Dazzle December 13 Issue 76 by Dazzle Magazine

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Life, Style, and Lifestyle

December 2013 - Issue 76

Duck Dynastyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

day Special

Family X-Mas

Holiday Special

Saudi Women 2014

Holiday Special

Delicious Holiday Deserts Holiday Special

Holiday Special

10 Tips For Happy Holidays Holiday Special

ISSN 1751-9195 Holiday Special

Coming Soon... KSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ultimate Fashion Guide Now In Its Second Year... Nations Of Fashion And Style

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December is definitely one of my favourite months because the anticipation and excitement of a new beginning lurks around the corner. This metaphorical new beginning, symbolised as the New Year, offers us a chance to rid ourselves from our destructive habits and concoct new constructive ones in the hope of a better tomorrow. Call me a dreamer or an idealist, but I’ve always believed in the power of resolutions, and I make them every year even if I don’t always follow all of them through. Sceptics say what’s the point; I say why not? Why not give yourself a set of goals and feel great when you look back at them and find that you’ve achieved some? And even if you haven’t fulfilled any, there’s always next year; you’ll eventually get there. My favourite thinker Robin Sharma said, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” And that’s what resolutions are all about. How could you reach any destination if you don’t know where you’re heading? First, you have to set your goal, and then work out the route. Many people are dissatisfied with their lives and complain instead of putting thought to paper and devising a new life plan that would make them happy. If you’re unhappy about your career, change it; if you’re unhappy about the way you treat loved ones, change it; if you’re unhappy about your life, take action and change it. The path to happiness is along the path itself. So make a simple resolution this year to enjoy and value every minute of it. Here at Dazzle, it’s always our monthly resolution to give you useful features to help you live a great life. This month is no exception. Our cover story, Duck Dynasty’s Family X-Mas is an example of family togetherness and love - a family that has come together to be TV stars and has come together to be singing stars. In ‘Your Everlasting Body Buddy’ we addressed one of the most important issues women struggle with, their relationship with their body. And in ‘A Friend In Need’ we related a true story about how an unlikely friendship can stem from adversity and save your life. Yet, there’s still so much more in store for you. So, go on, indulge…

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reham Abul-Wafa OPERATING DIRECTOR Ghadeer Zainy

Contents December 2013 Spectacular 10 Jake Owen’s Social Network Secrets

DEPUTY EDITOR Tamer G Hassan

Charm

SUB-EDITOR Hafsa Mahfooz

16 Your Everlasting Body Buddy 18 Which Shoe Are You?

BEAUTY EDITOR Sonja Svensek HEALTH EDITOR Nisrine Kreidieh PR DIRECTOR Dania Al Safadi CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ahmad Galal

Bedazzled 20 Playing Hard To Get: The Cheat Notes 22 A Friend In Need

Inspire 24 10 Leadership Laws 26 Commerce In Iceland

PRODUCTION CMYK Designs PHOTOGRAPHY Étre Photogénique DISTRIBUTION Wataniya Distribution ltd For Inquiries & Advertising KSA: P.O.Box 5536, Jeddah 21432 M: +966 (0) 598387367 T: +966 (0) 2 6687528 F: +966 (0) 2 6687529 dazzle@dazzle-magazine.com Copyright Notice

All materials contained within are protected by international copyright, trademark, and/ or other applicable law and no part may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the publisher, with the exception of quotations in reviews where the source is acknowledged.

Glow 28 8 Immunity Boosters 30 Ask Nisrine

Sparkle 32 DIY Perfumes 34 Ask Sonja 36 A/W Panache

Brilliant 52 Talking Tech 54 Oriental Opulence 56 Holidaying In Hamburg

Amaze 58 Delicious Holiday Deserts

Dazztrology 60 Skye Thomas

Last Word 62 10 Tips For Happy Holidays

Cover

Duck Dynasty’s Family X-Mas Cover image by Eric Adkins.

16 20 28 36 Disclaimer Notice

Opinions, estimates and projections herein constitute the current judgement of the author and they do not reflect the opinions of the publisher, Muze Media LLC. Muze Media LLC accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage resulting from errors, inaccuracies or omissions or any loss or damages sustained by anyone as a result of information or advice utilized in any manner.

Spectacular

Jake Owen’s ecrets

Celeb

S k r o w t e N l ia c o S By Erin Duva

“I never would have thought that I could move to a town with a dream, start fulfilling it as far as getting a record deal and putting out some music, and then eight years later have a million people following me on Twitter,” he said. “People don’t have you on Twitter. If they do, it’s because they want to know what’s going on in your life. It makes me feel good to know that people care enough about what I’m doing.” Owen has worked hard to develop that relationship. No manager or label staffer runs his Twitter account. Owen handles his own online identity, a freedom that isn’t afforded to him in every aspect of his career. “The beautiful introduction of social media over the last few years has made it so if artists want to take the time to connect with their fans, there’s nothing stopping them,” he said. “There’s no one telling me I can’t. If I want to invite 10 people onto my boat, I can.”

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“Jake is one of the best at conversing with his fans through the socials,” said Gary Overton, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville. “I don’t think the guy sleeps! There has not been an accurate matrix formulated that can measure direct links from socials to sales, but we definitely feel the lift in Jake’s career and public awareness of him through the socials.” It is not uncommon for Owen to even invite fans out to meet him in person. “The other night, my wife and I were sitting around, drinking beers and watching football in Montana,” he recalled. “I asked

people where to go to dinner, and then when I got to where we were going, I was like, ‘Hey, I’m at Old Chicago Pizza, or whatever. Come on down! I’m buying beer if you’re drinking.’ Like, 40 people showed up, people who got in the car and drove across town at 10 o’clock at night to shyly ask for a photo. To me, that’s so fulfilling, to be able to show people that I’m not just some guy on TV or the radio. I’m a real person.” These meetings with fans are never planned, according to Owen. “It’s just spur-of-themoment,” he insisted. “I’m usually not doing anything. People are Jake Owen Photo: Danny Clinch. Article: © 2013 CMA Close Up News Service/Country Music Association, Inc.

To follow Jake Owen on Twitter is to know him. The Florida native has a reputation for cultivating personal relationships over social media through his active and open presence. Whether it’s sharing new music or the entire track list for his latest album, Days of Gold, as he did in October, or inviting fans to impromptu, reallife meetings, Owen has grown his Twitter account and his brand to an extent that even he can’t believe.

like, ‘I can’t believe you’d invite people to come down and have beers with you on your bus.’ And I’m like, I’m sitting here doing nothing. Who would not want to have a beer in the first place, let alone with someone who is excited to come to the show?” The new father will often share his personal life too. Whether it’s a photo of his father in the hospital or videos of his daughter, Olive Pearl, who was born November 22, 2012, Owen seems to be an open book.

to “I don’t ever want es be the guy who hid behind the shadows”

Jake Owen performing at the CMA Music Festival 2013 Photo: John Russell/CMA.

“I have friends who are artists, who are like, I can’t believe you do the things you do. I can’t believe you don’t want more privacy,” Owen said. “For me, it’s almost backwards: I think giving people more, they’re content. They don’t have to dig. No one is ever digging into my life to find out anything because I’ve pretty much already told them, or they figure I’ll tell them anyway. I don’t ever want to be the guy who hides behind the shadows, comes out onstage as a mystery, and then leaves again.” Never mind that this “strategy” has served Owen well professionally. In the end, his reasons for reaching out are simpler than that. “I love that feeling of seeing people smile,” he said. “I love to reach down into the crowd, pull a little kid off his dad’s shoulders, walk him back to the drum stand, hand him a drumstick, high-five him and walk him back to his dad. It’s not just about knowing that I made the kid’s night, but knowing that the dad, when he goes home tonight, will be the coolest dad ever. Those are powerful things that I can do with my life and career. I’m not going to waste time in my life not doing the best I can for the people who give me this awesome opportunity.” Find Jake on the web at www.JakeOwen.net or on Twitter @JakeOwen www.dazzle-magazine.com

Spectacular Cover Celeb

Duck Dynasty’s Family X-Mas It’s nearly impossible to turn on the television or visit any Walmart, Books-A-Million, or Bass Pro Shop without encountering images of the bearded Robertson clan from A&E’s ‘Duck Dynasty’. It’s the No. 1 nonfiction show in the history of cable television. Where could they possibly go from here? To Nashville, of course, to make their recording debut. On Oct. 29,

EMI Records Nashville released Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas. The album features members of the Robertson family singing classic holiday tunes as well as originals, including ‘Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas’, written by Dallas Davidson and Willie Robertson, the CEO of Duck Commander, the duck-call business that has made them multimillionaires.

“Nothing says Christmas more than big hairy men in Santa hats,” joked Willie. Thanks to the popularity of any product associated with Duck Dynasty, a number of labels wanted to land Duck the Halls. “We felt really awesome to be able to sit down with every company, talk to them and get a feel for who they are, and decide who we wanted to go with,” said Korie. “It’s a real honour

“We’re people with heart, and we go where it leads us” Korie 12

DECEMBER 2013

By Deborah Evans Price

www.dazzle-magazine.com

ÂŠ James Minchin/Country Music Association

Spectacular Cover Celeb

for us to be able to do that. We’re people with heart, and we go where it leads us. We sat down with Universal and it just felt right. It felt like they were speaking our language. We all looked at each other - it was Willie and I, and Jase and Missy went up there - and at the

corral the family and taught them their parts for the group singalongs. It helped that they’ve always sung in their local church and were used to singing harmony. “It was so much fun,” Missy remembered. “That’s my element. I’ve taught kids for

see me, so they brought me a chair. I was like, ‘This is definitely working for me. I’m standing on a chair in front of my family and they are having to watch and listen to me’. That was a pretty wonderful experience.” “Missy is obviously a really good singer,”

“Nothing says Christmas more than big hairy men in Santa hats” Willie end of the day said: That’s who we feel gets us and gets who we are.” Because the Robertsons were busy filming the next season of their show, most of Duck the Halls was recorded at Music City Studios in their hometown, West Monroe, LA. Missy helped

DECEMBER 2013

so long. The first song we did together was ‘Silent Night’. We wanted a fourpart harmony, so I said, ‘I’ll try to get everyone started, and then we can all sing like we do at church’. I ended up standing in front of them and directing them, like a choral director. They couldn’t all

said producer Buddy Cannon. “I leaned on her a lot because the whole family respects her singing ability and her knowledge, so I relied on her to help me coordinate with different people as far as who was going to be in the studio at what time and who would do

which parts the best. “Willie was a bit nervous at first when he came in to do his vocals,” the producer continued. “But once he got in there and sang it a few times and realized I wasn’t going to kill him or make it difficult for him, he got into it and

us?” Cannon’s goal was to represent the Robertsons the same way the hit TV show does. “What I decided I needed to do was not to try to make a perfect record, but to try to make it believable to all their fans,” he said. “When we

Everyone involved knows that some sceptics question whether a hit TV show can spawn a hit album, but Jase believes they’re in for a surprise. “Hopefully, they’ll listen to it and say: They can actually sing too,” he said, with a

“Missy is obviously a really good singer” Producer Buddy Cannon started having fun. I was the same way with all of them. They didn’t know what to expect. Those guys never dreamed of being singers and making a record. Phil kept coming up and he’d say: You really believe you are going to make Country singers out of

were working, it was like I was sitting in the middle of one of their shows the whole time. No matter who, no matter which of the characters was in the studio, it was like it was transported into one of their shows. It was a hoot!”

laugh. “We’re just like we are on TV. We don’t consider ourselves celebrities or stars. That’s not the way we roll.” For more information go to www. DuckTheHalls. com or twitter @ DuckDynastyAE.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

Charm

Your Everlasting Body Buddy

Mind & Soul

DECEMBER 2013

We all have our definitions of beauty and we form mental imagery to go with it, but what we see in the mirror hardly ever matches up to it… Poor body image leads to emotional distress, which causes depression, anxiety, low selfesteem, and sometimes, eating disorders. This can disrupt your day-today life and hamper your relationship with your family, friends, and most importantly, yourself. Building a positive body image is imperative to your emotional well-being and happiness, so follow our advice and give your body the respect it deserves: List It Out Make a list of all the things you like about yourself, without mentioning any physical traits, and read it as often as possible. Furthermore, keep adding to this list as you discover more positive things about yourself. This will make you understand that beauty isn’t simply skin-deep; it’s who you are as a person. Understand Real Beauty Stick-thin models and celebrities make up only 20% of the women in the world. The rest of us normal beings

come in different shapes and sizes, and many lead wonderful lives; that’s real beauty. So instead of idolising a fake, photo-shopped celebrity, surround yourself with images of real women who’re proud to show off their bumps and curves. Dress Your Size Most women with poor body image tend to wear clothes that are either too big or too small, which further crushes their self-esteem. You should wear clothes that are your size because it’ll help you feel comfortable and confident, both inside and out. You can only love yourself if you’re confident of yourself, so work with your body, not against it. Connect With Your Body Yoga can do wonders to your body image as it connects you with your body. Both stretching and breathing can help you to actually feel your body, as a result of which you form a strong connection with it.

And once you’ve connected with your body, you begin to diminish the distance that allows you to criticise it. Body TLC Be it a new haircut or a day of pampering at the spa, find something that helps you feel good about yourself. In fact, even small things like taking a bubble bath or relaxing for a while can revitalise you both mentally and physically. This is very important because the more you take care of your body, the less likely you are to disrespect it. Find Real Happiness Instead of spending your time and energy worrying about your looks, pick up a hobby that you enjoy doing, like pottery, dancing, writing, or cooking. When you do something enjoyable, your body responds positively and you feel better about yourself. You could also do some charity work, because helping people will make a positive impact on your behaviour.

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Charm

Personality

Which Shoe Are You? From strappy heels to sporty sneakers, the shoes you wear say a lot about your personality, explains Hafsa Mahfooz… Shoes aren’t just accessories, they’re a form of self-expression, capable of displaying or even downplaying your personality traits. According to Meghan Cleary, shoe expert and author of ‘The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You’,

shoes are like a window into a woman’s soul. “The type of shoe a woman wears not only indicates her taste in clothes, but also her career goals and even her ideal mate,” she states. In her book, she discusses the different personality traits

based on three basic groups: Towering Heights, On-the-Go, and Down-to-Earth – each one consisting of a separate class of shoes. Here’s the personality breakdown of some of the most popular shoes belonging to each of these categories:

Stiletto Girl

You have an interesting mix of traditional and modern values and believe that men should provide and women should look good. You’re also very smart, intelligent, confident, and comfortable in your skin. Corporate Match: According to Cleary, your confidence will make you a great entertainment executive, owner of a PR firm, or Editor-in-Chief of a fashion magazine. “Your shoes establish you as an alpha female even before you begin to speak,” she says. “There’s no doubt about who runs things when you arrive on the scene.” Love Match: Someone who enjoys power, elegance, and self-possession just as much as you do.

Cortefiel

Corporate Match: You’re best at producing something that makes you happy, like films, music, or even a lifestyle magazine. Cleary explains, “Constant motion is the only thing you’ll be happy with, so find a place that requires much of you in the way of shepherding ideas, film canisters or edits, along with your expertise in behind the scenes running.”

ida Ad

You’re cool inside and out, always known to have the best taste in music and films. You’re quick on your feet, witty, and you love spicing up conversations with a bit of ironic or sarcastic humour just for the effect.

Sneaker Girl

Love Match: A smart, fun-loving, and laid-back person who believes in your dreams, no matter how silly they may seem.

Mary Jane Girl

Although you like order and neatness in everything, you have a great sense of playfulness underneath your prim and proper exterior. You also have an amazing style sense and enjoy co-ordinating your clothes and accessories from top to bottom. Corporate Match: You’ll be successful in places where your skills are appreciated and you’re given plenty of positive recognition. The author explains, “Your calm and soothing manner along with your cool thinking and problem solving will bring you success in the corporate world.” Love Match: Lawyers are an excellent match since you appreciate their logic and rhetoric. You’d also get along great with classical musicians. 18

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Puma

Open Toe Shoe Girl

Always looking to be the centre of attention, you never fail to make a sassy entrance. You enjoy dressing up everyday, always put an extra zing in your walk, and love to give the on-lookers a tiny peek of the toe cleavage. Corporate Match: Best at managing chaotic environments, you’re meant to work in the fast paced corporate world. “Your unique ability to manage up (with little or no knowledge on the part of those being managed) always adds a sweet hum to any environment and turns it into a well-oiled machine,” states the Cleary.

d To

Love Match: You need someone who’s spontaneous, jolly, and always ready to have some fun.

Classic Conservative Pump

Good-natured, resilient, and extremely hard working, you’re always ready for a challenge. Your values are basic – work hard, get paid well, use your brains, value your family and friends, and give back. Corporate Match: Because of your hard working attitude, you’d be successful in a law firm, accounting firm, or an investment bank. However, this is only the starting point in your career since you’re meant to run your own business one day.

n Be

Love Match: Someone who’s just as good-natured, determined, and resilient as you. Cleary mentions an exercise in her book to find out which shoe is your ‘sole-mate’. Just ask yourself which pair makes you feel the most comfortable, confident, and sexy, regardless of how much you wear it.

She calls that your ‘Shoe Sun Sign’, which is your natural shoe state. On the other hand, shoes that you like but don’t wear are where you want to go and that’s your ‘Shoe Rising Sign’. So don’t be afraid to

explore a little and try mixing your Shoe Sun Sign with your Shoe Rising Sign as much you can. For all you know, an unlikely pairing of these two shoe cosmos could result in a brand new you.

Get That Shoe Certain occasions call for certain shoes. So follow Cleary’s advice and dress to kill: Job Interview: Designer Stilettos

Third Date With Potential Soul-mate: Kitten Heels

First Date: Ballet Flats

Shopping and Lunching with Girlfriends: Knee High Boots with High Heels

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Bedazzled Relationships

: t e G o T d r PlayingeHCaheat Notes Th

Whether we accept it or not, we’re often responsible for driving a potential love interest away by playing too hard to get or seeming too available. The key is to play the game right – to get his attention and keep it till he’s all yours. No woman should show a man straight away that she’s into him, but at the same time you don’t want to come off as disinterested. Actually, there’s a fine line between playing hard to get and blowing someone off, just like you also drive a person away when you appear to be too keen. Thus, even one tiny mistake in this complicated game of love could cost you a potential happy ending. So what’s acceptable and what’s not? When should you give in and when should you hold back? Find out the Do’s and Don’ts of playing hard to get… To Call Or Not To Call? Your behaviour in the initial stages of attraction will determine how the relationship will end up. It’ll be tempting to call him everyday, but you have to fight the urge because you don’t want him to think that you’re always available. Call him once in a while and only when you’re already occupied with something else; this will make him work harder to get your attention. But don’t make him work too hard – remember to make that phone call! Divide And Rule When you’re hanging out in a group, don’t shower him with

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excess attention and ignore the others. Divide your attention equally among everyone and make sure he knows that your attention isn’t that easy to get. But keep in mind that a man really values his pride, so don’t ignore him to such an extent that it bruises his ego. The trick is to leave him craving for more, so don’t hesitate to put up your price. Be Unpredictable The biggest turnoff for guys is when women become too predictable, because then the challenge doesn’t seem worth the effort. So if you make things too easy for him, he’ll move on to greener pastures. What you should do is give him mixed signals – flirt with him today and act like a complete stranger tomorrow. Not only will your behaviour puzzle him, but it’ll also intrigue him and push him to try harder. Play His Weakness We all have certain physical and emotional aspects that attract and even repel the opposite sex, so find out what exactly draws him towards you and use it to your advantage. For instance, if you find out that he really likes your eyes, you should make

it a point to highlight your eye makeup every time you meet him. This will definitely make him weak to his knees and he’ll never want to take his eyes off you. Take It Slow No matter how much you’re into him, don’t go around telling the whole world about it because the news is bound to get to him. And when he finds out, he’ll bail out because nothing freaks a guy out more than an obsessive girl. However, you also shouldn’t deny liking him if someone asks you because that’s equally detrimental. Just smile and say, “We’re friends for now, but who knows?” Be Yourself Guys are smarter than we think! So if you pretend to be something you’re not, he’ll catch on to it in no time and write you off completely. Always remember to be yourself with him, even if you’re not the kind of girl he usually goes for. For all you know, he could be looking for something different this time around, so don’t be afraid to show him what an amazingly different chick you are. And if he can’t like you for who you are, then he’s not worth it in the first place.

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Bedazzled Friendships

A Friend In Need It’s a human need to feel loved and cared for, but when this basic need is missing, we feel lonely and worthless that we end up losing hope in life. Aliya Abdel-Mowabi’s inspirational story of an unlikely friendship ended up saving her life… It was a typical Jeddah night – windy and starry - but that one night changed the entire course of my life. It was around 10 pm and I was working on a presentation due at work the next day. Suddenly, I was interrupted by a phone call – it was my best friend’s dad. He and I weren’t exactly phone buddies, especially ever since he moved to the States five years ago, so I was rather confused. When I answered the call, uncle was crying. And as he started speaking, my heart sank deeper and deeper. “Aliya, Hana met with an accident. My daughter, Hana, she’s gone,” were his exact words. How could Hana die? She was only 24 years old; she wasn’t supposed to leave so early. How could she be so stupid? How could she not see the truck? I had so many questions, but I didn’t know who to ask. I was shattered. The last time I spoke to her was a week before the accident and we couldn’t even talk properly because I was at work. I hated myself for not calling her back when I said I would, I hated myself for not telling her how much I loved her, and I hated her the most for leaving me all alone. Hana and I became friends in kindergarten, so we literally grew up together. From playing in sandboxes, to copying each

DECEMBER 2013

other’s homework, to crushing on boys, we did everything together. We even went to the same university in the States and lived together for four years. The first (and last) time we separated was after graduation, when I moved back to Jeddah. Although we weren’t ecstatic to leave each other, both of us were glad because we’d finally get to see new faces and meet new people. But if I had known that I’d never be able to see her again, I would’ve never left. The days that followed Hana’s death were a blur. The moment her dad uttered those words on the phone, I zoned out from the world. Day after day I’d cry incessantly, scream, shout, and lock myself up for hours. I was angry, but I didn’t know why. I needed answers, but I didn’t know who to ask. The frustration was so intense that I couldn’t function normally anymore; sometimes I wouldn’t sleep for an entire week and sometimes I’d sleep for days at a stretch. And as the days went into weeks and the weeks led to months, I went from bad to worse. My parents pressured me to go on with my life. They just didn’t understand. For them, my behaviour was maniacal and psychotic, which it probably was, but instead of helping me out, they told me to ‘get over it’, that everyone has to die at

some point or the other, and I’m not the first person to lose a best friend. But as much as I tried, I just couldn’t fight the pain. And what made it worse was that my parents treated me like a child when all I needed was their love. And that’s what I was missing – love. All of a sudden, my support system had been taken away from me and I couldn’t do anything to get it back. There was no love left in my life, nobody seemed to care anymore, nobody wanted to hear about Hana anymore, and nobody wanted to be around me anymore. Hana left this earth, but she took my spirit with her, leaving behind a lifeless body that was a burden for everyone. Maybe that’s why I was psychotic. After all, wouldn’t you go crazy if you woke up one day to find out that you were the loneliest person on this planet? A New Beginning As time went by, I went into severe depression. Thoughts of committing suicide did cross my mind, but my fear of God always stopped me. I spent most of my days locked up in my room, destroying every memory of Hana and me because neither of us existed anymore. Then one day, my mom knocked on my door and told me someone came to see me. She knew I wasn’t accepting condolences

anymore, yet she stood by my door till I agreed to come out. Dressed in dirty old rags, I went out and found Hana’s dad in the living room. He seemed pretty shocked to see my state, but I was used to it by then. “What happened to you? You look sick,” he said. “Your daughter died, that’s what happened,” I replied. And then there was absolute silence. It seemed to me that uncle had already forgotten Hana because he didn’t even once mention her name. “How could you forget your daughter so soon,” I asked. At first he was taken aback, then he handed me a bag and asked me to open it. The bag was filled with Hana’s things: clothes, pictures, CDs, and even her journal. I broke down. Seeing

her things all over again felt so good and I couldn’t help but let it all out. Uncle hugged me and for the first time I felt a genuine concern from someone. It felt so comforting to know that Hana was still alive in someone else’s heart as well. The following days were a little better. Upon uncle’s insistence, I decided to get out of the house for the first time in six months. We went for dinner, spoke about Hana, joked, laughed, and celebrated her in every possible way. As days went by, I found a genuine friend in him; he understood my pain and I understood his. Then one day, he came over to my house and told me something that changed my life. “Hana is in a better place now,” he said. “And

more importantly, she’s in our hearts. But she wouldn’t have liked to see you like this, Aliya. It’s time to move on, she’s not physically here anymore but her memories will always be with us.” He was right, Hana did always look out for me and she would’ve hated to see what I had become. That’s when I realised that it was time to get my life back on track and give Hana one final reason to smile, even if I couldn’t see it. In just one day I became a new person, a person who was stronger, happier, and in love with life. And it’s only because of uncle that I have a second shot at life today, he is my saviour, my teacher, my second father. He is my best friend.

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Inspire Careers

Leadership Laws

It’s believed that a person’s leadership core is nurtured and grown out of the shaping experiences he encounters and pursues throughout his life, explains Stephen H. Baum…

These days, no one becomes an effective boss by pulling a sword from a stone; great leadership happens through hard work and determination. To paraphrase the legendary Gordon Bethune, former chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines, no one thing makes a leader great. Mixing some flour, milk, and eggs in a bowl doesn’t mean you have a great cake; what you do with those ingredients will determine whether it turns out good or bad. Thus, to become an influential leader, you must learn from your past experiences and use them as guiding principles. These ten essential moments with quotes from successful leaders are responsible for developing leadership traits and providing the

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knowledge and skills crucial for operating effectively: 1. Swim In Water Over Your Head Take a calculated personal risk without specific knowledge of how to succeed. This way you’ll learn how to manage difficult situations without panicking. And never let people put you down, even if the whole world says you can’t do something, believe that you can. “I believe that I was lucky to have suffered. Some people don’t realize that in suffering there is great potential, because if you are deprived for any reason, you will find that the only way to survive is for you to excel.” Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, TAGorg Chairman and Founder.

2. Make The Tough Choice Choose group benefit over personal interest, or choose between two rights. Letting your personal feelings get in the way is never a good idea; you may win personally, but you’ll lose professionally. So learn to take a stand and stick by it, even if it hurts someone else’s feelings. “Hiring people is an art, not a science, and resumes can’t tell you whether someone will fit into a company’s culture. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, you need to cut your losses and move on.” Howard Schultz, Entrepreneur and Starbucks Chairman. 3. Solve The Key Puzzle Even if it’s not your job,

figure out the root of the problem or opportunity. This will broaden your experience and your deed will not go unnoticed; your superiors will appreciate the initiative and consider you a valuable asset. This is how you can start climbing up the ladder. “Everyone experiences tough times, it is a measure of your determination and dedication how you deal with them and how you can come through them.” Lakshmi Mittal, Mittal Steel Co. Chairman. 4. Parent At Work Help others grow and perform exceptionally. If you’re empathetic and compassionate towards your subordinates, they will want to do well for you. This will motivate them and they will take initiative in coming up with new ideas. But if you’re aristocratic in your approach, you will only be making enemies. “When employees and employers, even co-workers, have a commitment to one another, everyone benefits. I have people who have been in business with me for decades. I know that they’ll always be dedicated to what we’re trying to accomplish.” Donald Trump, Business Tycoon. 5. Get Others To Buy In Win hearts and minds to create followers. When you’re passionate about your idea, others believe in it too. Don’t second guess yourself and be confident, this is how

you can get others to trust your judgement and support you. “You have to pretend you’re 100 percent sure. You have to take action; you can’t hesitate or hedge your bets. Anything less will condemn your efforts to failure.” Andrew Grove, Founder of Intel Corp. 6. Connect With Others Understand what motivates others, and speak their language. Enlist them as much by your deeds as by your words. If your subordinates consider you to be one of them, they’ll be much more relaxed and the work will get done faster. “You never really hear the truth from your subordinates until after ten in the evening.” Jurgen Schrempp, DaimlerChrysler former CEO. 7. Build A Team Gather and lead a group in a common endeavour and succeed, or fail at first and try again. Get average players to play like stars and add new members to weed out underperformers. Set directions and change them, but make sure your team sticks together no matter what. “To succeed as a team is to hold all of the members accountable for their expertise.” Mitchell Caplan, E*Trade Group Inc. CEO. 8. Get Good On Your Feet Learn to communicate, and

project your authenticity in real-time. You’re headed for disaster if you can’t communicate effectively with your team. Their efficiency will improve immensely if they comprehend what you require from them, so be clear in what you demand. “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame.” Sun Tzu. 9. Develop Your Crap Detector Practice your intuitive ability to read subtexts of conversations and to detect individuals whose words and behaviours are not what they pretend them to be. You have to learn how to identify the sour grapes because they’re the ones responsible for poor productivity. “Executives owe it to the organization and to their fellow workers not to tolerate nonperforming individuals in important jobs.” Peter Drucker, Business strategist and author. 10. Look In The Mirror Assess your own values, beliefs, and behaviours critically. Take any criticism that comes your way positively and learn from it. Nobody is perfect, but you can try to perfect yourself by working on your flaws. “Sandwich every bit of criticism between two thick layers of praise.” Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics.

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Inspire Insight

Commerce In Iceland

Iceland is a modern European economy with strong economic foundations in fisheries, natural renewable energy sources, and human capital. It’s a republic that uses a parliamentary form of government. Most executive power rests with the Government, which is elected separately from the presidential elections every four years. Icelandic is the national language, which hasn’t changed much from the original tongue spoken by the Norse settlers, but English and Danish are widely spoken as well. It enjoys 24 hours of daylight in the summer and only two hours of daylight in winter. Greetings A firm handshake coupled with good eye contact is the traditional form of greeting, at both the start and end of meetings. Individuals address each other as Fru (Mrs) and Herra (Mr). Very few Icelanders have original surnames, and for this reason, telephone directories list individuals by their first names. Surnames are based on the father’s name plus son or daughter added to it, e.g. Matthew Magnusson or Jane Magnusdóttir. Icelanders are proud of their country, so expect everyone to ask you how you like it with eager anticipation. Negative answers aren’t necessarily well received. You may wish to avoid discussing the issue of whaling in Iceland, which over 90% of the population support. The country is generally extremely safe, and children in general are very welcome and accommodated by society. Business Etiquette Social and business etiquette in Iceland is similar to that in other western European countries. Icelandic business culture is professional yet personal. As it is a small country, people tend to know one another and make friends quickly. Those who do business with Iceland would develop lifelong relationships with their counterparts. Icelandic companies are generally more streamlined than in other countries, lacking extensive hierarchies. Don’t be surprised if

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you sit down for a meeting with one colleague only to have the CEO walk in for a direct chat. Above all, avoid setting false expectations or making promises that you cannot keep as honesty and directness are respected and appreciated in Iceland. Business Meeting Business meetings tend to be concise and to the point, beginning with an exchange of business cards and then dealing with the matter at hand. Meeting over coffee, a drink, or dinner is common. You should ensure that appointments are made in advance and that you state the intended meeting time using the 24-hour clock. Individuals in Iceland place great value on punctuality, and for this reason it is strongly advised that you contact your respective meeting host if you are likely to be late. Meetings are usually conducted in English when dealing with foreigners. Business hours are usually from 8am to 4pm in summer and 9am to 5pm in winter, while most offices are closed on weekends. Business Cards Business cards are exchanged upon introduction. Extended pleasantries are not necessary, and getting straight down to business is appreciated. If there are presentations or other supporting information, ensure that they are precise and to the point with relevant data included where necessary.

Business Dress Individuals in Iceland take great care of their appearance, and it is certainly expected that you should dress smartly for any formal occasion. However, you may see a small number of Icelandic individuals dressed casually within the business environment, but you shouldn’t. Dining Etiquette Dinner times are relatively early in homes but around 8pm if eating out. Weekend entertainment runs until the wee hours and the crowd never really picks up until after midnight. If you are invited to an Icelander’s home, it will most likely be for coffee, often accompanied by copious quantities of cakes and biscuits. The younger generation may be more likely to invite you for dinner. It is customary to shake hands, when greeting and leaving, and Icelanders always remove shoes before entering their home. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, and the gracious visitor to a private home should always ask first. Service fees are always included in the bill and this is applied to everything. Tipping is never expected. Gift Giving Etiquette If you are staying at an Icelander’s house it is considered rude to give your host a gift. However, if you’re invited for dinner at an Icelander’s home, it is appropriate but not essential to buy a small gift.

Glow

Health

Immunity Boosters

With so many viruses going around, contracting them and falling ill is becoming a household problem. This is why Dazzle’s health editor, Nisrine Kreidieh has come up with a list of eight foods that’ll give your immune system a boost and keep you healthy… Garlic Every culture has its own legend about garlic; while European folklore gives garlic the ability to treat plagues, the West advocates that it can ward off vampires. Keeping old wives’ tales aside, garlic has long been considered a natural wonder-drug because of its strong antioxidant properties. It’s been proven effective in warding off colds and flues due to its antibacterial effect, and is known to prevent heart conditions. And now it’s available in capsules, giving you all its benefits minus the embarrassing breath. Chilli Since you need a bit of heat in the cold weather, consider stocking up your refrigerator with chilli. Chilli has been linked with pain relief associated with conditions such as arthritis, and can even cure certain skin conditions. It also protects the heart and fights infections thanks to the large amounts of vitamins A and C that it contains. Furthermore, recent studies conducted by the US government have shown that it’s a natural remedy for the prevention of Alzheimer. Yogurt Not only does yogurt serve as a better source of calcium than milk, but it also

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increases the number of good bacteria in your gut. In fact, it works miracles when it comes to protecting your body against yeast infections, ulcers, and even serious conditions such as cancer. Citrus Fruits These days, juicy, delicious oranges are practically synonymous with vitamin C. But did you know that they also provide healthful natural compounds called limonoids? These citrus limonoids help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon. Apart from oranges, other citrus fruits such as tangerines, mandarins, clementine, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are equally beneficial for the body. Broccoli When it comes to basic nutrients, broccoli is a mother lode. Ounce for ounce, boiled broccoli has more vitamin C than an orange and as much calcium as a glass of milk. In addition, scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health recently published an article that noted that broccoli helps minimize the risk of cataracts. It has also been linked to cancer prevention, while also protecting the heart, stomach, eye, bones, and skin due to the high levels of beta-carotin found in it.

Prawns Prawns and shrimp are low in fat and rich in protein, iron, and zinc. In fact, prawns, like all other aquatic animals, are a unique source of Omega 3 fatty acid that promotes cardiovascular health by minimizing the risks of blood clotting and vessel constriction. They also contain vitamin B, which gives us energy and has also been linked to improving immunity. Oily Fish The most significant health benefit of oily fish is its ability to prevent heart conditions. The Japanese population widely consume oily fish, which is why the rate of heart attacks in Japan is much lower than that of the Western world. It’s also a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been proven to provide numerous health benefits for both pregnant women and their babies. Peas The humble green pea is bursting with goodness as it contains water-solublefibres that promote a healthy intestinal track by binding to cholesterol and helping to excrete it. Apart from helping your heart, bones, and general wellbeing, peas also contain vitamin B1 (thiamine), which is essential for energy production.

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Ask Nisrine Glow

Health Dilemmas

I’m having trouble sleeping now that the holidays are approaching; what can I do? Liana, Jeddah Between squeezing extra activities into your schedule, finding time to bake holiday treats for your children’s classrooms, and organizing a mini family reunion, the holiday season could cause considerable stress. And if that stress is affecting your sleep, you could be caught up in the vicious cycle of exhaustion causing stress and stress causing more exhaustion! Creating a personal sleep sanctuary will help you meet your needs for rest and rejuvenation and give you plenty of opportunity to count your zzz’s and not lie awake wishing for sleep. By improving your quality and quantity of sleep, you’re able to better handle all the stresses of the holiday season, and instead share in the fun activities. “A lack of sleep negatively impacts our mood and outlook, as well as our physical health,” says Terry Cralle, a Registered Nurse and Certified Clinical Sleep Educator. “Sufficient sleep, a good diet, and regular exercise are the three ingredients to staying healthy all season long.”

Ask Nisrine

You may be surprised at how many people experience issues sleeping. The Better Sleep Council reports that 66% of people 18 to 34 claim that they have trouble falling and staying asleep. That number drops to 53% of people ages 35 to 54, and just less than half of people 55 and older. If you fall into the portion of the population experiencing sleep troubles, consider these tips from the Better Sleep Council: Email Nisrine Kreidieh at: nisrine@dazzlemagazine.com or by post to the Dazzle KSA office.

Build a good sleep environment - A good sleep environment is imperative when it comes to counting zzz’s each night. Start off with a quality mattress. “A mattress is an investment, not only financially but for your health,” says Karin Mahoney, Communications Director of the Better Sleep Council. “To help improve your sleep, and your quality of life, it’s a good idea to compare the mattress you’re sleeping on to new models every five years and to consider replacing your mattress if it’s more than seven years old.”

Catching the right number of zzz’s can lead to better health and more energy this holiday season, helping to reduce your stress level. Make good sleeping habits and creating a sleep environment a priority, so you can wake up feeling refreshed every morning. Learn more about how to give yourself the gift of a better sleep this holiday season at www.facebook.com/BetterSleepCouncilOrg.

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Answer Source: Brandpoint.com.

Count your sleep, not sheep - Track your sleep using a sleep app. Several apps reviewed by the Better Sleep Council provide users with a variety of benefits. For example, some are designed to monitor your breathing and movements, and they encourage you to wake up when you’re in the lightest stage of the sleep cycle. Others can record your snoring and breathing habits to help determine if you’re experiencing any distractions mid-slumber.

Ask Nisrine

Sleep in your ideal bedroom - Light, noise, and even temperature can disrupt sleep or make it difficult to fall asleep. Purchase light-blocking shades and install them in windows to keep the sun, streetlights, and passing car headlights from shining in. Consider finding a source of white noise, such as a fan or sound machine producing soft ocean sounds, to cover up other noises happening in the house like the heater kicking in, or someone getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Finally, you should consider turning the temperature in the bedroom down a degree or two - or getting it as close as possible to the ideal bedroom temperature of 18ºC. A cooler temperature can help the body relax and fall into sleep much more easily.

DIY

Sparkle Beauty

Perfumes The next time you decide to buy an expensive perfume, drop the idea and head to the nearest grocery store instead because you can create your very own fragrances with the most basic of ingredientsâ&#x20AC;Ś

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You’ve probably heard of homemade facials and creams, but the idea of homemade perfumes may seem a tad bit bizarre to you. After all, almost all perfumes are a complex concentration of chemicals like ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, methyl anthranilate, cinnamnaldehyde, and whatnot. Not only do these chemicals have names that are difficult to pronounce, but they’re also next to impossible to create within the confines of your kitchen. But before all these chemicals came into existence, perfumes were made from natural, raw ingredients that Mother Nature provides us with in abundance. Thus, the secret behind creating homemade fragrances is going back to where it all started. Josephine Fairley, author of The Ultimate Natural Beauty Book, lists four different homemade scents in her book that are fun to make, and allow you to pamper yourself without maxing out the credit cards. What you’ll also notice is that Fairley’s fragrances consist of ingredients that are no strangers to our kitchen, like lemon, tomato leaves, olive oil, cloves, and coriander seeds, thus making the entire process easy and hassle-free. Ravishing Rose Cologne

Carmelite Water

Ingredients:

600ml 110g 50ml 50 10

300ml 50g 50g 10g 10g 2-inch 1

Extra virgin olive oil Fresh, scented rose petals (unsprayed) Vegetable glycerine Drops rose essential oil Drops tincture of benzoin

Put the rose petals in a large glass container. Pour the olive oil in a separate jug and add the essential oils drop by drop, the tincture of benzoin, and glycerine. Pour the mixture over the rose petals, shake daily for three weeks and decant into the desired bottle.

Extra virgin olive oil Fresh angelica leaves Fresh lemon balm leaves or 2 tbsp of dried lemon balm Coriander leaves Cloves Cinnamon sticks Heaped tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Put the herbs and spices in the bottom of a glass jar, cover with olive oil and seal. Leave in a warm place and shake the bottle everyday for three to four weeks. Strain into a sterilised bottle with a cork or screw top and use within six months.

Sun-Ripened Tomato Cologne

Hungary Water

Ingredients:

225ml 25g 10 1 ½

Extra virgin olive oil Fresh tomato leaves Drops juniper essential oil Tsp chopped fresh basil leaves Tsp vegetable glycerine Zest of one medium-sized lemon

Chop the tomato leaves and the lemon zest. Put in the bottom of a sterilised jar or bottle with the basil; add olive oil and the juniper essential oil drop by drop. Store it in a cool, dark place for two to three weeks, but do remember to shake it occasionally. Strain the liquid through muslin or kitchen paper, add the glycerine, and pour into a bottle with a cork or screw top.

300ml 125ml 125ml 50g 25g 1

Extra virgin olive oil Orangeflower water Rosewater Fresh rosemary leaves Fresh lemon balm leaves Fresh mint sprig (only use fresh) Thinly pared rind of half a lemon

Chop the lemon balm and put all the herbs and the lemon rind in the bottom of a glass jar. Add olive oil, cover tightly, and shake well. Leave in a warm place or on windowsill for three weeks, remembering to shake it everyday. Then strain and add the orangeflower and rosewater. Decant into a sterilised bottle and use within six months. www.dazzle-magazine.com

Ask Sonja

Sparkle

Beauty Dilemmas

What’s the best way to care for my nails? Shafe’a, Riyadh

Having beautiful nails is less a matter of luck and more a matter of caring for them correctly. Fortunately, there are simple steps people can take to properly care for their nails. “Nails need to be moisturized, especially after removing nail polish, so be sure to apply a cream regularly,” said board-certified dermatologist Phoebe Rich, MD, FAAD, Clinical Adjunct Professor of Dermatology at Oregon Health Science University, Portland. “Always protect your cuticles. Never cut or forcefully push back your cuticles as doing so could lead to an infection. If you must push them back, only do so gently after a shower or bath.” Dr. Rich shares more top manicure and pedicure tips:

Ask Sonja

1. While most nail salons follow strict cleanliness and disinfection guidelines, look for the following when visiting a salon: Does your nail technician have the necessary experience and/or license, if required? Are the stations clean? Does the nail technician wash her hands between clients? Are there dirty tools lying around? In addition, don’t hesitate to ask how they clean their tools. 2. Shave your lower legs after getting a pedicure, not before. That means not shaving your lower legs for at least 24 hours before you get a pedicure. If you nick yourself while shaving, a pedicure could put you at risk for an infection. 3. If you get frequent manicures and pedicures, consider purchasing your own tools to be used at the salon.

Confused about makeup? Having a problem making the most of your features? What products to use? Ask Sonja to solve your problems!

4. In addition, check that the pedicure footbaths and filters are thoroughly disinfected before you use them. If they are improperly cleaned, they can harbour bacteria and fungus. If the salon does not appear clean, then choose another one.

“If you wear artificial nails, know what products are used as the substances can cause an allergic reaction in some people,” said Dr. Rich. “If you develop a rash or other reaction, this information will be important to your doctor. If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your nails, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.” These steps are demonstrated in ‘Manicure and Pedicure Safety’, a video posted to the Academy’s website and the Academy’s YouTube channel. This video is part of the Dermatology A to Z: Video Series, which offers relatable videos that demonstrate tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the Academy’s website and the YouTube channel each month. Visit www.aad.org, or on Facebook at ‘American Academy of Dermatology’, or Twitter @AADskin.

DECEMBER 2013

Ask Sonja

7. Don’t wear artificial nails to cover up nail problems as they may make them worse. Artificial nails aren’t recommended for people who are prone to fungal infections or have brittle nails. For people with healthy nails, artificial nails can be fine as long as they’re not worn continuously.

sonja@dazzle-magazine.com

6. While some people beg to differ, there’s no scientific evidence that immersing nails in gelatine makes them stronger. Polishes that contain strengthening ingredients increase nail stiffness, which may make nails break more frequently.

Answer source: American Academy of Dermatology/Newswise.

5. If you want to wear a bright red or orange polish, prevent discoloration by applying an extra layer of base coat. If your nails become yellowed and discoloured from the polish, your nails should return to normal colour over several weeks if the same colour is not reapplied.

Michael Kors Fall 2013

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Images: Courtesy and copyright of their respective brands.

Look suave at any outing this holiday season with the latest looks hot off the catwalksâ&#x20AC;Ś

A/W Panache

Sparkle Catwalk

MICHAEL Michael Kors Fall 2013 www.dazzle-magazine.com

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

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MICHAEL Michael Kors Fall 2013

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14 40

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Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2013/14 www.dazzle-magazine.com

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Catwalk

Michael Kors Fall 2013 42

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MICHAEL Michael Kors Fall 2013 www.dazzle-magazine.com

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14 44

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Marc by Marc Jacobs Resort 2014

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14 46

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MICHAEL Michael Kors Fall 2013 www.dazzle-magazine.com

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

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MICHAEL Michael Kors Fall 2013

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Catwalk

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14 50

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Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2013/14

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Brilliant

Technology

Talking TecH Spending on consumer electronics this holiday season is expected to grow 2.6%, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), with three quarters of gifters planning to purchase tech gadgets. Big screen TVs continue to be on consumers’ top wish-lists. In fact, an American nationwide survey conducted for LG

Electronics USA found that about six in ten (58%) said they’re likely to consider giving a TV as a gift.

consumers also said they’d like to receive a $2,300 internet connected smart TV than a European vacation.

Surprisingly, more than half of respondents (52%) said they’d prefer to receive an 84-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV (roughly $17,000) over an expensive piece of jewellery or watch (23%). More

For more budget-minded Santas, here are five tech gift ideas with big appeal and big value. Just imagine how your teen, spouse, parent, or best friend will react when they open up one of these:

Splash Proof Speaker: For the music lover in your life, few things beat a great speaker system. Lightweight yet durable, Sony’s SRS-BTS50 portable Bluetooth speaker with a battery that lasts up to 10 hours is the perfect complement to outdoor activities. Its splash-proof design that can weather water splashes such as sudden rain gives music lovers the freedom to enjoy their favourite tunes anywhere. With its Bluetooth and NFC tech, your loved one can easily connect his iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. It’s also perfect for sharing music with friends: by rotating the speaker to lay flat on any surface, the Surround Mode automatically creates an expansive and enjoyable listening experience. Tablets And Accessories: Some tablets come with outrageous price tags, but every month new models become available, many of which are surprisingly affordable. CEA says tablets are at the top of adult’s wish-lists this holiday season. You can find tablets like Acer’s 8-inch Iconia W4 tablet that features Windows 8.1, 4th Gen Intel Atom processor for faster performance, and IPS and Zero Air Gap tech for a sharp display with enhanced clarity and brightness. Does your special someone already have a beloved tablet? You can’t go wrong by gifting accessories like attachable keyboards and decorative protective covers. 52

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Article: Brandpoint.com. Images: Courtesy and copyright of their respective brands.

Have a jolly, high-tech holiday - and in case you didn’t hear - it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Some of the season’s hottest tech gifts are more affordable than ever this year…

Earphones: Is one of your loved ones still rocking the factory earphones that originally came with his smartphone or MP3 player? It’s time to gift them a better listening experience. Earphones and headphones will be the most popular consumer electronics devices given his holiday season, CEA says. Bang & Olufsen’s EarSet 3i features an operation button for music/playlist navigation, and a hook switch for call handling, both buttons conveniently placed on the wire with the microphone, and weighs 8-grams per earphone. This is one gift that is sure to be used over and over again. Smart/3D Blu-Ray Disc Player: Know someone who loves movies? Some Smart Blu-ray Disc players can play DVDs, and 2D or 3D Blu-ray discs. They can also stream content like movies or videos from YouTube - especially great if that special person on your shopping list isn’t ready to upgrade to a smart TV yet. You can get one from LG (BD690) for as little as $100 at some online retailers. Ultra-Wide Monitor: Gamers and geeks alike will light up when they open a modern ultra-wide monitor that brings cyberspace to life. With a 21:9 aspect ratio screen (2560-by-1080p resolution), these new monitors produce a theatre-like experience when playing games or watching your favourite movies. The dual link-up feature allows the monitor to display two source devices at once. For example, any combination of two devices, such as computers, cameras, smartphones, or Blu-ray players can be connected to the monitor and displayed on a single screen simultaneously. One of the most popular ultra-wide monitors, the LK450 from LG is both PC and Mac compatible, has a built-in tuner so it can be used as a TV, and you can get it for $649 or less at some online retailers. This holiday you don’t have to choose between giving high tech gifts and saving money. You can have both and impress your loved ones with the best tech gifts of 2013.

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Brilliant Interiors

Oriental Opulence The Mandarin Oriental hotel in Bangkok features a very distinct and captivating interior design theme. Combining traditional oriental design cues with modern décor elements, every room in the hotel has a personality of its own…

As soon as you walk into the hotel, you can’t help but admire the lively personality of the main lobby. Using Mother Nature as its inspiration, the lobby brings together different natural elements like fresh flowers, potted plants, and wooden planks in a wide, well-lit space to create a garden-like feel. Adding an interesting twist to the area are the tasteful chandeliers; featuring traditional oriental designs on barrel-like bodies, they give the lobby an unmistakeable avant-garde touch.

The Author’s Lounge sees a crisp, bright interior that’s charming and pleasing to the eyes. The main colour at play is white, which manifests itself in the form of lounge sofas, chairs, tables, and wall paint. All these pure white elements instantly give way to an area that looks classy and understated, while also creating the illusion of added space. Hints of green and pine are blended in the colour palette to break the simplicity and bring the entire setting together.

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The Siam Suite features a very modern and sophisticated design theme. The room exudes a feeling of comfort and relaxation thanks to the extensive use of deep, rich colours and the incorporation of practical contemporary furniture, and it’s given a slightly traditional touch with the addition of oriental decorative items, satin cushions, and hand-woven carpets. The various lamps in different styles and shapes are the most important design elements as they help create a soothing atmosphere without compromising on the suite’s contemporary personality.

The Heritage Authors Suite is grandiose, stylish, and impressively luxurious. The bespoke fourposter beds are the highlight of the room; adorned with tasteful linen and handcrafted panels, they help create a royal and sassy atmosphere. They also give the room a clear direction in terms of style as their golden design details manifest themselves in various other forms throughout the setting. Adding an element of surprise to the suite are the beautifully crafted arch windows that give the area a warm, homely feel.

The Selandia Suite is as refreshing as it is inviting. Plain sofas are given a perky personality with the addition of colourful cushions that perfectly complement other decorative items in the room, and white is used generously throughout the theme to tone down the overall colour effect. Hand-woven carpets in different shades and designs are placed in the setting to bind all the elements together and create a unified look.

The Oriental Suite’s living room combines practicality with style. The room is cleverly designed as all the major components like the sofas, curtains, and tables match each other perfectly while remaining completely functional. There’s also an interesting blend of light upholstery with dark wooden furniture; this combination gives the area an androgynous character that is both unique and enchanting.

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Brilliant Travel

Holidaying In

Hamburg Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, is home to some of the world’s most popular tourist spots. Brimming with culture and beauty, this city has a lot to offer... Since it’s home to one of the largest harbours in Europe, Hamburg’s lakes, rivers, and wide-open spaces are a breath of fresh air. The best way to explore the hidden sights and sounds of the city is to take a guided tour, especially around the Altstadt (Old Town), Neustadt (New Town), and the St. Pauli districts. A must-see is the Alster Lake, which gives the city its unique ambience. Considered as a fundamental part of Hamburg’s cityscape, the lake is nearly completely encircled by greenery, making it perfect for family picnics. Visitors can also choose to go for exciting pedalo rides on the scenic Alsterfleet canals. Just an hour away from the city is the Serengeti Park, Germany’s largest safari where visitors can experience Africa at its finest as they drive through the reserve in

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their own vehicles or on the Serengeti Bus. For more wild life fun, the zoological wonderland which gives visitors a first-hand look at giraffes, rhinos, camels, and many other exotic creatures, while the Hagenbeck Zoo gives animal lovers the opportunity to feed the animals and play with them. Adventure lovers will love the city’s diverse collection of theme parks, which provide wholesome entertainment for adults and children alike. The Hansa-Park is Germany’s only seaside theme park, which boasts a host of rides, attrac-

tions, and captivating shows. For those seeking adrenalin, the number one attraction is the Torre del Mar, the world’s tallest wave swinger that gives a new perspective of the Lübeck Bay; in an elevated, free-flying swing, people are flung round the central column at speeds of up to 70km/h. In Soltau, the Heide-Park offers non-stop fun and entertainment with more than fifty rides and attractions that include white-knuckle rollercoasters, old-time carousels, and enthralling variety shows. The Miniatur Wunderland, a model railway attraction where

visitors can get a glimpse of the country in a unique and interesting way, showcases the city’s old-fashioned charm beautifully. Another interesting site is the Hamburg Dungeon, which provides a journey through the city’s dark history in an actor led, interactive experience. Some of the Dungeon’s popular shows include the Great Fire of Hamburg, where visitors find their way through the terrible fire that ruined much of the city in 1842, and Stortebeker, which tells the story of the infamous pirate Klaus Stortebeker who used to plunder the Baltic and North Seas. Experiencing Hamburg Shopping in the city is as exciting as it is magnificent. The city’s most exclusive address, the Neuer Wall, is lined with designer-label fashion stores that include Armani, Jil Sander, and up-market jewellery brands like Bulgari, Cartier, and Chaumet. Another well-known shopping boulevard is Jungfernstieg, which

is located alongside the Inner Alster Lake promenade and boasts a variety of boutiques offering up-market goods such as shoes, leather bags, and travel accessories. It also houses the famous traditional department store Alsterhaus, whose illuminated architecture provides a unique shopping experience. Although hotels in Hamburg are rarely cheap, the standard of accommodation is high and most prices include breakfast. However, it’s possible to find good bargains if you book ahead at a quiet time. In addition, a number of cheap accommodations can be found on the eastern side of the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) and around the St. Georg area. The city’s New Town area is also full of hotels, many of which are clustered around the Colonnaden pedestrian precinct, the elegant Esplanade, and close to the shops in the

Gänsemarkt region. Further options that lie in this area include the Drehbahn, Neuer Jungfernstieg, and Holstenwall. Typical of harbour cities, many of the restaurants are found close to the waterfront itself. These restaurants have a definite international flavour and Portuguese cuisine is very popular. Fine dining is clustered in definite pockets around Old Town Hamburg and around Brodschrangen, Grosse Johannisstrasse, Jungfernstieg, Zippelhaus, and Deichstrasse. There’s also a wide variety of trendy and lively restaurants, bistros, and other eateries located in Altona and Ovelgönne. Popular for its charm and maritime flair, Hamburg is without a doubt one of Germany’s most beautiful metropolises. The unique social ambience and breathtaking landscapes of the city make it a destination with a difference and an experience worth having.

Fast Fact

C travellers ent figures, the GC According to rec test growing fas the ted en to Hamburg repres the total rket in 2007, with tourism source ma 33,000. ing ed ce ex ight stays show number of overn 08 20 st end of Augu Statistics up to the reasing by 6.9%. inc r the fur are that the numbers www.dazzle-magazine.com

Amaze Recipes

Delicious Holiday Deserts Impress your guests this month with elaborate season’s desserts…

Plum Pudding Ingredients: 4 4 4 3 2½ 2 1½ 1 1 1 1 ¾ ½ ½ ½ ½ ⅓ ⅜ ⅜ ⅜ ⅛

Preparation: 30 min Cooking: 5 hrs Ready In: 5 hrs, 30 min Yield: 20 servings

Oz shredded suet Oz candied mixed fruit peel, chopped Plums, pitted and chopped Eggs, beaten Cups fresh breadcrumbs Oz preserved stem ginger in syrup, chopped Tsp mixed spice Cup whole-wheat flour Small carrot, grated Apple peeled, cored, and shredded Lemon, juiced and zested Tsp baking powder Cup dark brown sugar Cup chopped blanched almonds Cup non-alcoholic beer Cup chopped walnuts Cup raisins Cup halved candied cherries Cup dried currants Cup golden raisins Cup ground almonds

DECEMBER 2013

Directions: 1. In a large bowl, combine flour, bread crumbs, suet, eggs, carrot, apple, brown sugar, chopped blanched almonds, stem ginger, ground almonds, cherries, raisins, currants, golden raisins, mixed peel, plums, lemon juice and zest, mixed spice, baking powder, and non-alcoholic beer. If you have used more dry fruit than fresh, add a little extra non-alcoholic beer to make the mixture less stiff. 2. Grease two large, or four small, pudding basins. Fill with pudding mixture, about ⅞ full. Cover tightly with greased waxed paper, then foil; secure with string. Stand pudding on a trivet in a large pot of boiling water that reaches halfway up the sides of the pudding basin. Steam puddings over medium-low heat in boiling water for 10 hours for large puddings, for five hours for small puddings, topping off water regularly until quite firm and set. 3. If not serving immediately, let cool completely, then replace covers with fresh waxed paper and foil and store in a cool, dry place, basting from time to time with white grape juice for up to three months. To serve, reheat by steaming for two to three hours.

Cherry Pound Cake Ingredients: 4 3 2 1½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ ¼

Eggs Tsp baking powder Cups all-purpose flour Cups white sugar Cup butter Package, or eight oz, cream cheese Tsp vanilla extract Tsp almond extract Cup maraschino cherries, drained and halved Tsp salt Cup all-purpose flour

Stollen Ingredients: 6 2½ 1 1 1 1 ⅔ ⅔ ⅓ ½ ⅓ ⅓ ⅓ ⅓

Preparation: 20 min Cooking: 1 hrs, 20 min Ready In: 1 hrs, 40 min Yield: 1 cake

Preparation: 30 min Cooking: 50 min Ready In: 3 hrs Yield: 1 loaf

Oz marzipan Cups bread flour Tbsp active dry yeast Large egg Tbsp confectioners’ sugar Tsp ground cinnamon Cup warm milk (45°C) Cup diced candied citron Cup white sugar Tbsp salt Cup butter, softened Cup currants Cup sultana raisins Cup red candied cherries, quartered

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325°F/165°C. Grease and flour an eight-inch tube pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. 2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Beat in the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Dredge cherries in ¼ cup flour, then fold into batter. Spread into prepared pan. 3. Bake in the preheated oven for 80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Directions: 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. 2. In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the egg, white sugar, salt, butter, and two cups bread flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, ¼ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has begun to pull together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead in the currants, raisins, dried cherries, and citrus peel. Continue kneading until smooth, about eight minutes. 3. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about one hour. 4. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the marzipan into a rope and place it in the centre of the dough. Fold the dough over to cover it; pinch the seams together to seal. Place the loaf, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. 5. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 300°F/150°C, and bake for a further 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow loaf to cool on a wire rack. Dust the cooled loaf with confectioners’ sugar, and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

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Dazztrology Aries March 21 - April 20 Despite trying to be open-minded, and despite reflecting on the most peaceful and balanced way to approach your career, reputation, boss, father, or a high profile client, you and one of your partners or rivals end up in a huge battle over your professional life or an authority figure in your life. It could be that a rival chooses now to try to smear your good name or it could be that a partner is disagreeing with your methods. Stand up for yourself, but don’t sabotage your career or your important relationships. Taurus April 21 - May 21 Your friends, teammates, colleagues, and partners are all happy to join you as you get involved in religious, political, cultural, academic, travel, and/or media related projects. Unfortunately, your job is not cooperating with your plans. Even if you take time off from work to avoid the drama, they will contact you while you’re away on holiday and make sure that you’re fully involved in whatever occurs. Luckily, you still have a lot of love and support coming your way, so you’ll be able to figure it out. Gemini May 22 - June 21 Your career and your finances are still humming along beautifully. However, your social life, internet activities, and/or desire to be a good team player are still having a negative effect on your love life, finances, parenting, and/or playtime efforts. It would be easy to understand if you decided to stop having a social life all together until after the first of the year. It would give you time to focus on loved ones, hobbies, your career, and simply enjoying yourself now and then. Cancer June 22 - July 23 Your public and private lives are clashing and a partner or rival is letting you know how upset they are about your role in things. There are a number of times this month when your career is really doing well so it’s only natural that you’d be focusing on that area of your life. There are quite a few opportunities this month for you and your partner to have fun together, travel, explore other cultures, and expand your horizons. Mostly, you just need to find creative ways to juggle everything. Leo July 24 - August 23 The looming holidays are making it difficult to get anything done at work, or your job is making it difficult to get much done before the holidays. You’re feeling stressed and having a hard time juggling your priorities. Even if you go on holiday, your co-workers and clients will hunt you down and drag you back into the conversation. The good news is that profits are up and you’re still in a playful, adventurous, and open-minded frame of mind despite everything going on around you. Virgo August 24 - September 23 By mid-month you’re starting to have some financial troubles. You and a partner still have plenty of ideas about how to make the holidays special, but your children might be complaining about not receiving enough or you might be upset because you really wanted to splurge more on your loved ones. You just need to work on bargain hunting and finding inexpensive ways to spread the holiday spirit without destroying your budget. You’re happy despite the budgetary constraints this month. 60

DECEMBER 2013

By Skye Thomas Tomorrow’s Edge

Libra September 24 - October 23

During much of this year, your partner (or a rival) has been battling with your roommates, parents, private life, housing situation, etc. As you try to focus on home and family over the holidays, you and your partner are both arguing about this same person or event that has been making your home life challenging. The good news is that your professional and financial activities are good. You’re succeeding at your financial, professional, and residential goals despite what your partner or rival thinks. Scorpio October 24 - November 22 You have some excellent opportunities to bargain hunt and find great deals on holiday gifts, vacations, date nights, playtime activities, etc. You will need to be careful, though, because you’re finding so many great deals that you’re going to blow your budget if you’re not careful. Your financial efforts have been paying off lately and it’s easy to feel as if you can be as generous as you would like to be. But, you still need to make a budget and then force yourself to stick to it.

Sagittarius November 23 - December 21 You have all kinds of fun and charming opportunities to socialize and experience the joys of the holiday season. You’re either going to spend way too much money while enjoying the holidays or you’re going to be upset because you can’t afford to splurge and to be as generous as you would normally like to be. The good news is that you’re creative and can find plenty of inexpensive ways to have fun and to let loved ones know how much they mean to you. Capricorn December 22 - January 20 You’re stuck in a tug-of-war between your home and career. Your social life is in a happy place; you’re able to enjoy shopping, negotiating, spending time with relatives, neighbours, or the community working on writing, singing, or public speaking, and playing with electronics, tech, and other computer-related activities. It’s a great time for making commitments and bargains, and your friends, colleagues, and internet activities are in sync with your efforts to have fun while shopping and hanging out. Aquarius January 21 - February 19 You still have some lovely positive growth occurring in your professional life. However, you’re dealing with some big dramas involving travel, cultures, politics, academics, bureaucracies, and/ or dysfunctional viewpoints. Holiday gatherings could be fraught with travel problems, addictions, cultural dramas and/or political or religious arguments. Luckily, these issues are not going to last very long. Pisces February 20 - March 20 Friends, teams, committees, and/or the internet are causing you financial problems and creating trust issues for you and your lover. You’re a great friend and team player, but you need to make sure that your love life and your bank account don’t come near these people or activities this month. The good news is that Saturn and Jupiter are still promoting the idea that you should be having fun, falling in love, splurging on loved ones, and/or traveling this month. www.dazzle-magazine.com

Last Word

10 Tips For Happy Holidays The holidays are about seasonal traditions and making merry with family and friends, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to have so many events to attend and to-do lists to complete. As you plan celebrations and gift giving, forget the stress and consider these 10 Tips to keep you organized, spirited, and best of all, relaxed and ready to enjoy the season… 1. Start the day with a smile: The holidays are a season of giving and sharing. Treat your co-worker to a cup of coffee or holiday treat, or simply wish a stranger a happy holiday season. An unexpected surprise for a friend will make her day and also keep your spirits high. 2. Be ready for anything: Alleviate last-minute stress by having goodies on hand should a visitor stop by unexpectedly. You don’t have to go out of your way. Stock up on simple, easy-access essentials like your favourite holiday snack mix and Starbucks Christmas Blend. 3. Personalize it: Make every gift stand out with personalized wrapping paper. Jenn Sbranti, Chief Editor and Founder of Hostess with the Mostess recommends using creative rubber stamps or stencils with festive-coloured inks and paints to decorate white or craft paper with your favourite holiday images. Take it up a notch with a gift-wrap-making party complete with festive music and your favourite holiday snacks and drinks. 4. Give gifts that everyone will love: Know someone who can’t go a day without their favourite coffee or espresso beverage? Look no further than the coffee shop around the corner or for a gift that everyone loves, like a new coffee mug, travel tumbler, or a gift card. Quick and easy, these gifts are no-brainers and sure to please. 5. Treat yourself: Remember to do something nice for yourself too. Whether it’s indulging in quiet time with a new book by the fire or an afternoon treat, relax and enjoy. Grab a Starbucks Chocolate Crème Whoopie Pie for a perfectly sized treat less than 200 calories. Pair it with a Skinny Peppermint Mocha for an afternoon break. 6. Give back: Make a donation, big or small, to your favourite charity. Whether it’s giving to a local animal shelter or contributing to the neighbourhood food bank, every bit helps and there’s nothing better than giving back during the holiday season.

8. Old holiday-movie-night with the kids: Introduce your kids to the classics. From Miracle on 34th Street to It’s a Wonderful Life, these movies are sure to bring back fond memories for you and create a memorable impression on your kids. 9. Plan ahead for travel: Airport delays and long flights can take their toll. Keep your energy level up and frustrations down. Bring along your favourite pair of cosy socks and invest in noise-cancelling headphones, a good book, and your favourite coffee. 10. Recharge with a non-holiday day: You’ll enjoy the hustle and bustle of the busy season more with a break. Refresh with a non-holiday day of activities. Hit the salon, check out that exhibit you’ve been eying, or take a leisurely stroll. A day away to recharge is the best cure for seasonal stress and frustration.

DECEMBER 2013

Article: Provided by ARA Content.

7. Start fun, new traditions: Instead of the same old holiday cookies, create a major wow factor with holiday cake pops. Gather family and friends to bake and decorate. For a festive presentation, display the finished cake pops in pretty boxes lined with gift-wrap covered Styrofoam. Your creations will look like they came from a seasoned pastry chef and stand out among all the traditional cookie baskets.

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