What’s inside ? – dissection of my party clutch

I would be a super happy girl if i could carry my day totes stuffed with everything I possibly need, but the real truth is we can’t!! so here’s what my party purse  always has . 

Do share your party purse essentials… 

Tasteful Tuesday with ActiFry

Best Kitchen Gadget Ever!

As you all know by now that I am a relatively healthy eater, well at least I try to be one .But, honestly  fried chicken and fries really are a huge obstruction on my way.  So, one fine day I found a healthy appraoch to satisfy my craving for fries  without sacrificing on taste. Yes, I found my magical appliance pretties- “Tefal ActiFry”. If you’re an avid fries lover and the thought of  greasy fries starts to turn your stomach, then Tefal Actifry could be the answer…

So, what makes it healthy? 

It is that the fryer uses 1 tablespoon oil to fry about 1.5 kgs – seriously! isn’t that amazing. the fat content is far less definitely. Here is my recipe of how I prepared yummy guilt free fries in ActiFry. also, oil is not required at all if you use frozen items, but as I am a clean eater hence, I stay away from frozen stuff. 

Ingredients 

• 4 large Potatoes 
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Peel potatoes with a peeler and cut them in equal size of thickness.

• Rinse thoroughly in water and drain well.

• Try to dry them completely by wiping with kitchen towels.

• Place fries in Actifry, measure out oil using the green measuring spoon drizzle over fries.  

• close the ActiFry and set the time for about 25- 30 mins.

• It is best to keep an eye on the cooking every 5 mins initially once, you get the hang of it, you will know the exact time taken.( cooking time varies, depending on the thickness and the amount of the fries)

• Cook it until its golden brown, unless you like your fries a little soggy. 

• Once done, serve with salt  and yes your guilt free fries are ready! Bon Appetite 

If your new year resolution is to start a healthy lifestyle then Tefal Actifry will be your BFF…

Disclaimer – This is a non paid review.

No Checkouts, No Overindulgence with unnecessary Items – To Online shop or not?

I was always very apprehensive about shopping online as I am that impulsive shopper who would just want to buy the desired item immediately without having to wait for it like forever (that’s an exaggeration, I mean 5- 7 days). But my perception changed when one fine day I had decided to buy a wallet and went to  buy it but did not the find an additional one as the display piece had one kind of prominent mark on it. So, to cheer myself up I landed home with a bag which was not at all planned by the way. I started looking at designs of my chosen brand wallets online and accidentally I noticed the same wallet was available at their US store. I wanted to get my hands on it so I went ahead and orderd it. But, you guys must be wondering how I got that here since, it was from the US store, hold your horses ladies – will let you know all details.

I immediately opened an account on shop and ship which is powered by Aramex.

Online shopping basics- What to order and what not to order ?

It could be tricky to decide what could be bought online and whats never to even think buying online. so, here are some tips to keep in mind while ordering online.

Never order something you are not sure about, like shoes but in case, you are getting a good deal then go and check the same piece at the local shop and order the same piece. 

I always prefer to order bags and wallets online as you can get some good reductions in price specially if you are opting for designer brands. 

Clothes are an absolute no no for me, but if you are confident then give it a try but be very sure of what you are ordering.

I recently ordered a whole set of amazing cosmetics online while ordering Naked 2 palette and I am completely satisfied with them. okay, here is the catch now be sure of what colour of lipstick, bluish, eyeshadow you want, my advice is to first go and checkout the colours at local stores so you can not go wrong. 

Check the prices at local stores, if the difference isn’t a lot then it is always better to get it from local shop or else the complete order with shipping charges will come unto same or sometimes a little more.

Where to online shop?

regional and local online shopping stores are a great and quicker options, also some of the stores accept cash on delivery.

http://en-sa.namshi.com
http://www.sukar.com/sa
http://markavip.com/sa/ 
http://www.net-a-porter.com 

Instagram 

If you want to get Naked palettes or dos lip balms without having to wait then just order from these instagram accounts who sell beauty products that are not available in KSA, usually a delivery charge is there which is not too much but you get the products delivered at your door step the very next day. (depending on the availability of course) 

themakeupboutique – this is based in Jeddah
bellejeddahonlineshop – they ship everywhere within KSA
thetrunkriyadh 


So whatever you decide to shop online, just be smart and do to get carried away or else you will end up ordering a whole lots useless stuff. I know a friend who is addicted to shopping online, everyday she receives an aramaex package and believe me most of it goes into her not wearable or not-usable items and eventually into the trash. 

Top five New Years Getaways

So, finally soon we will be welcoming 2014 and if you wish to celebrate your new years out of the country, I have gathered for you top five destinations that you can look forward to for celebrating New Years. 

London 

If you wish to celebrate Newyears with a dash of sophistication then London is your destination. welcome 2014 created with beautiful scenario with fireworks and lights on Thames river. 

How to get there? 

Take advantage of the Saudi Airlines winter offer with SAR 1805 per person round trip.

http://www.saudiairlines.com  

 Istanbul 

If still haven’t been to Istanbul while living in Jeddah then this is the time, it is surely easy on pocket at this time of the year . celebrate New years eve  marveling at the fireworks lit Taksim square , or dinner at Bosphurus cruise. 

How to get there? 

Istabul is easy on the pocket with these steal of a deal offer from saudi airlines, SAR 884 round trip!

http://www.saudiairlines.com 

Paris 

If you want to celebrate new years eve like never before with your soul mate then Paris it is. there are plenty of things to do in Paris at this time of the year. witness the 12 o lock light show at Eiffel tower which is truly a mesmerizing experience. 

How to get there?

perfect holiday prices from Saudi airlines for Paris go as low as SAR 1853 round trip, so book your flight and bon voyage. 

http://www.saudiairlines.com 

Dubai 

It would be a sin to say that living in Jeddah you have never experienced the new years eve in Dubai. if you decide on 30th December that you wish to celebrate new years eve out of the country then Dubai is the place.  

How to get there?

If you book early, you can get great price from Flynas.com 

New York 

There’s no more electrifying place on the planet than Times Square on New Year’s Eve, or party till you drop. buck up party and events info from http://www.balldrop.com

how to get there?

Rely on saudiairlines and avail their winter offer http://www.saudiairlines.com 

Hope you all have a lovely NewYears Eve, as for me I haven’t decided yet where to spend my 31st – yeah we are the spontaneous, last moment kind of travelers.

Celeb Style Diaries

I am by no means a qualified fashionista but I can easily proclaim that I have basic styling sense thanks to my endlessly hours of watching Fashion TV and reading fashion magazines. So, every time I see celebs all decked up for the red carpet, I itch to talk to someone about my views on their attire hence, thought why not get vocal about it and share with you girls! 

Blake Lively in Marchesa

Blake Lively attended an event wearing a Marchesa black bias slip dress with pale pastel floral threadwork embroidery and Chantilly lace cut-outs from their Spring 2014 collection. This busy dress is difficult to carry but Blake being Blake makes it work so well. She finished her look with Gucci ankle strap black pumps, rouge lips and nails, I love the look.

Tackle Chapped lips – DIY Lip Care Routine

Pretties, we have reached that time of the year when weather changes are evident and even our beloved Jeddah starts getting a bit cooler or I should rather say pleasant and this is often welcomed by flu and dry lips. For cold and flu you can go to the doctor but I got a solution for your dry lips, all you need to do is raid your pantry! seriously.   

So begin by scrubbing your lips, using this miraculous DIY lip scrub recipe. 

– 3 tablespoons of olive oil 
– 3 tablespoon of sugar (white fine sugar)
– 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder 

Mix sugar and olive oil, once it is completely mashed gradually add the cinnamon powder and voila – your lip scrub is ready. yes, it is that simple, I usually store it in a glass container which lasts for few days or weeks if you refrigerate it. 

After scrubbing, moisturize your lips and make them ready for a perfect smile. I am sharing my secret  organic moisturizer that my mum once told me to use when I had chapped lips and I still use it till date every day before going to bed. So the magical moisturizer is  chocolate butter – yes you heard it right! I make it by adding chocolate and butter, so sweet lovers- alert, this is for you.

– 2 tablespoon butter ( I use lurpark unsalted)

– 1 tablespoon dark chocolate. 

mix both the ingredients on a double boiler or microwave for 20 – 30 seconds and then mix well using a spatula. once cooled down, store it in small containers and refrigerate it so you use it for months. I found a creative way to store mine, empty the used floating candle container and pour the chocolate butter mixture in it. 

Gold Glitter Face Glow

As you know Saturday’s for me is the time when I try to pamper my skin for the week long glow. I had been thinking to try out something new so, this Saturday I found the perfect opportunity to unpack the VLCC package that I had received consisting of a gold face bleach and other face wash, scrubs and masks. The first product among the package to come under the Randomers Cloud scanner  was the Insta glow gold bleach.

Just for your info girlies, VlCC is the most recognized beauty and wellness brand from the Indian sub continent and has a very prominent presence in UAE, Bahrain and Omar . Recently, it  entered the Saudi market. VLCC is widely recognized for its scientific weight loss solutions and its therapeutic approach to beauty treatments.  

So coming back to my Saturday skin pampering session, I got myself ready to try the VLCC Gold instant glow bleach. the gold bleach comes with a pre bleach creme, a bleach formula and a post bleach mask, which is applied in three steps. 

I found that quite intriguing and now I will tell you why. 

I always stayed away from those bleaching cremes since, I have a super sensitive skin and thanks to my first time horrifying bleaching experience that led me to believe that my skin and bleach are like chalk and cheese hence, they should never go on a date, not even for a second!

Firstly, I prepared my face for bleach by washing my face with cold water and then applied the pre bleach creme to make my skin ready for the bleaching process, this is an extremely essential step specially if you got skin like mine  sensitive then do not skip this. 

I applied the creme and massaged it until it was completely absorbed  as per the instructions on the manual. 

Step 2 

Mix the bleaching ingredients, the activator and the creme in the ratio of 10:1. The simple technique here is to take one part of activator powder and ten parts of  the creme, mix it really well . Though the creme is bit sticky and coarse, the paste does not turn out very smooth . Leave it on for 15 minutes maximum, depending on your skin type. (read the instruction manual) wash off with cold water. I felt a bit of irritation while the bleach was working on my face but that’s quite a normal bleaching effect. Once I washed my face I could see an instant glow and girls, it is really helpful if you have budding facial hair and you do not want to ruin the smoothness of your skin by waxing it. 

Now, wohoo comes my favorite part, the post bleach face pack. I applied the post bleach on my face and left it for about 5 or maybe 7 mins followed by massaging it gently so it can be absorbed. 

I am not a huge fan of bleach but this package just made me believe it is good for my skin due to the fact that it had pre and post bleach cremes that kept my panic nerves in control since, I had the damage control ammunition in hand just incase it was needed. 

So my verdict is that I am quite satisfied with VLCC Insta glow gold bleach, works well if you have a party to attend and you want an instant glow. But girls, as you know bleach contains a lot of chemicals so you should not use it frequently. In case, you are motivated to try the  insta glow gold bleach you can easily find it at almost all supermarkets and selected pharmacies across Saudi Arabia. 

After, this super glowy gold bleach the next day I enhanced my pretty face by doing a facial cleanse using VLCC products. stay tuned for my next review on face cleanse- coming soon. Until then stay pretty …xoxo

Sinfully Healthy – Right Eating Guide

I am like this diet police who keeps a vigilant eye on not only what I am eating but on people around me as well, I know I am that annoying friend, wife, daughter, sister who speaks up seeing anyone take a bite of unhealthy or unhygienic crap. I am a morning person who can never leave home without my morning fuel and I religiously eat breakfast and by breakfast I do not mean on-the-go apple or milk but a complete balanced morning meal. 

The funny thing is, people who struggle with weight usually skip their breakfast and the fit ones never compromise on their morning meal. However, at the same time if you are trying to lose weight by healthy eating, it is essential that you watch out your breakfast plate.

In my sinfully healthy section today I am going to give you insights on how to avoid some common mistakes in your breakfast meal so that you do not mess with the numbers on your scale 

A glass of Orange juice 

This might be your staple breakfast but a reality check here, juice contains higher sugar level than the actual fruit, since the fiber is lost in extracting it. Juice literally is a glass full of sugar water, so swap that glass of orange juice with real fruit which will keep you full for longer.

Wheat Cereal –

A bowl of cereal is surely nutritious, but if you end up having more than 1 portion size of that cereal, then it is everything but healthy. Try  instant oats instead, oats have far lesser calories than cereal so you can have more then one serving with skimmed milk plus it makes you feel full for a longer time.

Breakfast bars-

Stay away from those breakfast bars, if you do not want to widen  your belly , they are full of sugar and all the junk. if that is your fix for on-the-go breakfast then why not try a healthier solution and have low fat milk with some nuts and fruits like apple or  banana.

Digestive biscuits-

I know a colleague who would binge on digestives since she felt they are whole wheat hence healthy. girls, just because it is whole wheat or sugar free, that does not give you the license to eat how much ever you want. If two digestives do not make you feel full try switching digestives with brown or multi grain rusk, just one multi grain rusk is quite filling.  

Dream Whip Made A Wish Come True!

Dream Whip – is a brand name that evokes warm and fuzzy memories from my childhood .Just one fleeting glance at the Dream Whip packet, magically teleports me back in time at my mom’s kitchen where I would mischievously sneak in the kitchen to experiment with chocolate mousse or top the Jello with Dream Whip. This is why I readily accepted the invitation for a recent Dream Whip event at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce building. The event was held to announce the winners of DreamWhip initiative “Make a wish come true” – which was in collaboration with “Konola Montigoun” charity project instituted by JCCI .

I quite liked their contest and would like to share the details with you. Dream Whip had selected 11 women from the productive families of “Kolona Montigoun” project to share the most challenging stories of progression from their lives. They were also asked to share their fantasy baking recipes in order to win and fulfill this dream recipe.

 Public participation was generated via an online campaign that ran on the Dream Whip’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/DreamWhipArabia from July- August 2013.  The audience rated the top four contestants via voting based on the women’s challenging stories and their passion for baking. 

The best thing that I liked from this contest was that for each vote on Dream Whip Facebook page, the company donated SR. 1/- that aided the accomplishment of the women’s wishes in addition to a cash prize for the main winner.

The final four contestants were made to compete with each other in an on-ground baking competition for final evaluation by the esteemed panelists. These talented women prepared yummylicious desserts, to impress the judging committee. 

The panel of judges comprised of veteran personalities like Chef. Soumaya Al Idrissi and Chef. Ohood Sohail, who rated the candidates’ based on their skills in baking, creativity and uniqueness of their recipes.

 Well, believe me the Competition was not an easy one to  crack given the fact that the participants were all so brilliant  with their dishes, that it was a nail biting and  mouth- watering moment. Well, there had to be one grand  prize winner and the lucky lady was – “Noha Nour Fadul” –  her winning recipe was Galaxy Chocolate with Dream Whip. She received a sum of USD  5,000 which would help in honing her baking skills further. 

I had the good opportunity of having a one-on-one session with this talented young lady. Below are some excerpts.

Randomers Cloud (RC)- What was your winning recipe? And why did you choose it?
Noha – Galxay Chocolate with Dream Whip, I love this recipe, it’s sweet and easy.


RC-   Since how long have you been baking? 
Noha- I love baking, and have been trying to create desserts since I was 15 years old


RC-  What is your take on this winning?
Noha- I was very thrilled and excited as I did not expect that I would win the competition. 

RC-  When you registered for the competition did you have a feeling that you might win?
Noha- No, it was a new experience, as I told you earlier, I never thought I would actually end up winning the competition.
 

RC-How do you further aim to pursue your dream of baking/dessert making?
Noha- I do intend to pursue my passion for baking however, for the moment I want to focus more on my academics and finish my studies. 

 RC- Any tip/statement you would like to tell my blog followers for realizing their dreams?
Noha – I wish good luck to all

 

C for Chubby sticks…

So, there is an interesting story on how I ended up taking a whole lotta stuff from Clinique yesterday.  It was a typical Thursday evening and I went to Mall of Arabia Pottery Barn kids since they had an amazing sale going on so, after not buying any useless leftover stuff at Pottery Barn I headed to Debenhems to pick up my favourite chubby stick as I ran out of it. While at the Clinique stop, I discovered the clinique toner which I was using from years was actually not meant for my skin type and I was like SHOOT!-Is that true!!. The salesgirl Lobna informed me about it and enthusiastically demosntrated me the toner that I should be using for oily combination skin and thats how I ended up buying a big bottle of toner along with my favourite Clinique chubby stick. On another note, the salesgirl was exceptionally efficient at her job which is so unlikely in Jeddah – seriously, and that’s the reason I mostly, stock up all my beauty essentials from Dubai. 

  So this is the toner that I should be using