studio photography and commercial fashion photo shoots.
His service includes going to the client’s location and shooting there at no extra costs.

Yasir Saeed’s Philosophy

Everyone is a supermodel, everyone is photogenic.
If you don’t look good in your photos, it’s the photographer’s fault.

Quotes by the Photographer

“When I take photos of any subject, I look at them through my eyes and how they appear to me. I need them to feel good about themselves, and see them for how they really are”

“There’s a big difference in how people see themselves and how they really are. People are very cruel to themselves. I try to show them how beautiful they are.”

ENTER GIVEAWAY BELOW

Notes:

Entrants must be residents of the UAE and must be able to collect the prize from Dubai.
Winner will be announced on 1st of October.
The giveaway does not include high resolution images, only 10 images in a digital smartphone app.
Entrants must “like” both Facebook Pages (Undefined Declarations and Yasir Saeed Photography) to qualify for the competition.

Good Luck!

Dubai Chocolate Boutique Fairy Tale: Debauve & Gallais

In a city that attracted thousands of International brands from across the globe to open branches in its glamorous and shiny malls, it’s no doubt that the chocolatier of the kings of France – Debauve & Gallais has opened its first regional flagship store in Dubai.

Brand History

Debauve & Gallais, a brand that carries a strong history behind it, is certainly not just another gourmet chocolate brand. Dating back to the year 1800, when “Debauve” – pharmacist of the King Louis – opened a chocolate factory with his nephew, Mr. Gallais. The quick success of this factory made it the appointed supplier of the Kings of France at the time.

The specialty French Royal Chocolatier’s flagship Paris store of almost 200 years still stands at Rue des Saints-Peres and is inscribed in the French Historic Monument List.

Since the brand is the renowned chocolatier of the Kings of France, everything about this delicacy follows the spirit of the French Royal life style. Strongly inspired by Marie Antoinette and the lavishness of her era, expect nothing less than authentic French designs, porcelain vintage ornaments, hand-painted ceiling and wall coverings and original antiques.

An eye for quality and attention to detail are what differentiate this chocolate brand from all others in the industry, and are highly reflected in its products, packaging and boutique. Debauve & Gallais stands in a category on its own and is considered the most exclusive chocolate brand in the world.

I was delighted to accept an invite to visit the brand’s Dubai flagship boutique located in DIFC, and open since February 2nd, 2012. Over superior quality and rich hot chocolate and chocolate pistols, I had a very enjoyable and interesting conversation with the brand’s Business Development Executive; Nahid Ghahary. Nahid introduced herself to me and explained her passion for everything French; from the language to the culture to of course the chocolate 🙂 She described the brand as a “chocolate through chocolate experience” meant for exclusive clients. These clients include upscale people interested in luxury and different experiences. Such as upscale families who don’t mind spending in return for great quality. They also cater to big corporate clients and make elegantly packaged corporate gifts for those clients.

Information about the Chocolate

With over 2,000 recipes, you’re sure to find a flavor that will keep you coming back for more. As Nahid told me “it’s addictive!”. But don’t worry about the calories, as the cocoa pods used in making this gourmet chocolate are among the top 5% luxury cocoa pods. And the cocoa type and sugar used are of the healthy and beneficial type. Unlike most chocolate brands that are creamy and heavy in taste, Debauve & Gallais chocolate has a very high quality and fine texture and taste to it.

And if the above information isn’t enough to make us want to become loyal fans, knowing that the cocoa plantations for this chocolate brand are located in Cuba and Venezuela surely will.

My Debauve & Gallais Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Experience

I don’t recall ever tasting a hot chocolate as rich and of high gourmet quality as the one that I had during my all-things French and chocolate related conversation with Nahid. The exclusive brand’s hot chocolate is made by adding low fat milk to 72% dark chocolate chips and a touch of cream. The boutique also serves a variety of tea and coffee types.

All the chocolates are hand-made as opposed to using a machine to make them. And the print on the chocolate pieces is a silk print that can also be personalized according to the client’s request. With a price range of AED 11 per piece and AED 850 per kg, evidently this chocolate brand is not made for mass consumption. But for the sophisticated and refined chocolate lovers and connoisseurs.

Best-sellers

Marie Antoinette Pistols (Les Pistoles De Marie Antoinette)
Truffles
Forestiere (pistachio covered chocolate balls)

Boutique Interior Design

The luxuriously decorated interior of the boutique is the creation of Elenora showroom and interior design studio. Located beside Mercato Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road, this design boutique offers a unique selection of furniture, wallpapers, fabrics and trimmings and wonderful antiques sourced from Europe and America.

I was also pleased to meet with Boutique Manager; Niya El Maataoui who was kind enough to talk to me about the different antiques and ornaments spread around the extensively well-decorated space. I will let my pictures do all the explaining 🙂

More Chocolate…

Sadly, my chocolate fairy tale had to come to an end…but my obsession with this exclusive specialty French Royal Chocolatier has just begun!

With a sample gift box of dark chocolate pistols – with the word “Dubai” inscribed on them – from my generous and lovely hosts, I can rest assured that I have my Debauve & Gallais chocolate cravings taken care of. At least until my next visit to this dream land hidden gem.

Honestly, I had such a wonderful afternoon at the boutique with my genuine and lovely hosts Nahid and Niya. And I can’t wait to go back for another magical moment of afternoon tea and one of a kind chocolate and of course lovely and highly cultured conversation.

Contact Information

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

Facebook Page: Debauve and Gallais – Dubai

Instagram: debauveandgallias

Location:

DIFC, Gate Precinct Building 2

Dubai, UAE

Dubai Spa Review: Elixir Spa at The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa (Part Two)

While The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa may be well known for its lively and energetic beach party venue XL Beach Club (which by the way I still have to check out!) – this grand hotel and beach resort is also home to a hidden gem of a spa: Elixir Spa.

I decided to arrive 35 minutes or so before my appointment time so that I can relax in the spa’s locker room facilities; steam and sauna rooms before my treatment.

Steam Room

What makes this Ottoman-decor inspired steam room stand out from any other steam room that I had ever been to is the added detail in this room’s ceiling. Small light fixtures in the ceiling of the room change color simultaneously in a very subtle and relaxed vibe. The swift color changing movements help take your mind off whatever it is that it was engaged in and aids in clearing your head. The multi-colored lights definitely made me only want to focus on how the colors shifted and never want to leave the room! But I had to, since I still wanted to check out the sauna room next door.

Sauna Room

I thought that this spa’s sauna room was also different than others that I had been to. First, it was highly spacious. It could easily fit 15 to 20 people – perfect venue for a sauna party 🙂 Then, it had a furnace and nice interiors that emit a relaxed and chilled vibe. By staring at a light in one corner of this expansive and stylish sauna room, I could feel some calm and peacefulness overcome me. If I could use one word to describe this sauna room, it would be: authentic.

Relaxation Room

Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to lounge in this tranquil and peaceful room. Because it was already time for my treatment. The room had a relaxed air to it with the sound of soft chilled tracks playing in the background and cool dim lighting. It’s the perfect place for some meditation and quietness after or before a treatment at the spa.

Hot Stone Renewal Body Treatment

I’ve been wanting to try the hot stone massage for quite some time, and I’m glad that I did! as the therapist advised me, this massage is one of their best-seller treatments and it’s no surprise why it is. The type of massage used in the hot stone treatment is the popular Swedish massage. The therapist begins by rubbing some Moroccan Argan oil on the area, before using the warm yet soothing hot stones to massage the area in a smooth rolling motion. Circular, upward, or random strokes are used when massaging with the hot stones. What I found to be remarkable and highly comforting was that the stones glide on the skin so effortlessly. It certainly doesn’t feel as if an object is being pressed on your skin, but more like someone with unusually warm hands massaging your body 🙂 Simply divine.

After massaging with the stones, the therapist also uses her hands to complete the treatment with conventional massage strokes. The procedure is repeated on legs, arms, back, stomach and chest before ending with a stress-relieving head massage.

Needless to say, my one hour hot stone massage treatment made me feel relaxed, stress-free and utterly pampered. It also put me in a hypnotized sleepy mood which I loved except that I had to get some work done after the treatment 🙂

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage

Improves circulation
Improves blood flow
Eliminates toxins from the body
Helps relieve stress
Aids in relaxation and rejuvenation

Don’t Miss

I loved the still water with a hint of lemon that was served at the spa. It was a lovely addition to the conventional water, and was so refreshing to have before or after treatments. So if you visit the spa, you must have the lemon infused drinking water 🙂

Price

The hot stone renewal body treatment is priced at AED 500

There is an ongoing summer promotion at the spa which entitles you to a 20% discount on any Elixir signature treatment.

Contact

You can check out the Habtoor Grand’s web site for their contact information and details about the hotel’s restaurants, leisure and sports facilities, as well as their pool and beach club.

“like” them on Facebook to stay updated with their news here.

You can also read about my experience on a day at their beach club here.

Until next time, have a wonderfully pampered day!

Dubai Spa Review: N.A.I.L.S. Specializing in Organics

I had been living in Dubai for a year or so when I first found out about Nails Organic Spa. I think I was doing an online search for a salon close to my area when a link or a review led me to this hidden gem. Since then, I have been a regular visitor of this amazingly professional and relaxing spa.

Spa founder and CEO Jazz Bedesha explained to me how she wanted to bring something different to the spa market, so the concept of using organic products was introduced at Nails. Jazz also explains that: “although not everything is 100% organic, they try to source as many organic and natural products as possible.”

The spa uses and sells a number of all-natural and toxin-free cosmetics and skin care products. These include brands such as Zoya and Eminence.

Zoya nail polishes are non-toxic and have proven to be the only non-cancer causing nail polish brand available. By focusing exclusively on healthy, natural Nails, Zoya Nail Polishes has been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine. Zoya Nail Polishes are free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor.

Eminence is an exotic skin care line that brings together high quality Hungarian ingredients with old world knowledge of herbs and fruits. The high-end organic brand addresses a variety of skin concerns such as premature aging and wrinkling, sun damage, acne, loss of vitality, tone and radiance. Despite Eminence being more on the higher price range, other herbal and natural line products are being sold at the spa.

Treatment: Half Lymphatic/Half Aromatherapy Massage

I was advised to do a combination of lymphatic and aromatherapy massages since each type serves different purposes. The aromatherapy massage uses softer strokes and helps you to relax, while the lymphatic massage uses strong strokes on areas that are susceptible to cellulite. The therapist used upward massage movements on my legs to promote blood circulation towards the heart and help reduce cellulite.

Benefits of lymphatic massage include:

Improving blood circulation.
Reducing body toxins and cellulite.
Toning and firming the body.
Tightening the skin.

Prior to the the treatment, my therapist Jen asked me to choose from a color palette the colors that I liked the most. Later, I got to smell the different oil scents corresponding to those colors and choose the one that appealed mostly to my mood at that time. If you’ve been following my blog, you might remember a previous review that I had done on a treatment with Nails. You can read all about it here.

All massage oils used in this highly rejuvenating and relaxing spa are 100% organic. Moroccan Argan oil is used in the massage treatment, and is also available for sale at the spa. I can honestly say that discovering this oil has been one of the best beauty secrets that I came across in my lifetime! Unlike many oils, Argan oil has a light texture and is absorbed quickly by the skin. It effectively nourishes thirsty skin, hair and even the rough skin on your feet! I highly recommend this oil to everyone and I believe that it’s one of the essential beauty items on your dressing table.

Staff Friendliness and Spa Ambiance

Honestly speaking, the staff at this spa (including the receptionists) are amongst the most professional salon staff that I have come across in this region! The appointments are always booked and started in a timely manner, the ladies are professional, polite and friendly, and most importantly, the appointments are ran smoothly and in a highly organized and systematic way. As you know, Dubai is a greatly fast-paced city and one can’t afford to loose time in waiting for an appointment or for the previous client to finish their time or anything of the sort!

Another element that I absolutely love about this spa is the relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. The soft background music playing in the spa is always calming and helps you to unwind from the business of city life.

Price

Once you visit Nails Spa, you will realize that this spa offers high quality services and treatments for great value.

The one hour Lymphatic Massage is priced at AED 375. You can try a package of 10 sessions and see how it enhances your body shape and assists you in loosing the extra pounds.

Contact Information

Web Site: Nails Organic Spa.

Facebook Page: N.A.I.L.S Specializing in Organics.

Final Notes

Nails regularly run special promotions on their various spa treatments and services. You can find out all about them on the spa’s Facebook Page.
From my personal experience, Zoya nail polish is way more long-lasting than other nail polish brands. The colors are solid and don’t chip off easily.
Argan oil is sold at the spa for AED 130 per bottle.

With a bagel shop just across the street from this heavenly spa (which I still have to try), all-natural and organic products, friendly service and a chilled ambiance, what better place to spend a day of unwinding and relaxation than at Nails?

Besides frequenting the spa for my waxing and nails services, I now look forward to trying their other massage treatments and services.

Have you been to an organic spa lately? if so, where was it and how would you rate your experience?

Dubai Ramadan Iftar Review: Mizaan at the H Hotel Dubai

I had visited The H Hotel once for the University of the Arts London’s alumni and Dubai short courses event at the uber cool Okku restaurant and lounge. You can read all about that event here. Yesterday however, I was back to The H Hotel Dubai for a different type of socializing. Me and my friend Lianne had gone there to check out the Ottoman inspired Iftar at Mizaan all day dining restaurant.

The H Hotel is located at the unique address: One Sheikh Zayed Road. So you can’t miss it as it’s the first property building on the road. Although I must admit that me and my friend actually missed the hotel while we were coming out from a parallel back street! but eventually found our way and arrived just in time for Iftar.

The Iftar buffet at Mizaan includes contemporary Ottoman and Arabic signature dishes. With a number of those dishes prepared by Celebrity Chef Silvena Rowe from the BBC Food show Saturday Kitchen.

Karkade (Hibiscus Tea) served in a unique style

Salad Buffet

There were two salad buffets available at the Iftar. One had a selection of Western salad options and the other included a variety of fresh Middle-Eastern salads and mezzas, such as the usual hommos, motabbal and others. But what was remarkably unique were the many variations of the labneh bites. These were mixed with Sumac spice, Zaatar, pistachio, and black seeds to name a few!

The Mizaan Iftar buffet had a good variety of main course options for both vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. If you’re a seafood fan, you won’t be disappointed either. As there was a spicy Hammour fish fillet dish and grilled jumbo prawns on display. I loved the combination of Moroccan tagines (chicken and vegetable options) next to other signature Arabic dishes (lamb ouzi). And best of all, everything served was cooked to perfection with great attention to detail and culinary quality and authenticity.

Desserts

You could choose from a selection of gourmet dates, traditional Arabic sweets, or the more popular Western desserts.

Entertainment: Live Arabic Band

After our superb Iftar, we headed to the Majlis area to have our coffee and tea while listening to the wonderful Arabic tunes played by the two piece band in the lobby.

Iftar Buffet Cost

The Mizaan sumptuous Iftar costs AED 180 per person. But since we had the Entertainer voucher, we only had to pay for one Iftar and got the second one as complimentary 😀

Conclusion

I personally have found the Iftar at The H Hotel Dubai as one of the best Iftars in town. Considering the quality level of the food served, the variety of the buffet selections, the friendliness of the staff, and the entertainment and ambiance. I would love to go back to this Iftar next year and experience it all over again 🙂

Have you been to any Ramadan Iftars or Suhoors this year? If so, which ones and how would you rate your experience?

That’s it for our Iftar reviews for this year. But stay tuned to our page for another type of review coming soon!

Till then, enjoy the rest of the holy month. Whether you are observing the fast or not 🙂

Dubai Ramadan Tent Review: Emaar Ramadan Tent – “Downtown”

When my expat friend told me that she wanted to try a traditional Ramadan Iftar, I wasn’t sure where to take her. I had been to a few Iftars over the course of the three years that I had been living in Dubai. And being someone who always likes to try new things, I was certain that I didn’t want to go to any of the places that I had already been to in previous Ramadans. That’s when I remembered the most recent addition to Dubai’s Ramadan tent scene: Emaar’s Ramadan Tent; also known as “Downtown”.

The spacious glamorously decorated tent is setup across three main seating areas:

Large indoor area, also known as courtyard. This section has regular dining tables and is surrounding the buffet.
Private Majlis; this seating offers a semi-private dining experience with dim lighting and majlis style low seats and tables.
Glass Garden; the seating here is also majlis style. This area offers great views of Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai.

Buffet Options

If you are a vegetarian or only eat seafood like my friend, you could be disappointed as most of the main course meals are meat based or contain some type of chicken, beef or lamb. That left very limited options for my friend to take from. Those included pasta, a seafood dish and some vegetables!

However, if you are a meat-lover then you are in for a great treat. Traditional Arabic dishes were served next to International cuisine favorites.

You can expect to see Arabic dishes such as Lamb Ouzi, Chicken Muloukhia, Dawood Basha, Kebba bel laban, and many others.

Entertainment

A talented oud player gave the iftar a chilled and relaxed ambiance by playing classical Arabic tunes. This added a cool vibe to the whole Iftar experience at this elegantly decorated tent.

What Needs Enhancement

Despite the great food and ambiance at this modern tent, the service towards the end of the iftar was agitating!

Ten minutes before they were going to close the Iftar (it ends at 8:30), the waiter informed us that they will be removing the food trays from the buffet at 8:30. My friends and I agreed that an hour and 15 minutes is not enough time to eat a three course meal (especially after fasting the whole day). This lead to me rushing into my dessert plate right after I finished my main course. Resulting in a bad stomach ache afterwards and having difficulty to walk straight! 😀

Another offensive gesture that the waiters did was bringing the check to our table without us asking for it! They were pretty much in a rush to get us out of the place as soon as possible and were not attempting to hide it! It seemed like they had to clear the table quickly to make it ready for the next batch of clients coming for Suhoor at the tent. We all understand that this is a business in the end of the day, but customer service makes all the difference in any dining experience.

Tip

Don’t miss out on the apple crumble tart! It’s simply divine!

Price

Iftar Buffet costs 170 AED per person.

For Bookings

You can send a private message to their Facebook Page, since the lines are usually busy.

https://www.facebook.com/DowntownDubai

Personal Tip

The best thing that we did after our rushed Iftar was to walk all the way to Dubai Mall. That really helped me feel better after my bad stomach ache, and I would strongly suggest that you do the same!

Dubai Professional Photographer Recommendation: Yasir Saeed Photography

I can’t recall the last time I had my picture taken by a professional photographer. But I think it was around 15 years ago at my last year of high school for the graduation ceremony 🙂 Fast forward a decade and five years later, I got the opportunity to have my pictures taken again by a professional photographer: Yasir Saeed Photography. Only this time, the setting was different…I was residing in Dubai, doing the photo shoot mainly for my blog and online profiles, and most importantly; I didn’t have to worry about the veil messing up my hair as I wore it to get to my photo shoot location when I was in Saudi in the late ’90s 🙂

Another significant variation between the two shoots that I must mention is the fact that I had my pictures taken by a male photographer. I found it so incredibly easy to connect with Yasir Saeed. As he too grew up in Saudi; more specifically in my hometown. He even lived in the neighborhood that I’m mostly familiar with. Indeed, it’s a small world after all 🙂

I had some ideas for the poses for the shoot, which I jotted down on a piece of paper to show to Yasir. However, since the photographer had the right skills and experience, we didn’t really need to refer to my notes for some inspiration. Instead, the ideas and poses came naturally as we moved from one session to another. All while playing dress up with three of my favorite dresses and with the use of a lovely bright eye mask for some added funky and mysterious style.

The photo shoot session was a lot of fun, especially when I laughed out loud at myself and my failed attempts in replicating the poses that Yasir was suggesting to me 😀

If you are reading this and thinking any of the following:

I’m not photogenic.
I’m not a natural poser.
I feel camera shy.
I always look bad in pictures.

Rest assured, that you won’t have anything to worry about with Yasir Saeed Photography. As he won’t put any pressure on you to pose or act in a certain way in front of the camera. On the contrary, he will allow you to just be your natural self and do whatever poses you like. The whole photo session atmosphere was so relaxed and chilled, that anyone would quickly get used to the camera lens and start creating their own photo portraits using their imagination 🙂

Whether you are looking to take some spontaneous and fun shots of yourself for personal use to frame in your home, or you would like to update your LinkedIn, web site, or social network profile photos for business use and self-branding purposes, look no further than Yasir Saeed Photography. His great talent, unmatched skills, and immense passion for what he does are widely evident in the photos he produces.

Have a look at some of the photos from our amusing, exciting and ultra cool photo shoot session…(contact details at the end of the post).

Contact:

Web site: http://yasirsaeedphotography.com/

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

Contact Yasir Saeed and get ready for an exciting and amazing photography session experience! I personally can’t wait to do a second photo shoot with Yasir when the weather cools down in Dubai and we can get creative outdoors 🙂

Career Life: Barajeel Bloggers Lounge Meetup :)

Let me start by giving you a short history about my meetup.com story. Before living in Dubai, I didn’t know what meetup was. A few friends that I met in Dubai told me about it and were suggesting that I join the site to meet new people and make new friends. But since I was and still am on a journey of changing careers and trying to become financially independent, meeting new people and making new friends wasn’t exactly at the top of my priority list. Thankfully, I find it easy to meet new people and make friends without needing to join a social networking site for that.

Then, I read about The Dubai Writers’ meetup group in a magazine and decided to join them and attend their meetups! You can read about that here. My meetups with that group didn’t last for long though. And since then, I haven’t joined or attended another meetup.

That changed today when my dear friend from the blog What I Just Love told me about the Barajeel Bloggers Lounge meetup group. Which is a newly launched group created to bring together bloggers from the city of Dubai in an effort to exchange ideas and discuss blogging tips and tools.

It was my first meetup with the group. And I must say that we had a very interesting and engaging discussion. We all had different ideas to share, and everyone was happy to contribute and talk about their personal blogging experience. Meetups are always a great opportunity to meet like-minded people who share your passions, interests, goals and aspirations.

Honestly, I look forward to our next meetup and I would recommend this meetup to any bloggers in the area who are interested in sharing and discussing ideas.

I must admit, that although It may have taken me a while to learn the right way to do things in an international city like Dubai, I’m glad that I have found the path eventually. I’m also greatly thankful to the Universe and GOD for bringing the events and people that are relevant to my goal closer to me. And for constantly reminding me that I’m not alone in this challenging, yet fun and exciting ride.

If you are a blogger who is interested in joining this meetup group, go to the following link and join us!

http://www.meetup.com/Barajeel-Bloggers-Lounge/