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Dubai

fashion

Alilia.com Launches In Dubai

Posted on April 27, 2017

Online shopping has to be one of my absolute favourite ways to fill up my wardrobe with season staples and i’m super excited about this new portal! Alilia is a Swedish based brand that is launching its first collection and Ramadan specials here in the Middle East.

Walking into the press day felt like taking a step into St. Tropez. A fully boho-chic white wardrobe on one side, full of embroidery and broderie pieces that can be worn anywhere from weddings to walks on the beach, and a day-night collection on the other side that promotes a more bohemian way of life.

The brand is based on creative designer Ali ́’s eclectic life journey, who has collaborated with some of the leading fashion houses throughout Europe including most recently Zara. “Alilia is a brand that evokes feelings of freedom, memories, creativity and love. The passion and emotion put into every detail results in collections full of timeless pieces. I don’t see fashion in individual shapes and forms. I see women who know they are all unique and will let their story be told with Alilia.”

Have a scroll through all the colorful dress prints and lacy tops, beaded skirts and chic kaftan’s which are made from fine fabrics and feature a real attention to detail. Check out my favourite pieces below…

Fitness

Testing Out: Tabata at Motion Fitness

Posted on April 24, 2017

You’ve probably heard the word thrown around and if you’re like me, you’ve assumed rather incorrectly that it was a form of either yoga, meditation or some sort of martial arts. Little did I know walking into one of Motion Fitness‘s classes last week, Tabata is actually a HIIT workout.

Discovered by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata and his team from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. It all started as a science experiment with two groups of athletes. The first group trained at a moderate intensity level, while the second group trained at a high-intensity level. The moderate intensity group worked out five days a week for a total of six weeks; each workout lasted one hour. The high-intensity group worked out four days a week for six weeks; each workout lasted four minutes and 20 seconds (with 10 seconds of rest in between each set).

The results; Group 1 had increased their aerobic system (cardiovascular), but showed little or no results for their anaerobic system (muscle). Group 2 showed much more increase in their aerobic system than Group 1, and increased their anaerobic system by 28%! So all in all, soup two faired much better out of their seemingly smaller workouts.

I can vouch for the intensity level completely, what started as a normal kettle bell class turned into a sweaty circuit course that was honestly exhausting. From burpees to lunges, squat jumps and of course weights, it kept us moving and yet also gave us a bit of a break too, so naturally, i’m now hooked!

fashion

New In Town: Alexandra Miro Swimwear

Posted on April 14, 2017

Summer’s almost here, which means we’ve skipped the whole ‘get into shape’ season and we’re caught with our trousers down… literally. So when your group whatsapp blinks and someone’s suggested a little Nikki Beach action, rather than avoiding it or coming up with an excuse, brave the tan lines and put on your best swimwear!

In this case, there’s a new brand in town who’s making waves, Alexandra Miro is our new go-to online swimwear brand, designed to fit snuggly to your body, whilst flattering your bosom and torso too! With only 7 styles at the moment, the key is not necessarily individuality, but comfort and luxury combined. Whether you’re a gym-bunny or you prefer the Easter bunny, Miro has a design in mind for you.

Miro’s background is in lingerie so we can be assured that she’s seen her fair share of naked women, and most likely, knows a thing or two about the wobbly bits we all want to hide, so she uses a neoprene fabric, which ‘sucks you in’ where you want it to.

Finding the perfect swimwear has long been a passion of mine, so i’m rather excited about the new beach-brunch season getting underway now… check out her collection here:

Fitness

Testing Out: Hapi Power Yoga

Posted on April 4, 2017

A cool new hotspot has opened up in Al Serkal (where else) that incorporates two of my favourite things… food and yoga. Hapi is Dubai’s newest power-hangout that houses a mixture of smaller brands, designed to keep you sticking around for longer. With Parkour and a funky new restaurant hosted by local chef, Paul Frangie, to Urban Yoga‘s zen escape upstairs, there’s something for almost every industrial creative in the area.

Not an exaggeration either… though many consider it to be “gym yoga,” Power Yoga is a fitness-based vinyasa practice. An offshoot of Ashtanga Yoga, it has many of the same qualities and benefits, including building internal heat, increased stamina, strength and flexibility, as well as stress reduction.

Whilst all the postures move at a comfortable speed, there’s always room for improvement… with a variety of yogi levels in the class, we’re given options as to our flexibility, confidence and personal practices. Pushing yourself in yoga isn’t about how deep you can lunge, or how far you can bend backwards, it’s about being able to breathe in the postures, not holding your breathe and hoping for the best.

Fitness

Testing Out: Barry’s Bootcamp

Posted on March 24, 2017

Hailed as ‘the best bootcamp in the world’ (self-proclaimed of course) it’s going to raise some eyebrows. I’d personally not heard of the HIIT phenom that’s a London institution before it came to Dubai, but i was eager to check it out. Barry’s is a fusion class that combines a signature style of cardio which is all treadmill based and strength workouts which are floor based. It’s said to help burn up to 1,000 calories in just one hour, although you’ll have to work extra hard to accomplish that.

Barry’s is a great way to de-stress, burn off your lunch and generally get the heart pumping, with loud music, enthusiastic instructors and of course, plenty of muscle bound inspiration in the room too. I work out much better when i’m positioned in between other enthusiasts due to my slightly competitive nature ;).

The lights go out and a single instructor will guide a room of up to approx 50 gym-goers on two separate workouts, with half the room on the floor for 15 mins and the other half on the treadmill, swapping to ensure you’re keeping your heart rate up all the way through the class. It can get loud in there, but I found that the ear plugs at the door helped block out any distractions and allowed me to concentrate on my own workout better.

Barry’s pushed me but without me hating it half way through… granted I could have pushed a little bit harder on the treadmill (i’m not a runner), it was a happy sweat and a pat on the back rather than a shoulder strain and physical exhaustion that other bootcamps have had… the protein shake waiting for me on exit helped too!

Fitness

Testing Out: Aqua Biking

Posted on February 24, 2017

Ok so I have to admit, I thought this was going to be a bit like aqua-aerobics, you know, where your gran would go to the local community pool for a ‘workout’… I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is L’Atelier Aqua Biking a resistance training class, it’s also a great way to workout if you’ve got an injury. There’s 4 positions on the bike to master, as well as an off-bike section thrown in to keep you moving.

What exactly is it? Described as a mix of circuits and spinning, L’Atelier has specially designed bikes that live in the water itself. It’s not going to be an easy swim where you can keep your hair dry too, the water goes up to your chest and you get 45 mins of legs, arms and core all underwater, with LOTS of splashing about. Feeling strong? Added weights at the side will help increase the resistance, but trust me, as a first timer, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

Not only is it a fun way to workout, it’s an effective form of hydromassage, that is said to help flatten out cellulite. You’ll get less water retention with this workout and thanks to the water’s buoyancy, you’ll be supported by 50% of your body weight, so if you’re injured or over-stretched, this will reduce the risk of further injury.

It’s cold when you first get in… but after the warm up, you’ll be glad your body temperature is controlled by some cooler water. If you’re feeling particularly fit, try the more intense training or HIIT classes too where you’ll be subjected to an underwater trampoline exercise!

fashion Fitness

New Year, New Workout Gear

Posted on January 5, 2017

Ever feel like your workout wardrobe is better than your evening one? I certainly do… but that means it’s time for it to get a bit of a karmic cleanse too (I mean who wears neon to the gym anymore!?). I always wear my newest gym gear, because like everything, when it’s new, I feel confident in it. Admittedly there’s a few colour heavy/trendy pieces mixed in with the more classic black leggings, but all in all, I can honestly say I’d be happy to downward dog in just about everything in there.

Even though it’s my current favourite gym wear, it’s worth recycling the pile every so often. If you can’t work out what to throw out, turn the pile upside down and see if you go for those forgotten leggings next time you book a class or if you pull from within the pile itself!

For me though, a workout isn’t just in the gym! My swimwear also gets a refresh every January – to whittle out those few favoured bikinis that are turning a little see-through…

Check out my fave new pieces you can buy online in the U.A.E!
THE UPSIDE paddle suit from Sun & Sand Sports

DHARMA BUMS leggings from yApparel

BODY LANGUAGE capri leggings and crop top from Sun & Sand Sports

Recommended

Feeding Your Face with Elemis Superfood

Posted on November 17, 2016

If your diet includes less kale and more Krispy Kreme you’ll be very aware of the fact that when it comes to skin health, you are what you eat. Diet choices are directly linked to breakouts, dark circles and fine lines, so what’s a girl to do when she doesn’t want to sacrifice her burger habit for the sake of her beauty regime? Enter, the Elemis Superfood Range. With a line-up of ingredients that would have even the most obsessive clean-eating advocates standing to attention, this new launch from the spa-centric brand focuses on nourishing your face with the perfect balance of radiance-promoting superfoods.

Containing (deep breath) broccoli, poppy, cucumber, macadamia, rice bran, daikon radish, roseship, flax and meadowfoam seed oils (phew!), the cleansing wash and luxury oil contain every nutritional essential you need to fake your way to good genes. Flooding your complexion with omega rich extracts not only has an instant effect, giving your skin a fresh glow after the first application, but, applied twice daily, is clinically proven to reboot the texture of your epidermis and balance the pH level, leaving you with a fresh, glow-from-within radiance that will have everyone convinced you’ve never skipped your greens.

The Power of 9:

Broccoli Seed Oil
Poppy Seed Oil
Cucumber Seed Oil
Macadamia Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Daikon Radish Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Superfood facial oil: Dhs378 Available across a range of spas in the GCC.

Fitness Recommended

Want To Wake Surf In Dubai?

Posted on November 13, 2016

I’ve developed a very addictive (expensive) little surf hobby that’s been helping to keep me cool all summer. Wake surfing is Dubai’s latest water-sport to get passionate about. It’s a mixture of balance, confidence and co-ordination, but paired with a beautiful sunset and Dubai’s much cooler weather now, it really doesn’t matter how many times you fall off.

It’s not to be confused with wake-boarding, where your feet are strapped into a board and are pulled behind the boat on a rope, it’s essentially a mini-surf board (like a skim board) that you ride on the wake of a boat, only using the rope to pull you up into standing position, very close to the back of the boat itself. Each hour is roughly between 400-550aed depending on where you go and what day of the week it is. 1 hour is great for two people, but 3-4 people all wanting a go – plan for 2!

There’s lots of people around who are keen to give it a go, as it’s a lot less dangerous than wake boarding… the boat is going a lot slower for one thing and your feet aren’t strapped to a board so when you do fall in, you can land as naturally as possible. So here’s a round up of my TOP 3 wake-surf boats about town.

1) Xtreme Wake
Setting off from just outside Spinney’s in the Marina, they have two boats available – one is better for wake surfing than the other one so be specific when you book. They specialise in more intermediate skim boards, with a brand new one available now too, that’s lighter and great for playing around on the wave with. They also have a boat that runs in Ghantoot and a gorgeous seaside taverna called La Cala that just opened up too, so you can now wine & wake (although I wouldn’t recommend that at the same time!)

2) Sea Riders
Boasting two bright red boats based just opposite Bistro Des Arts at Marina Mall, Sea Riders have a great team behind them, the guys are very hands-on and beginner friendly. They came highly recommended and did not disappoint, great for group bookings too. They are also the first to foray into the famous Dubai Creek, so if you’re after a bit more of a scenic background, they’ve got you covered.

3) Fahrenheit Beach-sports
A brand new hotspot on the beach down by the flag, they have a great new boat, with a beautiful long wave either side and zero traffic on the water, so you’re less likely to get knocked off your game with other waves around. The boards are a little more buoyant than i’m used too, but it meant for a bit more playing around on the wave. With a cool set up down at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, they have valet too and a bar, so get settled in for a sunset ride and a few cocktails afterwards too.

All in all, getting in some vitamin sea with wake surfing is an awesome way to wake up and start your day, so book an early morning session wherever you choose for the best water conditions and least traffic!

Hotspot Recommended

A Seafood ‘Shellebration’ at Pier Chic!

Posted on August 18, 2016

Pier Chic is one of my favourite seafood restaurants in Dubai. It really is the epitome of fine-dining with its beautiful location out on the water at the end of the Al Qasr jetty. This (so special it should be saved for anniversaries only) hotspot is becoming more and more open and accessible too, with a whole host of delicious dining influences popping up. I jumped at the chance to check out their new six week seafood programme aptly named a ‘shellebration’ of the sea!

Chef Paul Lupton is the man behind this summer-curated concept, which is available from the 22nd of July –> the 4th of September. It boasts a weekly change in Pier Chic’s food focus, where you can expect to be taken on a journey through European coastal regions, enjoying all the fruit de la mar you could ever want. There’s a piece of the sea for everyone, with culinary themes such as; Marseilles Seafood Market, Valencian Seafood Paella and the Feast of St Antony, it’s a slice of (real) summertime.

There’s nothing I love more than a good fish & chips, so I was not going to miss sampling Pier Chic’s take on this British staple… and let me tell you – it was DELICIOUS! I may be biased because I love the venue, but honestly, that was the most chic fish & chips I’ve ever tried! Don’t let my snapchat fool you – I couldn’t put my fork down long enough to do it justice photographically.

Check out the schedule here:
Week 1: Marseilles Seafood Market
Week 2: Valencian Seafood Paella
Week 3: Feast of St Antony, Portugal’s Sardine Festival
Week 4: Posh Fish & Chic
Week 5: Amalfi Coast
Week 6: Galician Octopus Fiesta

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