La Petite Dame

Weekend Haul: Of Gold & Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Unlike some countries, our payday comes only once a month, which is always at the end of the month. When that happens, we tend to have the sudden urge to go to the mall for no particular reason. Our mindset is always like this: I just need to pop by the mall real quick, I just need to buy some essentials for next month. When in truth it's always: Great! Now I can finally get that top from that store and I heard there's a sale at this boutique. Are you one these types of people? I know I am.

Last weekend was the huge private sale by Chalhoub, It lasted for two days, Friday was for the staff and their family and friends, the second day was for the public. Luckily enough my childhood friend works for at the main office in Sephora (which is under Chalhoub) and gave us two passes for the first day. It was my first time to attend such a huge sale and I have to say it was crazy!

All their prices were marked down, their lippies were for about 5dhs, eye palettes were for 20dhs. I couldn't believe it and like it or not we weren't able to 'shop' properly due to the crazy amount of people. In the end it was all still good as I was able to purchase a few items (check the first image) and I spent about a 100dhs only, a good bargain!

My target for this month was to purchase make-up brushes, ONLY. Well I did end up purchasing a set at the end. :)

On Saturday, I was bored out of my mind and decided to take a trip to the mall (see how it goes now?). My target was to purchase a new PS4 game, specifically God of War, so I learned that it's banned in the U.A.E., and that I can only purchase one through the black market. With that being said I didn't want to go back home when I just arrived, so I decided to take a peek into the stores. Well that's always a bad idea. :)

I had a sudden urge to purchase all things that had a pineapple on it, and gold stuff. I wasn't really into quirky items, and decided to actually go for it. I bough the purses in Colette by Colette Hayman, the gold pineapple and chain from H&M, the gold feathered necklace from Splash and the cute iPhone case from Typo.

Creativity & Serenity

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 31 May 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Due to the hectic schedule we have in our day to day lives, we tend to forget to unwind, to relax and at times we forget to focus on our inner peace or child. Yes we are adults, yes we have to work and yes we can't just frolic around like little kids anymore; but that's not what I'm asking you to do. In two little books, you can relax without indulging in a vacation. You can tap your inner child and creativity in a few mere pages. So allow me to share with you two books you most definitely should have, not just this summer but all year round as well.

I've always loved leafing through the pages of a book, reading through and between the lines, imagining the stories and other worldly experience it brings you. These two books are no different, they may not bring stories, but they don't disappoint in giving you something to think about.

Calm: Calm the mind, change the world, is a book by Michael Acton Smith, if you don't already know, he is the make of the app entitled 'Calm - Meditate, Sleep, Relax' which is available on iOS and Android. The app helps you relax and meditate by having various background noises. After the success of the app, Michael decided to create the book version of Calm, which consists of relaxing thoughts you can ponder on, activity pages and personal journal pages where you can jot down your memories during the week or what made you most happy or sad. It also helps that the book contains wonderful images and graphics.

The second book is my personal favourite, I've always loved colouring books and growing up it was a bit awkward having a colouring book if you're well past the age of 13. Discovering this book was a joy! It's filled with various designs and patterns that you can colour in. 'The Mindfulness Colouring Book' by Emma Farrarons is basically an adult version of a colouring book.

If you would like to purchase these books, they are available in Book World by Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall. Alternatively you can also purchase them online on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Iftar Preview: Medley's at Pullman Deira City Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Ramadan would be upon us soon and everyone is looking forward for the Iftar preparation. Last night we were able to experience the Iftar preview at the Pullman hotel in Deira City Centre, where we were invited to try their Moroccan themed buffet made by Chef Mama.

They had a wide array of dishes, to be honest it was my first time to try Moroccan food and I'm glad that I got to try it at Medley as Chef Mama's cooking did not disappoint. They had couscous and different types of cooking for lamb/mutton. They also had different dishes with chicken and rice with vegetables. My most favorite part was the dessert area.

Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre is ready to nourish you and your loved ones with a variety of offers to enjoy this Holy month of Ramadan.

Gather your family around the table and relish the Ramadan feast for Iftar and Suhoor prepared by Executive Chef Andreas and Chef Mama’s pan-Arabian delights, traditional sweets and savoury delicacies with a Moroccan twist. With its mouth-watering buffet and best family- friendly setting in town, Medley is the ideal place of choice to experience the true spirit of the month.

Prolong your experience at Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre’s Azure lounge by choosing your favorite flavour of Shisha from 13 different options while gazing over Old Dubai’s skyline.

With the comfortable warm environment and the hospitable staff, Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre will be catering the ideal Ramadan experience for everyone.

Iftar at Medley Restaurant*:

The delicacies of Medley restaurant come alive for Ramadan as you discover a vast selection of pan-Arabian delights with a Moroccan twist, seasoned to perfection.

Time: 7:00pm-11:00mp

§ Individual:

AED 115 per person (when booked before June 5)

§ Children:

AED 70 kids between the ages of 6 to 12 years old

Free for kids below 6 years old

§ Groups of 10 people or more:

AED 135 per person (for 10 to 20 guests)

AED 125 per person (for 20 to 50 guests)

AED 115 per person (for 50 guests or more)

Suhoor at Medley Restaurant*:

§ Individual:

Time: 1:00AM-till sunrise

AED 120 Full Suhoor buffet per person

AED 70 for kids from 12 till 6 years old

Shisha at Azure Lounge*:

The city comes to life at night for Ramadan at Azure Pool Bar. Choose your favorite flavor of Shisha from 13 different flavors

Time: 7:00pm-midnight

§ AED 45 per person

Le Cafe

Pastry display with Arabic sweets, dates and international desserts will be available to indulge Pullman’s guests starting from 19.30 till 04.00am each day during Ramadan

Furthermore, Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre will be following the below operation hours for guests who will not be fasting or would like to enjoy one of the other food and beverage outlets the hotel offers during the holy month:

Medley Restaurant

Breakfast

Time: 6:30-10:30 (on Friday and Saturday 6:30-11am)

§ AED 120 per person

§ Kids AED 70

Lunch

Different choices of dishes will be available to choose from; meat, fish, rice, pasta, potato or vegetables, along with soup and variety of salads. You can enjoy a selection of pastry or fruit to conclude your lunch experience

Time: 12-30-3:30pm

§ AED 120 per person / Business lunch is 185 AED

La Fabrique

Full food menu available during the below operating hours

§ Serving food and beverages from 7am (no alcohol) till sunset

§ From sunset till 2am serving food and beverages and alcohol

Reservations for F&B Outlet:

Tel: +971 4 603 8201

Email: h2022-sb@accor.com

*Above promotions are available between June 18^th2015 and July 18^th 2015. All prices include municipality fee and service charge.

*Terms & Conditions apply.

Discover Thainess Day 03: Nakorn Si Thammarat | Kiriwong Village

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:36:00 +0000

Our third day in Thailand and our second day in Nakorn Si Thammarat, as promised in my previous post, I'm sharing some snapshots of the gorgeous view around our hotel.

We headed for Kiriwong Village not long after having some delicious breakfast at the hotel. Here the students are going to make their designs come to life with help from the local ladies but before that, Kiriwong Village is the place for natural Tie-Dye and Batik, which they gladly demonstrated how it was done.

When I say natural, I literally meant natural as they use leaves and flowers to create the colors used for the textiles. Below you will see how they steam and boil the natural ingredients to get the color desired and how they tie the fabrics for the final outcome.

While the students got started on making their designs, we headed out to explore the village and the best way to do that around there? Hop on a bicycle! If you don't know how to ride no worries, as you and your friends can ride what I like to call the 'trio-cycle'.

While riding by the river, you'll be amazed by the natural beauty and fresh air surrounding the area. At the very end of the trail is the Kiriwong River, here you can take a refreshing dip and maybe play around with some of the local kids.

After the tiring bike ride we headed up to Kiriwong River Restaurant, which is located atop the side of the river. They have the most relaxing ambiance and since its perched atop the side of the hill, you'll be able to get a wonderful view of the scenery and of the river. Don't forget to order some seafood as it is their best dishes.

Our next stop was to visit Karom Waterfall, it's a bit far off from Kiriwong Village so we had to take the van going there, which is about 30 minutes away. Located at Khao Luang National Park, you will have to trek to get a good view of the river which has at least 6 different levels, it's a bit of steep walk so make sure you're wearing a good pair of slippers or shoes.

After the adventure we had, we headed back to the hotel for a well deserved rest and shower. Stay tuned for Part 4 of my Dicover Thainess adventure!

Discover Thainess Day 02: Nakorn Si Thammarat

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Mon, 11 May 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the second day of my Discover Thainess adventure. In this post I will share with you our second day in Thailand and our first day in Nakorn Si Thammarat, which is Thailand's second biggest province located in the south.

The flight from Bangkok took roughly around an hour or so, the weather was calm and it was sunny and windy. Perfect for roaming around the city. Once landed, we visited the office of TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) after which they took us sightseeing around the town, where we stopped at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, the main Buddhist temple of the province, which holds a 78m high chedi.

After an hour or so wandering the grounds of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, we took off to have lunch in one of the well-known restaurants, which is visited by local celebrities often. Kopi restaurant is not far off from the temple and although the restaurant is made up mainly of a covered open space, they do have a separate area that has air-conditioning. Here we were able to try their special dishes and an authentic Thai iced-tea along with the best sala-pao (siopao/chinese buns) I have ever tasted.

After a relaxing and wonderful lunch we took off for our next activity. This time we were taken to a place where the locals taught us lipao-weaving. It was a bit confusing but fun to make and after a few minutes we all had our own lipao-fern made bracelets. I'm quite proud of this although it took me longer to finish than the others. They served us a rice snack which in the Philippines we like to suman.

After being creative, our tour guide took us to the Handicraft District in Ta Chang Road where the street was lined with shops selling the province's fine hand made items, from lipao-woven items, to jewelry, souvenir items and so much more. We had a lot of fun here, that's for sure. I was able to purchase some handmade bags which costs me around AED 20 each. A good buy!

After our little shopping trip, we went to our final destination for the day. Not far off from Ta Chang Road and the temple, we visited the Shadow Puppet Museum which the province is well known for as well. They greeted us with big smiles, local snacks and a Thai performance called Manora Dance and we were also treated to a Shadow Puppet show!

You can see I used one of the bags I purchased right away.

After all that cultural trip in one day, it's safe to say we were dead tired but excited fro what the second day in this quaint province held for us. We were check in at Tamali hotel for the next three days of our trip around Nakorn Si Thammarat. To see the beautiful view this hotel has to offer, watch out for my next post on my Discover Thainess adventure.

OOTD: A Date on Cinco de Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 10 May 2015 10:35:00 +0000

Dress: Quiz

Cardigan: Splash

Shoes: Converse

Photo Credits: Bea Danise

Discover Thainess: Day 01 | En route + Welcome to Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sat, 09 May 2015 06:02:00 +0000

As promised I will be sharing my recent trip to Thailand with you, it was a FAM trip in collaboration with the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai and Dubai office of Tourism Authority of Thailand. The main focus of the trip was to explore the world of Thailand and their specialization in Thai fabrics. They invited fashion designers, bloggers and media to join in and I was one of the lucky ones to get invited. Along with me were 9 fashion design students from the University of Sharjah and American University in the Emirates who were going to undergo a 3 day workshop and create pieces using Thai fabrics.

I was thrilled and nervous all at the same time, it was my first time travelling on my own with people I didn't know. I knew for a fact it was going to be fun and I was excited to see the students in action as well. We left Dubai on the night of the 17th of April via Thai Airways, also I was glad I finally purchased this book which I've seen countless times on the website of Kinokuniya. Safe to say we arrived at our destination after a 6 hour flight. HELLO BANGKOK!

I was quite surprised that the city is quite similar to my hometown which is the Philippines, although I must admit Bangkok is a whole lot cleaner than ours. *smiles sheepishly* We headed straight to our hotel which was about 15 minutes or so away from the airport.

That view though! I must say I fell in love with my room because of this, I just couldn't wait to explore the streets! But first things first, we had a prior schedule for..... wait for it...... an autehntic THAI MASSAGE! I just loove looove looove massages and I've heard that Thai massages are one of the best and I just needed one badly. We headed to Health Land which was literally just around the block from our hotel.

Here we were given refreshments and asked to change into some slippers, after which we were led into separate rooms and changed into the robes they provided us. I must say that was probably the best massage I've ever received and after a 6 hour flight, it was truly a blissful 2 hour massage. We were all happy ladies afterwards and lifted our already energized moods. Even though we were just itching to go off on our own, we had another agenda set. Off we went to visit the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile.

NOTE:

People visiting has to take not that when visiting museums and temples one cannot wear shorts or pants or anything revealing. Here you're supposed to wear a skirt which is below the knees, no sandals or flip-flops and no sleeveless or tight see-through tops. You are also not allowed to take pictures inside except for one part only.

In the museum you will be able to see the different textiles of Thailand and how it is preserved alnog with her majesty's iconic pieces.

After all the activities in the morning, we were finally dropped off at the hotel and given some free time to roam around on our own. So we decided to walk around the block in hopes to find some street food or night market. Also take note that the shopping malls in Bangkok closes early around 9 or 10 sometimes 8 if there's not much shoppers.

That concludes our first day in Thailand! Watch out for my next post as we travel to one of Thailand's province in the South. None other than Nakorn Sri Thammarat!

Cinco de Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Wed, 06 May 2015 14:01:00 +0000

The evening of March 5, 2015 was by far one of the most enjoyable moments of my 2015. Why? Because we were able to celebrate a simple yet entertaining Cinco de Mayo at Rosa Mexicano. Cinco de Mayo is literally translated as 'Fifth of May', it is a day celebrated by the Mexicans to commemorate their victory against French forces during the Battle of Puebla, which of course happened on May 5, 1862.

We were lucky enough to be one of the few invited over by Rosa Mexicano to celebrate with them. We enjoyed a night filled of music, good food and a wonderful and colourful atmosphere. I was also glad as I was able to once again have a taste of their good ol' guacamole! If you don't remember or haven't seen it yet, I also featured their taco tasting event a few months back.

Box Therapy: April Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 03 May 2015 10:11:00 +0000

Hello May! I do believe April has been good to me and I don't really feel like saying goodbye just yet, alas time moves on and so should we. In the most recent months, subscription boxes have become a 'thing' or a 'fad', however you would like to describe it. It's when you subscribe to either a monthly, 6 months or a year to a website that will provide you a box of goodies each month. Some of which are the likes of GlamBox, MunchBox, TheHappyBox and DinnerTime. They even have it for pets like WaggieBox and PetBox

My blogger friend Bianca introduce me to the world of subscription boxes. At the beginning of the year she subscribed to GlamBox and received loads of beauty items (as that is their specialty). You can check out her two boxes here (for January) and here (for February). She kept telling me to try it but I was hesitant -at first- up until the time that she discovered another subscription box called BoxTherapy. I liked the look of this one better, no personal issues but I'm not the kind of girl who would want to receive beauty products all the time, I wanted a little bit of diversity and BoxTherapy does just that.

According to their site.

"Everybody needs a little therapy… now it comes in a box! but more than a box, therapy will excite, educate, and engage you through events, activities, as well as your monthly box of inspiration. being part of the therapy group will give you access to a spectrum of new knowledge and experiences that will enrich your mind, body, soul, and life. "

So after Bianca's three month subscription to GlamBox, I decided to join her in trying out BoxTherapy and I must admit, they did not disappoint. I wanted to share my joy in receiving their goodies. So here is their April Edition.

It's basically a mixture of a lot of things. From a lunchbox, to a notepad, a charger, beauty products. One can never go wrong.

A quirky lunchbox from GoodByn. I am glad that they sent over a blue coloured one as it's one of my favourite shades. It comes with dippers as well and it's perfect to carry quick snacks or lunches. Who knows, if I won't be able to use this then I can still save it and gift it to a niece or nephew for them to use at school.

To-Do pad from KnockKnockStuff. This I must say is my favourite or the surprise among them all, as I have been looking for a to-do pad to use on my office desk. I just couldn't find the perfect one and now I guess I know why. I am just thrilled to start using it!

Another quirky item and a very useful one too is the Mohzy Loop Cable. The fun part of this is practically everything! It's bright yellow, can be worn as a bracelet and has a cable or port for most phones. Now I can keep my original charger safe and sound at home.

One thing's for sure, BoxTherapy knows what you will need this summer! This dry shampoo from Batiste has the cutest design ever. I can't wait to finish my current one and start using this.

This came a little too late though as I had just gotten back from a trip (which I promise I will share with all of you. SOON!) Nonetheless these wipes from LaFresh would still be helpful when we have our many adventures in the city. One can never be too careful.

Last but not the least! Liquid eyeliner from Eyeko, I have yet to try this on myself as I don't really fancy eyeliners with felt-like tips.

And there you have it! BoxTherapy's April Edition! I will be subscribing for May no doubt about it. So watch out for that one as well or better yet, try it out for yourself!

OOTD: Lazy Thursdays

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:35:00 +0000

It's been quite a few weeks since my last post. Work life has been such a whirlwind, nonetheless I had an amazing experience because of it. I just came back from a 9 day trip in Thailand. It was a 'business' trip but not the paper works and meetings kind. The best kind of 'business' trip is of course the leisure type which we did. For those of you following me on my Instagram account, you'll know what I'm talking about and for those who don't well go on and check it out! ;) but no worries as I'm going to be sharing all my adventures right here, so watch out for that in the next couple of days.

Being away for more than a week was fun but I missed my family and friends as well and since it's the weekend -at least in Dubai- we have what we like to call 'Lazy Thursdays', hence the name of this post. Thursday is usually the day we're all chilled out -for the most part- and just awaiting the end of the day, somewhat like waiting for the last bell ring back in high school years, 'Lazy Thursday's' usually consists of a lot of gossips, laughter and the occasional leisurely stroll during lunch hour.

This particular Thursday, we decided to take our 'office' camera which is a Nikon D300s and has a 50mm lens. Safe to say Bianca had a lot of fun playing around with it, so we took this day to take a few OOTD images. I wanted her to take mine especially as I wanted to focus on the nifty new blouse my dear momma got me from her recent trip to the land of pines (that's Philippines, which is where I'm from if you didn't already know)

It's still a bit cool in Dubai but I know that the heat would be arriving soon and I've been searching for some light materials to wear. With that being said, I was literally overjoyed when my mom presented me this when I came back from my trip, this along with another lightweight top which I will share with you guys soon enough. It may be long sleeved but since it's made from a fabric called Tencel which is similar to the fabric Rayon. It's soft, breathable and light.

I usually go for easy outfits on Thursdays, heck if I could wear pajamas I would. Come to think of it, if I had my own publication or office I would implement a pajama day! Now wouldn't that be fun? :D

Here I'm wearing my now favorite necklace which I got from Billabong. A good catch as I was searching for a cute but simple necklace and this was just the perfect find. A shell which for me signifies my love for nature, the beach, swimming and water generally.

Top: Just G
Jeans: New Look
Shoes: Converse
Shell Necklace: Billabong

Photo Credits: Bea Danise

OOTD: Monochrome & Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Top: Philippines
Skirt: Splash
Cardigan: Borrowed from Sarah
Shoes: Converse
Bracelet: Philippines

Photo Credits: Abigail Barbasa

The Pole Life

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 08:25:00 +0000

After what seemed like a tedious start to the week, we were able to relax and have fun last Tuesday at the grand opening of Pole Fit Dubai. It was a good thing that we were able to attend and witness pole dancing for the first time in our lives. To say the least, it was amazing, wonderful and jaw dropping. Here we are with the lovely ladies of Pole Fit Dubai.

We were one of the first to arrive and it was a good thing too as we got to chat with the instructors and they showed us a few basic moves for pole dancing. I'm quite sure I'm doing it the wrong way. who knew that doing a simple spin was difficult? It looked so easy when they do it. Unfortuantely I had a bit of trouble since I'm a person who always seems to have sweaty hands and although I tried using one of their grip powders, it still didn't work! Woe is me.

But hey! I can still hold on to it like the little monkey that I am. So after our 'playtime' at the pole room, we headed out to their quaint outdoor patio, where some of the performances was held. They showcased aerial hoops and aerial silk acts.

Watch their performances on my Facebook page!

After hanging out at the patio we headed back inside for some more performances, this time they were going to showcase the pole dancing, solo and duo and also a burlesque dance.

Pole Fit Dubai is located at the ground floor of Marina Sails Tower, which is right next to Byblos Hotel Dubai Marina. They offer various classes like pole fitness, hoops, silks, trapeze and so much more! Their fitness center comes equipped with lockers and shower rooms for your convenience.

We were also given a voucher for a free class of pole fitness which we are looking forward into trying. You can check out more about them on their social links below!

Battle of the Pianos

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:36:00 +0000

Just this week, my girls and I were talking about how each one of us has our own style when it comes to fashion. Abby's style is more into the Korean kind of look, whereas Bea is more on the feminine style, and I prefer to have some sort of edge on my looks. That being said, the place we went to last night was the perfect place for us, considering we're not the 'clubbing' type of ladies. Their motto is 'Come As You Are', and we most certainly did.

It was our first time to step into this place, quirky enough to be named '& Lounge'. Stepping into the mini 'lobby' we were surprised with the contrast of the place, the elegant chandelier against the wooden vintage doorway that will lead you into the actual lounge.

Once you step inside, the uppity ambiance of the hotel will roll of your shoulders and replaced with a kind of familiarity and comfort. & Lounge isn't any other kind of lounge, it boasts itself with its surprisingly simple yet familiar and artistic ambiance. To think that this quaint little cove got famous painter Laurent Godard to get creative on their walls just for their launch. Justice it did to the place too. With mismatched sofa's and quotes adorning the walls, this place was and is the perfect place to unwind.

Wednesdays at & Lounge is what they call 'Live Lounge Wednesdays', where you can request your favorite songs, whether it be funk, pop, rock or blues, and the pianists for the night will play your requested songs. And on top of that, every last Wednesday of the month will showcase a 'Battle of the Pianos', which what we witnessed last night.

& Lounge has a lot of themed nights, where everyone will surely enjoy the night with good food, music and friends. For ladies night, they have a promo where the chosen drinks and snack bites are free from 7pm until 12am. I must say that is enough to enjoy all through the night.

This is definitely the place to be if you're not looking for an overcrowded bar, the atmosphere is almost too serene and perfect that you would want to come back every chance you get. & Lounge is located at the ground floor of The Address Dubai Marina.

We hope to see you there! Also a special thanks to the ladies of Katch International PR, our ever so grateful hosts. They were also the one's behind the launch of Sister's Beauty Lounge, you can read about that here!

Sister's Beauty Lounge | Mirdif

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 08:14:00 +0000

We dubbed last night as a ladies night out. After the eventful days last week and from the last few days as well, we needed a little relaxing moment. So when we received an invite for the opening of the Sister's Beauty Lounge in Mirdif, we had to go. It was the perfect place to be that night and also the location was close to all our homes.

Our Elite Monde & Dantelle editor, Hanadi Dawara was telling us about Sister's and their other locations in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. They have various treatments from hair, make-up, nails, massages, facials and body waxing. Their location in Mirdif is across Fitness First on the first level. The interior is as sleek and chic as ever, with abstract art and paintings scattered across the rooms. Each treatment room is separated to give you a sense of peace while having your service done.

During the opening night, you could get your hair blow-dryed and have your nails done. We all opted to get our nails done, so we went over to the mani-pedi room and chose from their wide array of brands, from Essie, Ciate and a many other.

While waiting, a ballerina entertained us by showcasing some graceful moves.

We were also able to sit and catch up with Tricia from Katch Int., their PR team are the one's handling Sister's and well many other brands too. In my personal opinion, I love working with them as their easy to talk to and also very friendly!

It was a well worth experience, and I can't wait to try out their massage services and maybe try their Moroccan bath too!

You can check out their social accounts below!
Website
Facebook
Twitter: @SistersBL
Instagram: @SistersBL

Urban Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 09:32:00 +0000

Last Thursday was one hectic day, with my deadlines for my weekly magazine and an event I had to cover and write about on the same day. I had to go overtime with the magazine's graphic designer in order to finish it in time for this Sunday's issue, but we made it through. The said event that I had to cover was the kick-off for Dub Fest's second edition. It is Dubai's first and only International Street Theatre and Comedy Fair.

Dub Fest is a 10 day event, where over 40 international street and theatre performers will showcase their talents; and where else can a street theatre take place but in the very heart of Dubai's urban area, Al Ghurair Centre's inner street. They have kiosks and stalls all set up for everyone to enjoy and have a feel of the natural street environment.

The kick-off started around 2PM on Thursday, 19th of March and showcased acts from performers like Tutti in Valigia and The Checkerboard Guy. Unfortunately I was only able to stay until the second performer as, like I had mentioned earlier, I had to make my way back to the office which was way over on the other side of Dubai. Yet it was enjoyable and I can't wait to visit and watch the other acts over the course of the next few days. Dub Fest 2015 is taking place from March 19 until the 28th.

I just went through a quick interview with Mr. David Thurling, the Vice President of Al Ghurair Centre, for the story I wrote for the event and headed back to the office. I took as many images as I could on my way out as I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Before I left they gave a goodie bag which contained souvenir items for Dub Fest, which included a t-shirt and an adorable tumblr, with some additional things like a Dub Fest magnet and shopping vouchers too!

You can get yourselves the t-shirt and tumblr at a very affordable price too. If I'm not mistaken the shirt costs around 20-25DHS and the tumblr 15DHS. They're so colourful too that you just won't be able to resist. They have a souvenir stand inside the mall, right opposite PAUL.

A Memorable Lunch Out

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Last Thursday was a memorable one, because it was the first time my colleagues and I were able to go out and enjoy a meal together. We dubbed it the first of many, well hopefully. It was mainly because Masuma, one of our beloved editor and a dear friend and mentor of mine, was going home to Pakistan for her maternity leave and it was her 'last' day. So we decided to have a nice and relaxing lunch out.

Since we were all ladies, our main activity was to gossip; and boy did we gossip! It was fun and full chatter and stories and pictures. We even ordered some nice drinks to go along with our planned lunch out. Bea and I ordered our favourite, Virgin Mojito and to our surprise the mother-to-be ordered a Blue Pacific Margarita! Well it took for a very good picture.

Imagine four ladies ordering this amount of food, by the time we were served our main dishes we were already full of all the gossiping we've been doing. Nonetheless, it was still good fun sharing that special moment with my fellow co-workers who I consider dear friends of mine. Also we were pretty excited as we know that the next time we'll be seeing Masuma is when she'll have her little bundle of joy in her arms. Motherhood does great things and we're happy for her and her soon to be family.

Taco Tasting | Rosa Mexicano

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 06:41:00 +0000

I've had this restaurant in mind for the longest time, why I never had the chance to try it out, I never know. So when we got invited for a taco tasting, I just couldn't resist. I was so excited about being able to finally step into the restaurant.

We were initially served with their signature dish, some good ol' guaco. Now I'm not a big fan of avocados but this is an exception, it's too good to miss out!

Next up are the tacos! That is what we came for after all and I'm a big fan of tacos too, so this part I was sure to enjoy, They have a new set of taco's which we all tried.

Safe to say we were able to taste all of them and it was delicious! A warning though, the beef and shrimp tacos are very flavorful and biting into the cheese taco after that may give you sort of a bland taste because of the lack of flavor, but they're all still delicious nontheless. I personally prefer the Taco De Pollo out of all of them. no surprise there as I'm a meat person. I would definitely be coming back here real soon and not just for the tacos too. :)

TGIF | 30 New Dishes

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:40:00 +0000

Just recently TGI Friday's announced that they have released 30 new dishes to their menu, so as a regular, I was curious and excited to see the new things that they were offering. So we set a date and on a cool February night, I headed out to Dubai Mall with my friends. What added to the night was that it was my first time to eat at the Dubai Mall branch. Upon arriving we were instantly led to our tables which was out in the balcony, which I might say has the best view, the whole of the Dubai Fountain, Souk Al Bahar, Burj Khalifa and Dubai's cityscape was laid out in front of our eyes.

We took our time in looking over the menu, going over how we're going to proceed with ordering as I wanted to make sure I get to taste if not all, then most of the new dishes. The manager was friendly and accommodated us with our questions. It wasn't that hard to spot which one's were new as there was a sign next to it. The manger did mention that some dishes weren't really new, it had been there years before and was pulled out, revamped and was now back on the menu. After jotting down what we wanted, we proceeded with ordering our drinks (no new ones there).

Appetizers:
We ordered our appetizers first while enjoying our drinks and the fountain show. There were a total of 7 new dishes for appetizers and we chose 3 from those. Beef Bacon Mac & Cheese, Memphis BBQ Sliders and Caribbean Wings and our ratings are as follows:
1.       Beef Bacon Mac & Cheese – A soft and cheesy surprise, these Mac & Cheese balls are our top pick from the appetizers, with the perfect sprinkle of creamy cheese sauce with tidbits of beef bacon.
2.       Caribbean Wings – Skewered Fridays wings are our next choice as their original tropical spiced sauce is bursting with flavour, adding to that a nice sweet taste from the pineapples along with it.
3.       Memphis BBQ Sliders – Sandwiched between two crispy waffle fries, the flavourful taste of their BBQ beef and cheese are a bit too strong for our taste, nonetheless still tops our list for appetizers.

Steaks:
Next on the menu was of course the main course, we focused mainly on the steaks during this one as we were all meat lovers, we didn't bother much for the salads and burgers which looks equally amazing. Here are our top picks as follows:
1.       Double Mushroom Rib Eye – Our ultimate favourite from the new steak options, a perfectly grilled rib eye steak with a savoury mushroom sauce with fried Portobello mushrooms on the side to contrast.
2.       Coastal Surf & Turf – A simple yet delicious take on Surf & Turf, a classic Sirloin Steak with a creamy shrimp basil sauce to match. One that is a must to try.
3.       Steak & Garlic Fries – Have a feel of that New York vibe with this option. Perfectly seasoned and grilled, the garlic fries on the side will not disappoint especially when dipped in horseradish cream.

Tex Mex:

It's safe to say that by this time we were quite full but onward with our gastronomic adventure. The next on our table was two Tex Mex dishes.
1. Sizzling Chicken Mexicali – A perfect choice if you can’t decide between choosing something cheesy or spicy. This Spanish rice with marinated chicken breast is a perfect combination with the melted Colby and Jack cheese.
2. Tex Mex Mac & Cheese Pasta – Warning: This is a really spicy pasta plate. Don’t let the Mac & Cheese fool you, these will give a bite back if you’re not fond of spices.

Dessert:

By this time we were really full and as the night was creeping into close to midnight we were all feeling drowsy because of the mixture of our drinks and satisfying food. Despite this we of course did not forget about the most important part which was... DESSERT! Couldn't pass that up.
1. Sizzling Toffee Cake – This was probably the best part of our meal and it did not disappoint. From the warm, soft and creamy cake, to the cold, sweet and smooth taste of the ice-cream, it is a perfect ending to any meal.
2. Salted Caramel Cake – This one was just oozing with sweetness that you can’t quite put your finger on, but this will definitely solve your sweet tooth that’s for sure.

So those are our top picks from the new dishes of TGI Friday's, I cannot wait until the next time we pay a visit, the Sizzling Toffee Cake is definitely worth coming back to and was most probably my favourite art of the whole menu.

Winter Workout in Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:41:00 +0000

I love working out, when I'm not lazy and when I don't succumb to eating unhealthy but yummy food. What I don't fancy is cold, freezing, nose nipping weather. Don't blame me, I'm a tropical girl by birth. So my bestbud Bianca and I went to try out Ski Dubai's 'Snowrobics' for READ Magazine. It was a scary thought as like I said, I didn't like the cold freezing temperature that much and to think that it was at 7AM.
Heading down to Mall of the Emirates we were surprised there were a good many people most of which included ladies and trainers from MMA Fitness Center who was facilitating the whole circuit training. Our trainer for the day was Eugene Sobers, he warned us to put on gloves -which are provided- and to make sure to zip-up our jackets before heading in. I seriously did not know how cold a -4 Celsius feels like, I guess I soon found out.

We started out with with a 5 minute warm-up along with 3 minutes of stretching. The key in every session is to keep moving to warm up the body due to the -4 temperature. The main circuit has two parts, the first part includes a 7 minute bodyweight exercises and matt work with 6 minutes kettlebell exercises. The second part was the 8 minute sandbag circuit, which included a 70 meter jog to a small steep slope, all the while carrying either a 5kg or 10kg sandbag, an uphill run was also included in the circuit with the sandbags and a jog back to the ‘base camp’. Before you know it, it’s over and the remaining 7 minutes is for cooling down, stretching and a little motivational speech from the trainers.

I was surprised that I was able to finish the whole 45 minute circuit, especially the sandbag jog and uphill. Special thanks to everyone who was there and to the MMA trainers for giving us tips and encouraging us throughout the whole thing. I will most definitely be back for another session.

Snowrobics are every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 7AM in Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates. There are shower rooms and changing areas for those wanting to freshen up before heading off to work. each session lasts for 45 minutes and costs 70 DHS per class and a monthly fee of 750 DHS.

Product Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 13:58:00 +0000

Just last week we received some goodies from Sally Hansen so we decided to give it a try. Presenting to you Sally Hansen's Real Nail Polish Strips. The one that I got was the 'Reverse French'. Now I used to be a big fan of nail art and basically nail polish, but not so much as now since I barely have the time or the patience to do my nails. Also I'm not a big fan of fake nails and such, but hey there's no harm in trying right?

With this box you get two sets of polish strips, a mini nail file, a cuticle stick and of course a step by step instructions on how to use them.

I must say it's fairly easy to use. I actually had fun putting it on, I've read some reviews where some people had difficulty putting it on but then again it depends on how you will find your own way to make it easier for you. For me instead of removing the clear top first before the silver flip I remove both the silver and clear top together and then apply it on my nails. Once I've made sure I put it on properly I take off the clear top and start pushing down on the polish strips. It turned out pretty well, I guess a little more practice will help me perfect the application.

This is a product I am definitely willing to purchase next time. Although I will wait to see how many days it will last (of course do remember that this depends on what you do on a daily basis). Also I will try if it comes off easily using a regular nail polish remover as I've been reading mixed reviews about that also. But for now I am loving my nails! I do hope it'll last for 10 days. :)
Note: If you all are having trouble following the instructions on the paper, this video from Sally Hansen on YouTube will show you how to do it.

Dubai Market OTB

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 06:41:00 +0000

Don't we all just love the perfect weather these past few days have brought us? We are in our last two weeks of the 2015 Dubai Shopping Festival, have all of you been grabbing the great deals the malls have to offer? I'm sure you all have, but if you're done and over with the big brands, maybe it's time to check out some small labels with big goodies to offer. Dubai is jam-packed with retailers who are oozing with creativity. We suggest you head on over to DSF Market OTB, it's a new retail concept from DFRE and the great thing about shopping here is that it's outdoors, on grassy land with the beautiful Dubai landscapes surrounding you and the shops are in cargo containers! Yep, that's right it's a unique take on shopping.

There are a lot of shops to discover and a lot of items that everyone would love. With the DFRE promising over 70 retailers this year, we're sure you won't run out of items to buy. There are also entertainment and leisure for the kids to enjoy. Plenty of grass area for them to play around too. If you're feeling a bit parched or hungry, no worries as there are food stalls and even fresh juice stands that you can buy from. Even the kiddies an have their own choice of snacks from popcorn right down to some sweetness like cotton candy.

This year also welcomes the participation of Cinema Akil, a home grown platform that aims to bring quality films to the audiences in Dubai. They would be screening two films, Björk: Biophilia Live on January 16-19 at 7:30pm and The Wild Blue Yonder on January 21-24 at 7:30pm. Entrance and all supplementary events are complimentary. Visitors can experience Market OTB 2015 at South Ridge Park from 4pm – 10pm from Sunday – Thursday, and 10am – 10pm on Friday – Saturday.

Another great thing about this place is that it's pet friendly, we've seen a lot of pet owners bring along their furry loved ones to play and stroll around. Take for example Bambi the Chihuahua here. He sure loved that sandwich his owner gave him.

Elia Petridis: The Man Who Shook The Hand Of Vicente Fernandez

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:28:00 +0000

Before the end of 2014, I got the opportunity to sit down with Dubai born Hollywood director Elia Petridis. We spoke about his film The Man Who Shook The Hand of Vicente Fernandez and how he was coming back to Dubai to work here and introduce himself to the industry. You can read the article I wrote for our magazine here in this LINK.

Just last week we were one of the few lucky media members to be able to attend the media screening for the said film. It was in this platform that he wanted to showcase his talent and we were all giddy with excitement as to what the film was all about, and to take note this was also Ernest Borgnine's final film.

We're hoping that we would be able to witness a full pledged screening so that everyone would be able to watch this amazing film. It is however available to download on iTunes for those who are living in the U.S and Canada. Alternately it is also available on Vimeo on Demand for everyone else to watch.

What I can say about the whole film is that it touches you to the core. The message is there and he has shown it beautifully. In the words of Elia Petridis himself "That's the end game, as long as it's rich enough to get there, mission accomplished." Agreeable there were scenes that could have been elaborated or lengthened a bit more but it's understandable as it is budget film. The acting of the artists were impeccable and will definitely have you hooked on the screen. Rating this film I would give it 4 stars out of 5. It is a film I would highly recommend for you to watch, rest assured it would be worth your time.

The Morning Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:11:00 +0000

It's a new year once again and the same as last time, I'm going over my resolutions in my head. I think it's best if I jot them down don't you think? Well my new year's resolution is to finish what I've started, so basically every project or idea that I've started back in 2014, including this blog. Another inclusion is my exercise regime which I did start early in the year then stopped, again. This year I want to start small and continue it until I have the time to increase my daily workouts.

Going to work in the early mornings and coming back home late in the evening is something all of us go through on a daily basis, wherein the weekends are your only free time and by free time I mean time to clean the whole house and do the laundry, that by the end of the day you're just exhausted.
There are a lot of exercise routines that you can find online, whether it be for the whole body or just for specific parts that you want to be toned. Personally I love a routine that works throughout the body. There is one that I've found which will only take up 7 minutes of your time. That's reasonable enough, it's time to stop hitting that snooze button and get on up and start our day with a fresh and healthy regime.

Remember that before starting any workout you should do basic stretching first, especially if this is your first time and day to tackle a workout. After doing so, you're good to start with 'The Morning Workout'! Also, before doing a workout that you don't normally do seek advise from your doctor, especially if you have had a knee injury or if you have weak ankles and so. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods that are rich in fiber and nutrients.

Restaurant Review: Knightsbridge Cafè London

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:21:00 +0000

The other night my mom called me up to ask if I could buy some breakfast vouchers that she had found on hitthedeals.com. So I searched for it and purchased five vouchers; seeing as it was only for 20Aed. The name of the cafe was Knightsbridge Cafe London. Alright sounds swanky enough. My mom and I are known for trying out places to eat for breakfast and this was one of our first adventures for 2015. Literally the first since we decided to have our first meal of the first day of 2015 in this particular cafè. Good thing I bought 5 vouchers as my grandmother and my two uncles stayed with us during NYE and it was only mom and I.

I didn't have the time to search for it or read about its reviews, all I know is that my mom knows where the cafè is because it's right along Jumeirah Beach Road where her office is also. So we drove there on January 1st and lo and behold! I did know the place, well only by its exterior anyways. It also had another cafè called Masgouf.

This is how it looks like and it's somwhere in between Mercato Mall and Emirates Hospital. I'm pretty sure those who drive around the Jumeirah area have seen this. So like I said swanky looking. First off I must say I love the interior and exterior. It has a very laid back feel to it and since the weather is nice and cool at the moment, it's perfect to sit out and enjoy the open air.
We had decided to sit inside despite the cool weather as grandma was with us, again I must compliment the glass walls as it gives the cafè a more spacious look and it also feels as though you were also sitting outside.

Though it must be horrible to sit by the windows during the peak afternoon hours when the sun gets too hot. We were greeted by the door and was sat down in a nice relaxing area by the windows. We informed the server that we had vouchers and was served pretty quickly. We didn't wait for more than 15 minutes for our breakfast to arrive. Although I must remind you to read through the guidelines of your voucher as it indicates whether you should have it printed or not. In our case we had to have it printed but since I didn't have the time before I left the office, I simply saved it on my phone. The server just told me to send the copies to an e-mail she gave so that they would have the copies.
We were served the typical breakfast they have which are eggs (your choice of scrambled or sunny-side up), hashbrowns, sausages, baked beans, cherry tomatoes and coffee or tea. Breakfast was amazing. It was simple but delicious. Nothing too fancy but the taste wasn't bland.

One particular thing I have to point out though was how one of their female servers was blatantly rude and unprofessional. The manager and our lady server was beyond nice and were all smiles all the time, but this particular lady (and to think she was also a Filipina) had me so mad that I just had to complain her to the manager. When we were served our food, there were two coffees missing so we called her by to ask about the coffee and her facial expression and tone of voice is something that should not be shown or given to the customer. I would have understood if it was later in the day or if there were a lot of customers but since it was in the early morning there were no more than at least 15 of us there maybe even less. This is one thing that ticks me off when dining at a restaurant, the service. I admit the food was delightful but the service (even if it's just one person) can and will ruin the whole reputation of the establishment. Despite that I would still recommend the place for a light and relaxing breakfast or dessert. I would rate it three out of five stars.

GetTheLook with Revlon Middle East

noreply@blogger.com (Mae RodC) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:23:00 +0000

Revlon Middle East released their new line products by giving everyone a chance at a free makeover. My blogger and personal friends Bea, Abby and myself, were lucky enough to be invited over personally to experience this. The pop-up booth was set up in Mirdif City Centre directly in front Centrepoint.

We all had turns getting our nails done.Revlon introduced their new Colorstay Gel Envy nail polish. I turned away from the usual reds and pinks and decided to go for a color that I don't usually wear. So I chose the 460 Hold 'Em (which is the second polish from the left) and to give my nails a different kind of look I decided to choose another color to put on my ring finger. I went for a shade darker which is the 450 High Roller (the 4th polish from the right) After getting our nails done, we headed over to the make-up booth where the lovely Assel did our chosen look.

Since I'm more into eyeliners more than eye shadows, I personally asked Assel if she could use one on me. I put the lippie on myself as I had previously tried it on and fell in love with it immediately. The shade is called Shameless and it fits the bill! Plus it's a matte balm.

It's not too late to #GetTheLook from Revlon, head over to Mirdif today and tomorrow and try out their new products!

A special thanks to Revlon Middle East and to the lovely ladies from Havas for accommodating us and for the free products. We will surely love using them.

Follow Revlon Middle East:
Facebook
Instagram

Make-up by Assel Bekkairova
Instagram