I love L’Occitane products.  They’re so luxurious and I am always going back to get more.  This summer I wanted to try out their perfumes and now I am hooked! The scents are beautiful and long lasting, it’s crazy not try them out.  Last month I was invited by L’Occitane to check out their winter collection at a launch at The Domain Hotel.  We got to learn more about the products, view the whole collection, have a fun craft session  and gifted some of the items.

I was excited to get the Amber & Santal perfume to add my already growing L’Occitane perfume collection.  I have almost run out of the Amber & Santal Shower Gel and combining it with the perfume enhances the scent and last longer.  The Amber & Santal is a unisex perfume and perfect for winter.  I am more of a musk/amber sort of scent and not the super flowery type but the Rose & Osmanthus Body Milk is so gorgeous and feminine, and the scent is the perfect type of flowery that is light, luscious and not over powering.  It would be perfect to combine it with the Rose & Osmanthus perfume.  The body milk is hydrating, light and a little goes a long way.   I always pop into L’Occitane for some pampering and really love their products.

Adliya block 338 has become such  a great place to hang out, walk, soak in the arts and just a great atmosphere day or night.

 complimentary from the chef  Mushroom Soup Prawn Ravioli with Truffle Sauce Goats Cheese with Almond Prawn Ribbon Argentianian ~Chicken Chimichurri- Chicken breast with taliatelle pasta in a coreander pesto sauce Black Cod a la Meumier
 Wild Mushroom Risotto Icecream Dome cake

 

 It’s going to be an early start and a long wait on the 14th of Nov queuing for the launch of H&M’s newest collaboration; but it will be so worth it!  Going to these launches it’s always important to have an idea before hand what the collection will look like so you can start narrowing down what it is you must have and what is on your maybe list.  This way once the doors open you know exactly what it is you’re looking for.  After going to a few of these it is so funny to actually just watch the craziness going on; but that only lasts a split second since making sure you get your wish list is at stake and time is tickety tock.  Try and go with a friend, examine each other’s lists; and make a run for it when doors open.  This way your chances double to get the stuff you want and you help each other out.   I have seen some ladies come with their house help and have print outs with sizes written on, to make it easier for them and for her to get her hands on her items.  I must admit that was quite amusing to see but I guess everyone has their own tactics and plan of action.  Have you been to any of the H&M collaborations? I would love to hear your experiences and how you prepare for these launches.

It has been a while since I did a post on Pregnancy, birth and Mama-hood and what better way to kick start again than by informing mums to be about a movement I truly am passionate about.  A lot of the times when women get pregnant, it’s just tick tock tick tock till it’s time to push.  Not many take the time to educate themselves about pregnancy, birth, birthing techniques, doulas, cesarians, pain reliefs and so on.. they just listen to the Dr and take everything face value.  

There’s so much to know and learn from the time you get pregnant to the moment you hold your baby in your arms and months after that.  I always say, if you decided to run a marathon or compete in a triathalon you wouldnt just wait for the day to compete.  You would train your butt off to make sure you were ready in every way.  You would consume yourself with literature, food, exercise and so on to be your best for that give point to compete and win.  It’s the same with pregnancy and birth, you need to empower yourself with all the tools to help you prepare for that given point and beyond.  All those tools will help you ride the wave of labour and actually ‘enjoy’ the experience! Yes .. I said ‘enjoy’ birth, because it is possible without all the painkillers and drugs you can have a beautiful, connecting, positive birth.  We need to start looking at birth as a natural process our bodies are created to do and not look at it as a clinical, hospitalised situation where we need to be strapped to drugs and equipment (this implies to healthy pregnancies with zero complications).

Please join us for the first Positive Birth Group get together on Wednesday, October 30th at 4 pm at Bright Beginnings to share your birth experience, hear other women’s birth experiences, explore positive birth and what it means to you and support other women in the journey of motherhood.  I hope to see you there.

You can check out the facebook page by clicking here.

Owning a vintage CHANEL is an asset and is always always in fashion.

Mark your calendars ladies as Nov 15th is the date Isabel Marant X H&M collection hits the stores and online!! I was excited to hear the news when it was first revealed and couldn’t wait to see what the collection will look like.  Isabel Marant’s signature style meshed with H&M’s affordable high street fashion has given birth to a hip collection.  The collection includes clothing for women, men, kids, shoes and accessories.  I am loving the bohemian rock chick look!! There are quite a few pieces that I am eyeing and hoping to get my hands on.  I will do a blogpost of my picks later on.  What do you think of H&M’s collaborations? Who would you like to see jump on the collaboration bandwagon? This is definitely something to look forward to.

I recently did a blog post of the behind the scenes photo shoot for W by Walla look book.  I loved the collection, the detailing and more important that it was designed by a Bahraini designer!  The images below are my picks from this collecton.  The lookbook was photographed by award winning Bahraini photographer Ali Sharaf who is amazing at what he does.  I got the chance to interview Walla, who is a busy mum and a designer to find out more about inspirations, love for her country and a lot more.

You have elements of Bahrain in your designs; why was it important to you to add that touch?

I consider myself a very traditional person and I am really in love with my culture.

I feel Bahrain has strong inspiration to give to a fashion designer as for heritage, colors, scenery, historical sites…

Very exciting and I feel proud of it; being presented in one of the international capitals of fashion it’s a dream for any designer!

Moreover at the moment my SS14 collection is showcased in a temporary showroom in Paris during the Fashion Week.

Never give up!! Nothing comes easy but if you believe in yourself, you’ll definitely reach your goal!

YES, I have to say it’s not that simple but I try my best to give everything its due importance.

I don’t have a particular designer who I look up to; my inspiration keeps on changing every season. It really depends on the concept of the collection.

I also don’t like to focus on one or two top designers so my inspiration becomes with no limit!

Who would you love to see wearing one of your designs?

Jessica Alba

If you could visit any era, which would it be? 

The 60’s for sure!

 Designer Walla of W by Walla

 

Eid Mubarak !!

May your Eid be blessed with lots of love, joy, laughter, gatherings with loved ones

and may Allah return all the hajjis safely home and accept their pilgrimage.

(had an issue with the internet today, hence the delayed post)

xoxo

For all those in London or heading there, you’re not going to want to miss this! Here is a fashion platform that finally represents US!  Hijab Fashion Week is celebrating the concept of the veil in an ever increasing fashion conscious world. Packed with catwalk shows, creative arts related events, inspirational workshops from high profile speakers, this is set to be an exciting week dedicated every year to promote strong influential women who wear the veil and deserve recognition in mainstream media.