Monday 30 December 2013

Holiday party at Royal China

This year I hit a lot of lifetime milestones, but I think the most memorable was my first office Christmas party! We had the amazing opportunity to launch Royal China's new 'Duck and Bubbles' concept. Comprising of a number of traditional Chinese recipes, it really was the perfect option for our party as it is laid out to be shared and enjoyed with whomever you are with.

Duck is considered a Chinese national dish, which has been prepared since the imperial era, when it was served for the Emperor of China in the Yuan Dynasty. At Royal China, the duck is cooked to perfection by the team of Chinese chefs who have practiced the art cooking tender, moist and mouth-watering dishes served with steamed pancakes, fresh spring onions and hoisin sauce.
 

At the party we enjoyed the Royal China Duck Dishes such as crispy aromatic duck served with pancakes, spring onions and cucumber, Peking duck served with pancakes, spring onions and cucumber and roasted duck with plum sauce. Of course, all of these dishes were followed by their delicious dim sum and complimented with a glass of bubbly.


Thursday 19 December 2013

A love for design

Anyone and their mother who knows me understands that my true passions are art & design. Whether it be sculpting and watercolours or music and interior design - I am all over it. Hands-on art makes me feel like I can creatively take control of my life whereas art you practice such as interior design and singing makes me feel like the space around me is more of my own.



That being said, I can't wait for February because Chelsea College of Arts is coming back to Dubai for their renowned short courses! There really is something for everyone, including a three-day short course dedicated to Curating Contemporary Art. If you are interested in learning more about the enormous scope of contemporary art and it’s practice internationally, you may be interested in this extremely specialised course that will focus on the explicitly global perspective on the current role of the curator, prompting students to approach the field critically, theoretically and through best practice in commissioning, exhibition-making, programming and art writing in museums and galleries.


CCA is also hosting a specialist portfolio of Interior Design and Interior Decoration short courses. If there are any budding interior designers out there, definitely check out their course list and choose from a range of courses that are suitable for both practicing interior designers looking to learn new skills or update their existing ones, or beginners wishing to pursue the subject as a hobby, each course is an excellent opportunity to learn.




CCA even asked its team of professional tutors to unveil their top design trends for 2014.

·    2014 is about optimism both in terms of colour and pattern - softer shades of bright, bold colours will become available allowing people to pair the bolder colours with more neutral ones

·    Yellow will be on trend but can be a challenge to work with so it will need to be paired with a grey, taupe or sand colour to get the correct accent within a space

·    Geometric patterns have been dominant for the last few years in terms of textiles and pattern and 2014 will see the angles being replaced with softer classical patterns

·    The most exhilarating homes are ones that have objects that provoke conversations. For example, take a 1950s bamboo Chippendale Chair paint it grey or taupe then add the colour or pattern in the fabric. One of the best ways to incorporate colours is by accessories. 

·    The future of design will be divided into two - one will convey our desire to look to the future to tech-savvy advancements as our way to survive this fast paced living and the other is our need to renew some of the past traditions in a quest for authenticity
If you aren't familiar with CCA's qualifications, just take a look at their list of alumni including Alexander McQueen, Anish Kapoor, Mojeb Al-Dousari and Florence Welch. Have a look at their website to see all the offered courses, I am really hoping to have a chance to try one of them out!

www.arts.ac.uk/chelsea/courses/short-courses/middle-east

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Sushi as an art...


 
Having recently moved to Dubai, I am having a seriously fantastic time trying out all the fantastic new restaurants at my disposal. Having been here 6 months, I have finally discovered the DIFC: a F&B haven. This week I heard of an amazing new menu at SushiArt, the sister company of the globally renowned SushiShop. SushiArt has excitingly just announced its official collaboration with celebrated French chef, Joël Robuchon. In January 2014, I am definitely preparing to test out every single thing off of their completely revamped menu, including seven mouth-watering recipes by Robuchon, who operates an array of Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. (Hawaiian roll pictured above)
 

Each year, the SushiShop group, invites a renowned chef to develop its unique menu, which has impressed sushi enthusiasts worldwide. Robuchon, a firm believer that ‘sushi is an art’, has created a selection of recipes that will inspire the customer aesthetically whilst tantalising taste buds. In keeping with the SushiArt’s quest for simplicity and maximizing the flavour of ingredients, Robuchon’s delightful sushi creations include a symphony of tastes that embraces authentic Japanese culinary concepts with the best of French influences.  (Spicy Ebi Roll above)

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at their new menu additions, have a look for yourself!

SALMON TARTAR NEW STYLE - Finely chopped salmon seasoned with a sauce Robuchon
 
CRISPY LOBSTER - Maki crispy lobster and banana yuzu sauce

HAWAIAN ROLL - California basil shrimp yuzu mango sauce

SPICY EBI ROLL - California shrimp tempura spicy tuna yuzu sauce kosho

CUT’N’ROLL - Spring roll surimi

SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD - Spiced and marinated garlic (not pictured)

SUSHI ST JACQUES SNACKEE - Sushi St Jacques miso sauce

 
Restaurant Details:

SushiArt, Marble Walk, Gate 5, DIFC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Opening Hours: 7 days a week from 11.00AM to 11.00PM

Telephone: 800 – 220

Website: www.mysushishop.ae

 

Wednesday 13 November 2013

My go-to way to dress up a casual outfit is through jewellery. Each piece is beautiful, whether it be a delicate and dainty chain or bold and bright statement necklace, they are the perfect way to make it look like you tried a lot harder when you were getting dressed in the morning than you actually did. I have accumulated an embarrassing amount of jewels in my years, but anything that I notice I stop using I pass to my sister or best friend for some love and attention. This post will be a part of a mini-series, so this is the first of three, displaying my bracelet storage!

When I moved and was trying to think of jewellery storage in my new setup, I thought about why I was trying to find a way to hide some of my most beautiful possessions! This is the reason I came up with my new system that hasn't failed me yet.




I bought these two bowls and the tea cup from Anthropology, which was quite an unusual purchase for me. I think Anthropology has such beautiful things, but their prices are so ridiculous that I find it insulting. I got these on sale and they weren't too expensive to start with, so I wasn't hurting when I saw the bill. I think that the bold patterns, though don't necessarily 'match', compliment each other really well and add a pop of unexpected texture to the room.

Let me know how you store your jewellery and any fun tips and tricks you've learned through trial and error.

<3 B

Sunday 29 September 2013

Planning!

My favourite kind of blog is a blog that has anything to do with stationary, planning, organizing, or anything else on that plane. I figured it was only right for me to share that aspect of my life in the blogosphere, too!
I usually sit down once a week to go through the next weeks planning, whether that be meals, work events, meetings, really anything - this is the time it gets added. I will add things along the way directly in or with sticky notes just so I can stay on top of things and make sure I don't lose any dates. I am, however, a very particular person. I like my planner to be as organized as possible, so keeping it pretty is also a priority.


Things I need while planning:

  • Pens and makers! I haven't found the perfect ones yet, but anything colourful and fine point works. (I can't stand writing with thick ball point pens)
  • Sticky notes! I love me some colour, plus this is so useful for things that may need to move around or you really need to stand out.
  • My mini clipboard - this is great for all my little note pads and home-made printables (which will be uploaded on here soon)
  • Washi tape! My collection is much smaller than a lot of people's, which I deeply envy, but I love it none the less!
  • Inspiration - I usually bring along pretty past week layouts, organized magazines, or my iPad full of saved instagram and pinterest posts!


I usually go as far ahead with major things like deadlines or days off, but I tend to stay as close to today as I can with things that can be moved around. If they are prone to movement I just leave them as sticky notes until I can finalize them!


For me, planning is therapeutic. Yesterday, I sat in front of my panoramic view and enjoyed the beach sunset as I got ready to start a new week.

On the planner addicts facebook page, I asked for any recommendations for other stationary, planning and organizing blogs. I haven't included all of the planner addicts group members who blog, but if anyone out there isn't a member of the group and wants to know - feel free to let me know! So, after much suggestion, here is the list!!
  1. IheartOrganizing
  2. A Bowl Full of Lemons
  3. Philofaxy
  4. My Purpley Life
  5. Simply Organized
  6. Does This Pen Write
  7. Plannerisms
  8. Paper Pens Ink
  9. Decluttered Mama
  10. What I Do All Day
  11. Inside the Crafters Studio
  12. Innocent & Twisted
  13. Paper Lovestory
  14. School Supply Dance
  15. She's Eclectic
  16. Musings of a Caribbean Princess
  17. Label Me Organized
  18. Dragonfly Keep
  19. Organizing Junkie
  20. Alejandra.tv
  21. Organized Like Jen
  22. The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

Please comment more suggestions, or your planning rituals. I am always looking for more suggestions!

<3 b

Beach Day in Dubai

A very relaxed outfit of the day usually means the day itself is either so crazy and full of running around that you can't stand to be dressed up, orrrr it means you are genuinely planning on relaxing. I had a great Friday last week. Period. Dot. End.

For those of you who don't live in Dubai, our weekends run Friday/Saturday, rather than the classic Saturday/Sunday. Obviously there is no difference other than the actual week days, but for some reason they feel different. I just moved to Dubai in July and I have yet to become accustomed to this. My planner runs Monday - Sunday, which sucks because now my work week is spread over two pages :( Anyway, the weather in the UAE is really hot throughout the summer months, but it is finally cooling down a little. I still went to the pool and the beach in the summer, but it was miserable if you stayed for longer than an hour. This weekend I took advantage of my day off and the gorgeous breeze and spent time by the pool and the beach.


I am loving high-waisted bikini bottoms, by the way. I mean, it's been all I wear for over a year now, but still - love 'em. How did you spend your weekend?

<3 b

Saturday 28 September 2013

Some current (and not so current) reads

I've always been the kind of girl who donates any books I've read to a local library. That is, of course, unless they are superb. That, along with my immodestly fabulous taste in absolutely everything, is usually why friends truly trust my opinion when recommending the next must-read.

Having just moved into my new home, My collection really withstood a test of quality. I came to Dubai with 3 (hardly svelte) makeup bags, 2 suitcases, and one empty phonebook, so fitting my library in there was a challenge.






First up is Hate List by Jennifer Brown. This book was incredibly written and after the first page I found myself drowning in this calamitous story of the girl who gets blamed for something she didn't do. It is, however, a very upsetting read. So upsetting, in fact, that at points I had to stop myself from continuing on as it was starting to have a stronger affect on me than I had realized. That being said, it was really difficult to put down and I definitely recommend it.

Next, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I can't say enough about this book. I don't even want to tell you all what it's about I just want to force you all to go out and get it! The book is a groundhog day-esque plotline, in which a girl relives the same day for a week, each day revealing more and more about what she thought to be a simple event. I developed with the main character as she grew and learned more about the kind of person she wanted to be. Anyway, I will stop gushing, just as long as you promise to go get it. Now.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour is my current read. Nearing the end I am enjoying this book a lot more than I expected that I would. It isn't a ground breaking read nor is it life changing, but if you are looking for a new book and have read everything else on my list of must reads, it definitely would not hurt to check this one out. I will, however, give a more well-rounded review once I finish it so hold tight.

Life As We Knew It was a book I was recommended about 13 times before I actually picked it up. As much as I hate to admit it, my sister was right. This book was so emotional and really thought provoking. Susan Beth Pfeffer manages to make you feel cold, hungry, and desperate for change as the characters suffer through a dramatic flux in climate as well as a grueling strain on the family bond. I consider this another must-read, though I will be honest in saying that it is on the lower end of that list.

Lucid is a book I have yet to read, so not much to say here, really. It was interesting enough for me to buy without ever having heard of it before, though, so I have high hopes.

Delirium is the first book in a trilogy by Lauren Oliver. I read this in hopes of it being on the same level as Before I Fall. Let me tell you, it was close. It did take a while for me to get into it, but once I did I didn't stop. This is a story about love in a place where love is forbidden. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the fact that it is a series. I typically don't like series' but I gave it a try anyway. The end of the book left me wanting more, but when I went on to read the second book I was nothing but disappointed. Now do keep in mind I haven't been able to find anyone who agrees with me on this one, but the second book was so bad that I couldn't finish it. That rarely happens to me, so I really do not understand how people said they liked it but hey, to each their own. I literally looked up what happened in the second and third book just so I could get some resolution. Maybe one day I will try picking the other two books up again, but for now I have let them be, and donated the second book to my sister, whose next read is Delirium.

Last, but not least, is Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson. I've picked this up to read snippets when I felt like I was lacking inspiration, but I do intend on reading this in full, after finish my current read and have moved my way through Lucid.

There are 2 books missing; Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. The first of which I read a borrowed copy, but do fully intend on buying for myself. This book sucked me in and I couldn't stand to put it down. If I Stay is currently on my sister's night stand. Also one of my absolute favourites. I am going to write a full review on Good Reads any day now, so do go check out my profile on there if you're interested in hearing more.

I couldn't wait to have a reason to use my stunning horsey book ends, so naturally they were the first thing on display in my new room. This was the first of many posts on the details of my new room, so do expect more to come. Thanks for reading and please leave comments with your favourite and current reads!

<3 b