Category: Lifestyle features

Not enough shoes!

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Shereen Shabnam The Rockport Company®

Having over 250 pairs of shoes is driving the man in the house nuts but little diva and I never seem to have just the right shoes every time we step out the door….couple of weeks ago we actually were scuffling over one pair we both wanted and when Eric pointed out that with over 250 pairs around the house, surely we should not be fighting over just one.

See…man don’t get it. We may have loads of shoes but we have phases where we just like that one pair for each purpose and we wear it to the bone…but we also like the comfort of having heaps of choice. Currently Tash and I are into comfy chic so this is a problem that gets out of hand when we both have PMS….dealing with one woman on PMS at a time is bad enough for any man but with two at a go can test the patience of anyone.

So this show diva is currently eyeing The Rockport Company® which is introducing a group of 2013 Spring/Summer footwear collections that is avant-garde inspired, featuring a luminous color palette, silent technologies, and functional materials.

These styles are ideal for your weekend brunch to afternoon cocktails during spring and summer’s first warm weekends….with feminine styles, unique screen prints and the functional and practical elements are perfect to pair with free-flowing dresses or slim or snug fit trousers (I need to lose a few kilos before I do the snug trousers bit)

Meanwhile, the shoe fight continues in my household with males around us seeing no rhyme or reason why women can be so obsessed with shoes…as we let the men mull, we head to see what The Rockport Company® has in store for us.

Saying yes to ‘Prose’

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Prose

Being a poet, seeing the word prose bring many different thoughts to my forever overactive mind so when I saw the name on a perfume bottle, I had to try it…especially as the bottle was red and I am known for my splashes of red indulgence at home and in my accessories.

Little diva is also into perfumes these days and this fragrance definitely caters to the young and vibrant diva. Not sure how thrilled I am about this as she has already taken over my extensive shoe collection and continually asks if she is inheriting every cool piece of jewellery I wear. But as much as I love Prose, which is a delectable, vivacious, and spirited fragrance, I will share this one with Natasha even if it is in small doses.

Prose emanates a feminine, warm, and playful aroma that is impossible for any young lady to resist – perhaps it’s because this charming contemporary fragrance is infused with delicious scent combinations, featuring the perfect balance between fresh, younger notes, and a more mature, and earthly aroma. I guess that’s why both Tash and I love it…. Not that being 40 means that I am the mature one J

For people who like looking at the ingredients base of a perfume, Prose combines hints of bright and fresh citrus fruits such as orange, melon, and apple, with a fruity trifecta of strawberry, coconut, and sugar – all a brief prelude to an invigorating base composed of a rich laden amber, vanilla, and musk.

Because this nice wonder comes from Ajmal Perfumes, the region’s multi award-winning fragrance house, I was surprised that Prose is priced at AED 100…very affordable and great to buy for yourself and your pre teen and teen divas…my little diva absolutely loves it.

Hey Sugar!

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Shereen Shabnam art cakes

I love sugary sweet things…even my name ‘Shereen’ means sweet or is referred to as a synonym for sweets in so many cultures. Hence I always look out for anything that is sinfully delightful and news from Hey Sugar always puts a smile on my face.

With throngs of art lovers descending into Dubai this March, Hey Sugar Bakeshop gets into the spirit with a cool selection of art-inspired, Limited Edition cupcakes.

Munch on the masters as sets of 6 assorted cupcakes will be available exclusively at Hey Sugar’s Jumeirah Location for just 3 days, from the 21st till the 23rd of March….does that give me an excuse to get sugar injected and commit some calorie laden sin? Afterall it is in the name of art!

21st edition of Dubai International Boat Show makes a splash

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dibs MMG Group Shereen

Its time for the region’s number one marine leisure exhibition – The Dubai Boat shoe that every year brings stunning superyacht displays, live entertainment and exciting prize giveaways. As always, almost all the members of the Millionaire Group are associated with the show in one way or another and this year, we have also added our quarterly magazine to the show to show our support and to ensure that DIBS helps put Dubai’s marine industry on the world map. Afterall, we are the hottest contenders for the World Expo 2020 J

The Dubai International Boat Show’s 21st edition is at the Dubai International Marine Club – Mina Seyahi. I was with our dear friend Saeed Hareb – the father of Dubai’s marine industry and he was gushing about how the show intends to make a splash with more than 430 boats on display, including an impressive 30 premiers with 11 global launches and 19 regional launches…I also keep hearing the awesome figures on the radio everyday which surely makes us proud to be part of Dubai and supporting the show.

The packed DIBS programme of leisure marine activities at the Dubai International Boat Show gets under way at 3pm until 9.30pm and features luxurious superyachts, live entertainment, prize giveaways, water sports and more.  With over 750 companies and brands from 49 countries selecting the Dubai International Boat Show as the platform to showcase their boats and marine industry products and services, this year’s event further demonstrates the importance of Dubai as a global platform to reach both regional and international buyers.

One of my favourite girls in town, the ever glamorous Trixie Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre (organiser of the event) always has something exciting up her sleeve for every boat show. This year she says visitors can look forward to live entertainment, prize giveaways, luxury car displays, demonstrations and much more, on top of the many other industry related talks, displays and events.

Gulf Craft, who remain my favourite people to meet are there in full force…who can resist the charm and knowledge of Mohammed Al Shaali and the energy and hands on dynamism of Erwin Bamps? Every year, they do something special which is amazing and makes people feel at ease at a show. I also hope to see Sultan Al Shaali…another young Emirati who is full of surprises and is another friendly face we all love.

Visitors to this year’s show will be able to engage with members of the ‘Superyacht Experience’ from the elite Superyacht Builders Association, and  also view over 19 of the world’s luxurious superyachts being showcased at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show.

The popular Retail Village and Heritage Village return this year with spectacular live entertainment to be enjoyed throughout the show. Other exciting highlights include visitor prize draws with the chance to win amazing prizes throughout the show, including a Yamaha WaveRunner, opening passes and accommodation to the Cannes Film Festival, Champions League passes, a Yas Marina F1 race package and much more.

Little diva, Natasha and I naturally will veer towards the exciting Supercar Promenade which returns to the show for the third year and brings with it a range of limited edition models and the finest examples of engineering prowess available on four wheels. Bentley, Brabus, McLaren and Rolls Royce are some of the luxury motoring brands that will showcase their latest models.

With even easier access to this year’s Dubai International Boat Show, free Water Taxis are provided by the RTA from Skydive Dubai and Dubai Marina Mall and shuttle buses will provide transportation from Gateway Towers at the entrance of Palm Jumeirah.  With these services, visitors can spend ample time enjoying the vast selection of yachts, boats, and the full range of marine equipment available at show.

The Dubai International Boat Show is open to trade visitors and the general public from 3pm to 9:30pm daily from tomorrow and runs from 5 – 9 March, 2013. General admission is AED60 per person for all attendees, while children under 12 will be admitted free of charge (they must be accompanied by an adult at all times). Access to the Marina Display Area may be restricted at certain times.

 

Awesome demos at Qasr Al Hosn festival

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Emiratis gather at the Marine area during the Qasr al Hosn Festival and demonstrate the traditional practise of Al Gargour (Fish Trap) making…i missed the opening last Thursday but heard it was awesome. There are loads of art and cultural events in UAE at the moment that are so cool.

Shereen Qasr Al Hosn

 

 

Verdi’s Rigoletto comes to Meydan IMAX

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Little diva, NJD and I are thriving on the screen culture scene thanks to all the awesome stuff coming to the Meydan IMAX Theatre – tomorrow night they will the exclusive Metropolitan Opera program from New York, which is gaining momentum in the Dubai art and culture scene.

Verdi’s Rigoletto, will take place on March 4th at 7pm (the show will begin at 7:30pm). We saw the last MET Opera and it was delightful on the big screen.
Verdi's Rigoletto Shereen Shabnam

MINI fit for the race track

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MINI Shereen Shabnam

The speed junkie side of Fijian diva is emerging as MINI John Cooper Works GP, the sportiest and fastest production model ever built under the brand arrives in the UAE. With its 1.6-litre turbo engine, bespoke suspension and race car looks, this nifty world first is limited to just 2,000 units worldwide.

Extensively equipped with MINI John Cooper Works motor sport technology, this two-seater MINI boasts outstanding performance to match its sporty looks.  Powered by an extensively modified four-cylinder turbo engine capable of developing 218 hp, with adjustable coilover suspension and an extra-powerful sports brake system, this model is set to impress. And to top it all off the MINI John Cooper Works GP is one of the lightest sports cars in its class.

Boasting large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts and a bespoke roof spoiler, which is complemented by a newly developed rear diffuser, this model can only impress.

The ‘GP’ in the model’s title stands for Grand Prix, and with a record-breaking acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds, the new MINI John Cooper Works GP certainly lives up to its name.  Its responsive power and excellent revving ability with its 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine are reflected by dazzling racetrack performance figures.

The exciting race car feel of the MINI John Cooper Works GP is enhanced by the interior ambience of the model which (partly due to the absence of a rear seats) is focused entirely on the needs of the driver and his passenger, who can savour the performance of the MINI John Cooper Works GP thanks to its Recaro sports seats with GP stitching. Meanwhile, the MINI John Cooper Works thick-rimmed leather steering wheel and the gearshift knob with a chrome ring and red shift diagram help give the driver get connected with the car.

A limited number of MINI John Cooper Works GP models are available at Abu Dhabi Motors and AGMC now. The MINI John Cooper Works engine with optional automatic transmission is now available on all MINI models including the MINI Hatch, MINI Cabrio, MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman, MINI Coupé and MINI Roadster.

Lila sparkles in the UAE

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Shereen Shabnam Lila earrings

Lila Jewelry, representing all that is luxurious and sophisticated, launched its new collection at a lavish soirée at The One & Only Palm. The evening witnessed the presence of jewelry aficionados who decided to join Lila at the revelation ceremony of her authentic jewelry pieces with themes of the new range including; Timeless Treasures, Lila’s Obsession and Avant Chic.

Lila Jewellery is a newly established fine jewellery brand reflecting a legacy of quiet luxury, remarkable expertise and unparalleled creativity. Each piece is a beautiful representation of the world’s most precious gemstones expertly crafted by the hands of Italy’s most renowned master-jewellers.

Get graphic with Marchon

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Shereen glasses

Get ‘graphic’ this season with the hottest selection of sunglasses from S/S 13 collections of Marchon Eyewear, Inc. ,one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunglasses.

The company markets its products under prestigious brand names including: Calvin Klein, CK, Diane Von Furstenberg, Disney/XGames, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, FERRAGAMO, Flexon, Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Marchon, Michael Kors, Nautica, Nike and Sean John, VALENTINO and CHLOE’.

My favourite as always is Emilio Pucci.

My love affair with Damas every Mother’s Day

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shereen shabnam mothersday

My nearest and dearest already know my love affair with Damas, the Middle East’s leading jewellery and watch retailer whose staff make me feel oh so good whenever there is an occasion to celebrate. Whether it’s a birthday or a special event.

So Mother’s day is here and little diva always has something nice for me as I have made her aware that the 8 hours of labour I went through was horrendous and that I deserved a medal for surviving that but a small trinket every tear would suffice. The great news is that Damas has unveiled its 2013 Mother’s Day Collection, featuring four limited-edition pendants designed to show appreciation for the most important women in our lives: our mothers and in particular, moi, the best in the world….well at least I think I’m a cool mum.  All the pieces feature the word “Ummi”, endearingly meaning ‘my mother’ in Arabic calligraphy, highlighted by a variety of designs.

The ‘Center of My World’ pendant displays a circular motif, crafted in loops of 18k yellow gold, offset by rings studded with round brilliant diamonds. The ‘Ummi’ lettering is positioned in the centre of the piece, representing the mother’s place at the heart of the family. Show your mother you care with this stunning piece, priced at AED 1,790.

The ‘Heart of Gold’ pendant is comprised of a pear shaped design with the ‘Ummi’ lettering surrounded by a halo of hearts, representing the love surrounding the mother, who is the lifeline of emotion. The design is then encircled by exquisite colored gem stones. This gorgeous piece is priced at AED 2,990.

The ‘Love’s Rainbow’ pendant has a tear drop design, accented by round brilliant diamonds, semi precious stones, and fresh water pearls. The ‘Ummi’ calligraphy is followed by vividly colored, semi-precious stones, and delicate pearls representing the combination of excitement and grace that mothers embody. This piece is priced at AED 2,490.

Finally, the ‘Heart’s Delight’ pendant features the ‘Ummi’ calligraphy with larger lettering, in a mix of white and yellow gold, accented by semi-precious stones, diamonds and fresh water pearls. This heartwarming piece is designed to symbolize the mother as the center of attention, and is priced at AED 1,390.

I wonder which one I am getting …HINT!