Dazzle February 14 Issue 78 by Dazzle Magazine

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Life, Style, and Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 14

Issue 78

SAG Awards

Outstanding Performance

e Special

Valentine Special

Saudi Women 2014

Valentine Special

Vogue Valentine Valentine Special

Valentine Special

National Media Award 2014 Valentine Special

Valent

ISSN 1751-9195 Valentine Special

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February is upon us, and the intricate web of love comes into focus. I call it a web because, more than anything, love is complicated in its simplicity. It poses as a simple four-letter word, yet it carries the weight of at least ten different emotions, and at the least, the same number of facets. And, since the beginning of time, the search for true love and its meaning has baffled multitudes, and was the cause for many a demise and achievement alike. So in an attempt to simplify all that is complicated about love, I wanted to tell you what I have always believed is the meaning of love, and the secret to its success. For me, it lies in the order of the words I Love You. First comes the ‘I’, which means that your primary focus should be on yourself because only then would you be a secure, confident, and positive partner; then comes ‘Love’, which means that your second focus should be on the love - cherishing it, respecting it, enjoying it; then finally comes ‘You’, which means that your third focus should be on your partner because if you properly satisfy the first two priorities, the third one, your loved one, will just fall into place, and you would have a healthy, loving relationship. Only in poetry and in books is it written You, I Love, which implies that you prioritise him first, then yourself, and then the love itself. To me, this is the type of scenario that calls for a dramatic relationship only suited for novels, yet, many of us live by. So, this Valentine, pamper yourself first, then devise the most heartfelt evening that both of you love, and finally, give your spouse your undivided attention. And, at Dazzle, we attempted to make things even simpler for you by taking care of your V-Day outfit in Vogue Valentine (p. 36), giving you the 4 Secrets For Bliss Seekers (p. 16), and featuring a romantic getaway in Breathtaking Brunei (p. 56) alongside all our other essential life tools. So, go on, indulge…

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Contents FEBRUARY 2014

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reham Abul-Wafa OPERATING DIRECTOR Ghadeer Zainy DEPUTY EDITOR Tamer G Hassan SUB-EDITOR Hafsa Mahfooz BEAUTY EDITOR Sonja Svensek HEALTH EDITOR Nisrine Kreidieh PR DIRECTOR Dania Al Safadi CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ahmad Galal

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.

Spectacular 10 New Artist Spotlight: Jon Pardi

Charm

16 4 Secrets For Bliss Seekers 18 Fighting Procrastination

Sparkle

32 Hairy Solutions 34 Ask Sonja 36 Vogue Valentine

Bedazzled

Brilliant

20 You, Him And His Ex 22 Which F.R.I.E.N.D Are You?

52 Talking SMB Tech 54 Awe-Inspiring Bedrooms 56 Breathtaking Brunei

Inspire

Amaze

24 Invest In Hire Assess 26 The EM Crisis

Glow

28 Are You Semi-Somniac? 30 Ask Nisrine

60 Thai In Thirty

Dazztrology 62 Skye Thomas

Last Word 64 The Beauty Of Love

Cover

12 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance

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 Celeb

New Artist Spotlight:

Jon Pardi

By Bob Doerschuk

FEBRUARY 2014

Apparently his experiences left Pardi unscarred. While there are no tears-in-mybeer blues here, that’s not to say he avoids introspective material. But, even on the down-tempo ‘Love Hangs Around’ (written by Pardi, Treat Summar, and Odie Blackmon), you sense that it’s just a matter of time before the lyric’s two long-distance

lovers enjoy a happy reunion. Similarly, the rockin’ numbers have dimension. You’ll hear hardly a mention of trucks or cut-off jeans; instead, actual stories inhabit his down-home grooves. The title cut (Pardi, Bart Butler, and Davy Ulbrich), as well as ‘Up All Night’ (Pardi, Butler, and Brett Beavers), showcase his fondness for melodies built on tight, repetitive motifs. The guy just sounds like he’s having a ball, and with his amiable drawl he’s inviting us all to join him.

A lot of Pardi’s energy stems from days on the road and long nights on stages throughout his home state of California. He was already absorbing the spirit of realworld Country when he performed ‘Friends in Low Places’ at age seven for his father’s

thirtieth birthday party. His first songs came at twelve, his first band debuted two years later. The move to Nashville followed two restless years at Butte Junior College.

Saloon pianos clink, guitars crunch, and fiddles, well, they fiddle throughout ‘Write You a Song’, Jon Pardi’s debut album on Capitol Records Nashville. And it fits together into a package that practically dares you not to get up and dance.

In His Own Words Musical Hero “There are so many, I don’t know where to start. Elvis was pretty awesome, though.” Album On Your Playlist “Bakersfield by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin.” Dream Duet Partner “Willie Nelson. Willie just takes a song up to a whole new level.” Pet Peeve “People who eat really loud.” Title Of Your Autobiography “Life of the Pardi.”

Find out more about Jon Pardi at www.JonPardi.com and follow him on Twitter: @JonPardi.

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Spectacular

SAG Awards Outstanding Performance

Cover Celebs

The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA is one of the awards season’s premier events. It honoured outstanding performances from 2013 in five film categories and eight TV categories, including the distinctive ensemble awards. The awards were handed out at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition on January 18, 2014, to:

Matthew McConaughey Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role (Dallas Buyers Club)

FEBRUARY 2014

The cast of American Hustle Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

Motion Pictures Category

Jared Leto Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role (Dallas Buyers Club)

Television Category

Lupita Nyong’o Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role (12 Years A Slave)

The cast of Breaking Bad Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

Cate Blanchett Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role (Blue Jasmine)

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Spectacular

Cover Celebs

The cast of Modern Family Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

Bryan Cranston Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Drama Series (Breaking Bad)

FEBRUARY 2014

Ty Burrell Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series (Modern Family)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series (Veep)

Actress Helen Mirren Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries (Phil Spector)

Michael Douglas Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries (Behind The Candelabra)

Connect With The SAG Awards Information: www.sagawards.org/about/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/sagawardsofficialpage/ Twitter: @sagawards or www.twitter.com/sagawards Google +: www.google.com/+SAGawards Instagram: @sagawards Tumblr: www.sagawards.tumblr.com Blog: blog.sagawards.org SAG Awards official hashtag: #SAGawards SAG Awards Nominations official hashtag: #SAGawardsNoms

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Charm

Mind & Soul

Secrets For Bliss Seekers

We all wish to live happily ever after, but achieving eternal bliss comes from within. Find out how you can grab happiness and hold on to it forever… Happiness is an emotion in which a person expresses feelings of joy, contentment and satisfaction. For all of us, this emotion constantly presents itself in varying degrees; we could be overflowing with joy one day and feel completely deprived of it the next day. And because we’re well aware of the highs of happiness, its absence creates a void in us and we crave to go back to the blissful state. But, what you must understand is that life isn’t a bed of roses and things will not always go your way, so learn to deal with your lows today and work on creating a happier tomorrow: 1. Accept Your Mistakes The biggest misconception we hold is that people will dislike us if we make mistakes, so we constantly try to hide or deny our slipups. But, what people actually dislike are the excuses and blame games used to cover up mistakes. The mark of a moral humanbeing is his ability to accept blunders

FEBRUARY 2014

and take responsibility for the same. If you can say, “Yes it was my fault,” people will appreciate your honesty and help you deal with the problem. But, you should learn to forgive yourself first and this is perhaps the biggest hurdle because mistakes are tough on self-esteem. Understand that it’s okay to mess up at times and it’s never too late to apologise. Learning to own up to your blunders will put you at peace with yourself and happiness will be yours. 2. Be In Control Usually, when we face tough situations, we let our emotions and feelings take over and feel absolutely powerless. Even though it’s not in our power to control certain events, we can always manage our reactions to them. Keep in mind that only you can decide whether to choose harmony or turmoil. If you can hold positive thoughts and feelings in a stressful environment, nothing can stop you from being happy. Learn

to take things lightly and try stretching your troubles to such hilarious limits that you end up laughing. It’s also helpful to take some time out and indulge in activities that calm you down. You can go for walks, listen to music, talk to friends, or meditate. 3. Have Faith Think about it, nature constantly gives us hope for a better tomorrow, so why give up and despair? We all face obstacles and troubles, but the unhappy choice is to let them stop us. When troubles come your way, the best thing you can do is ask God to give you strength and hope for a brighter tomorrow. When things don’t go as planned, think where the new direction might be leading you. For all you know, an unfortunate event may actually prove to be advantageous. Keep in mind that you don’t have to put an end to all your problems in one day. The key is to take troubles one step at a time and eventually eradicate them.

4. Deal With Criticism Rumi, a Sufi poet, once wrote, “Criticism polishes my mirror.” When people criticise you, or your actions, take it in stride and learn from it. Don’t think that they’re trying to make you feel worthless because they’re genuinely trying to help you out and make you a better person. When criticized by people you

trust, think of yourself as an athlete getting direction and support from a coach who wants to see you perform better. You should never let criticism shake your confidence, but always think of it as a way to help you reach a higher level of performance. But, be careful of people who love finding fault with everyone as they will only

scratch your mirror, not polish it. The only thing that is truly worth fighting for is happiness, so bring back the bright, hopeful sun in your life and do away with misery, once and for all. Make a conscious effort to change your outlook towards life and learn to channel negativity in a positive direction.

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Charm

Personality

Fighting Procrastination Are you guilty of avoiding important tasks and pushing them to the next day? Well, its time to wake up from lala land and deal with procrastination today, not tomorrow… Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a job which needs to be accomplished. This complex psychological behaviour often leads to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt among people. Experts believe that it affects everyone to some degree; with some it can be a minor problem, but with others it can cause stress and anxiety. The Procrastination Research Group conducted an online survey by asking, “To what extent is procrastination having a negative impact on your happiness?” The majority, 46%, of people chose ‘quite a bit’, and 18% claimed ‘extreme negative effect’. This just goes to prove that we need to fight the problem of procrastination for our emotional wellbeing. Joseph Ferrari, PhD, Associate Professor Of Psychology at Chicago’s DePaul University and co-editor of the book ‘Procrastination and Task Avoidance’ says, “Telling a chronic procrastinator to ‘just do it’ is like telling a clinically depressed person to cheer up.” As the name suggests, chronic procrastinators are people who constantly delay important tasks and lag behind in their accomplishments. They avoid revealing too much information about their abilities,

FEBRUARY 2014

do not act on their intentions, and prefer doing simple tasks. These characteristics stem from low self-esteem, noncompetitiveness, self-deception, perfectionism, and lack of selfconfidence. Surprisingly, people who’re overly confident about completing tasks on a tight deadline are also guilty of procrastination. These people often overlook the importance of time management and justify their lag by claiming that they work well under pressure. Lulled by a false sense of achievement, they reinforce this behaviour time and time again, failing to understand that this is damaging their potential. So how can you get out of this vicious cycle? According to Dr. William J. Knaus, psychologist and author of the book ‘Break the Procrastination Habit… Now!’, “Procrastinators have to change their mindset and mentality in order to break this disruptive habit. All they need is a positive outlook towards doing work.” Think Want-To, Not HaveTo: The biggest reason for procrastinating is thinking that you absolutely have to do a task. This could be something domestic, like doing house chores, or work related.

Whatever the task may be, thinking like this makes you feel that you’re being forced to do it, so you’ll automatically want to put it off. You use procrastination as a defence mechanism to stay away from the pain, only to feel a greater sense of pain when you fail to finish the task on time. What you need to understand is that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You have the freedom to make your own choices and no one can force you to do anything. If you’re unhappy with the way you’ve been doing something, mix it up a little and make it interesting; this will make you want to work on it. Dr. Knaus explained the purpose behind this exercise by saying, “Procrastination becomes less likely on tasks that you openly and freely choose to undertake.” Break It Up: Rawan from Jeddah says, “Every time I gather the courage to clean up my storeroom, I think about what a huge mess it is and I put it off to the next day. There’s just so much to do!” Thinking that a tedious task has to be completed in one day often leads to its postponement. If we start a task without clearly envisioning the steps to be undertaken, we tend to get overwhelmed by its complexity and seek the easy way out.

What you should do is start little by little and gradually finish the task, instead of thinking that the entire task must be completed at once. In Rawan’s case, she doesn’t have to clean up the storeroom in one day; she can devote ten minutes of her time everyday and slowly work towards finishing it. This way the task won’t seem like a burden and productive progress can be made. To Err Is Your Birth Right: A common procrastinator trait is perfectionism. People are often scared of starting a task because they fear it won’t be perfect. But, expecting such unrealistic results is just going to cause more stress. The fear of not doing your best drives you to put off a task to the last moment. As the deadline approaches, there isn’t enough time to do the job perfectly, so you console yourself by thinking that you could’ve been perfect if you

had more time. Remember that you’re only human and it’s okay to make mistakes. You don’t have to be hard on yourself and expect a perfect score every single time. You should understand that an imperfect job completed on time is more meaningful than a delayed ‘perfect’ job. Make Time For Everything: Marwa from Dammam says, “I once had to submit a 500-page report for which I was given only a week’s time. Even though I had very little time, I didn’t want to start right away because I wanted to spend all my free time with family and friends.” Many people have a mental block that undertaking a project will deprive them of fun and relaxation. This drives them to delay tasks to the very last moment, which of course results in a less-thanaverage output. The solution to this problem is to schedule your work around the fun activities.

Ferrari agrees, “Decide in advance how much time you want to spend on entertainment and devote the rest to work. If you treat your working time as a scarce resource, you’re likely to be more motivated and productive.” Keep Fighting: Procrastination is caused by associating a task with pain or unpleasantness. What you should do is try to reduce this unpleasantness by making the task more bearable and enjoyable. If you find yourself working on a tedious task that requires a lot of concentration, remember to take small breaks and reward yourself for the work you’ve already completed. This will keep the positive momentum going and you’ll start appreciating the task more. After all, who knows what tomorrow may bring, so finish off what you have to do today and give it your very best.

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Bedazzled Relationships

You, Him And His Ex As much as you’d like to believe otherwise, your man’s ex-flame is not your worst enemy. Sonja Svensek shares her insight on relationship dynamics when the ex comes into the picture… So you’ve finally found your prince charming. He’s the man you’ve dreamt about all your life and things couldn’t get any better. But then, you discover the not-so-super ex girlfriend. She may be a distant part of his past, but she was still a part of it. And even though you know nothing about her (apart from the fact that she dated your prince charming once upon a time), for some reason, you can’t stop that nagging feeling inside you. In your head, you’ve created a picture of her; a prettier, sweeter, hotter, and more fashionable picture, that is. Dealing with an ex is a part of the relationship cycle; you meet someone new, who inevitably met someone new before you. And this is when you start to

FEBRUARY 2014

ponder: What did she have that you might not? Why, how, when, and where did all this happen? Why is he still in touch with her? And, shock-horror, what if he still loved her more than he loves you? Insecurity and possessiveness are natural emotions you feel towards someone you love deeply as you want to be their best in everything. However, if this issue starts to haunt you to the point where your daily mission becomes to investigate her on Facebook, or you constantly get the urge to hack his email, you’re headed for disaster. These are all red flags that you should heed as this is clearly taking it too far. If you want to avoid turning into a psychopath, you need to understand why you’re

so affected by her and work towards fixing it. This will take time and a lot of patience, but when you finally achieve it, love will be yours forever. Figure It Out First of all, ask yourself why he’s with you. Before you say: I don’t know, ask him! Find out why he’s happy with you and what made him fall for you. Ask yourself why you’re with him. What you’ll find is that just like you, he also has his reasons for being with you. The point is that this is about you and him; you need to build your self-esteem and not give this “other woman” any power over your relationship. Raha from Jeddah decided to rise above the ex issue; she comments, “I’ve come to terms with the fact that my man still occasionally

speaks to his ex girlfriends, but I know he only loves me. I believe in him and trust him with all my heart.” She adds, “I consider myself to be average looking. And for some reason, I always imagined my boyfriend’s ex to be extremely gorgeous. But when I saw her, she looked nothing like I’d imagined. For the first time, I was actually glad someone fell short of my expectations!” Unless the ex is actually Angelina Jolie, you have no reason to harass your man with countless queries. But in all seriousness, do you truly think she is as interesting, beautiful, and everything else you’ve made her out to be in your mind? Keep in mind that everything you fear about her is directly linked to your own insecurities. Just because you’re not tall enough or thin enough doesn’t mean that she is. Even if she does look good, understand that your man doesn’t look at her the way he used to before. You’re the love of his life now, not her. You have to figure out, in the most genuine and realistic way, what your biggest fear is. Not being able to control your fears of insecurity, jealousy, or abandonment will lead to confusion, arguments, tears, and eventually drive you apart. This is because you let a third person, who didn’t exist in your relationship, take full control over your happiness and future. There’s nothing attractive about a whining, possessive, and insecure girlfriend. Mariam from Lebanon learned this the hard way. She couldn’t control her possessive behaviour, which cost her her relationship. She says, “I constantly bombarded Omar with questions about his past love because I was convinced that he still liked her. Finally, it got to a point where

he couldn’t take it anymore, so he left me. And guess what? He didn’t get back with her. I feel so stupid for throwing it all away.” Even though everyone says, and statistics will prove, that it’s difficult for ex partners to remain friends, an amicable friendship could still very well be happening and you shouldn’t fret about it. Think about what he has to do to assure you that you’re the one. Do you want him to cut all contact with her? Should he treat her badly for your satisfaction? If you think these tactics are fair, what kind of an image are you giving out? By asking for such unreasonable acts of love, you’ll force him to pick sides, which is never a good idea. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be correct if he humiliates you in her presence, makes you feel inadequate, or puts you in a competition situation with her. Immature as it sounds, this could lead to dangerous consequences. So if you smell a rotten man, who’s playing both sides of the fence, let him hit the road. Fight It Out If you can deal with the insecurities, you’ll be able to devote more time and energy to your relationship, instead of dwelling on what-ifs. The best thing is to talk to him and voice your concerns. If you feel something isn’t right about how he is with his ex, tell him. If it makes you feel better, ask him all there is you want to know about her. Finding out the truth will put your demon thoughts to rest, but once you’ve had the entire conversation, drop it! Raha agreed and added, “When I asked my boyfriend about his previous relationship, my heart was pounding, but I acted like I was fine with it. I did this because I wanted

him to tell me the truth without worrying about how it made me feel. Now I don’t feel the need to ask about her anymore.” After the talk, agree on a strategy to change your relationship for the better. For example, let him keep you in the loop if he’s in touch with her. If you think meeting her will help ease the tension, go ahead and do it. For all you know, you and the ex can end up becoming best of chums. The important thing is don’t try to act tough by pretending like his ex or anything he does doesn’t affect you. Instead, be honest and keep showing him how much you care - you’re not the only one who needs reassurance, he does too. So be more open, make him feel loved so he can love you back. Every once in awhile, you should discuss the relationship with him to see how far you both have come. This is important because it takes two to make a relationship work, so grow together instead of growing apart. Raha concurs, “I’ve always been very expressive and I make it a point to talk to my boyfriend about our relationship. Talking about our problems has definitely made us respect each other more.” So once and for all, contribute to the dream relationship you seek and don’t try to analyze it too much. You always get what you give, so empathize with your man and act maturely because you never know when your actions could come back to haunt you. And by now, you’ve probably figured out that communication is key. You should learn to be more open and encourage him to do the same. Who knows? He might be insecure about the hunk you once dated.

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Bedazzled Friendships

Which D . N . E . I . R . F You? e r A

Monica, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler are names we’ve all grown up with. But if you had to link your personality to one of these characters, which one would it be? Take this quiz and find out... If you were stranded on a deserted island, the first thing you would do is… A. Sing a song about the beauty of the island B. Scavenge the island for undiscovered territory C. Look for food D. Run around screaming SOS! E. Set up a shelter F. Kick back and enjoy the holiday What was high school like for you? A. I never got done with it B. I was the Science Guru and all the geeks worshipped me (I wish) C. I can’t remember because I slept through most of it D. I was the most popular person in school E. I was the popular crowd’s notso-popular sidekick F. I was the Science Guru’s best friend, but I still sucked at science What was your favourite subject in high-school? A. Music and drama B. Math, science, history, geography, humanities, etc C. I was too busy sleeping, remember? D. Physical Education E. Home Science F. I still haven’t figured it out What are you most proud of? A. My ability to connect with nature B. My immense knowledge

FEBRUARY 2014

C. My butt D. My designer clothes E. My perfectionism F. Nothing at all If a genie granted you three wishes, your first wish would be… A. To see a world filled with love and peace B. To make my marriage work C. To become rich, famous, and happening D. To find the man of my dreams E. To make everyone as considerate as I am F. To change my embarrassing name Which of these TV shows do you enjoy watching the most? A. American Idol B. Discovery’s Blogs C. Baywatch D. General Hospital E. Hell’s Kitchen F. Saturday Night Live What’s your dream vacation spot? A. Somewhere in the wilderness of Africa, amidst the tribal members B. Any convention centre is a good vacation spot C. Disney World D. A serene, romantic and artistic place where I can fall in love E. A place with minimal traffic and pollution F. A place filled with exotic beaches and laid back locals

You would rather earn your living by… A. Singing and then singing more B. Working as a tour guide C. Volunteering to be a human experiment for potentially lethal products D. Who needs to earn when you have the option of marrying rich men E. Giving motivational lectures F. Faking a qualification and pulling it off till I get caught How would you describe your personal style? A. A mystical cross between a bohemian and gypsy look B. Plain and simple, but with an occasional fashion faux pas C. I’ll wear anything as long as it looks good D. I swear by DKNY and Ralph Lauren E. I make all my clothes and they look amazing F. I couldn’t care less about my personal style What are your thoughts on babies? A. Babies are the best thing when they are not yours B. My babies are my pride and joy C. I’m not fond of them D. Babies are the best shopping companions E. I love babies and I can’t wait to raise some of my own F. Babies are good fun, but only when they’re sleeping

You A.R.E… Based on your answers, find out which option you’ve ticked the most and read on…

Mostly A’s: Phoebe

Congratulations nut job, you’re Phoebe Buffet! Phoebe, who happens to be the good twin, is deeply connected with her innerself and believes she has psychic powers. Her other talents include singing (horribly, that is) and giving rather painful massages. She is also the sweetest and most innocent character on the show, which makes it impossible for anyone to dislike her fullof-life and sometimes baffling personality.

Mostly B’s: Ross

Ross is the super smart doctor with a terrible marriage track record. And even though he’s the most qualified of the lot, he also happens to be the most immature. But the fact that he’s so immature is his charm because everything he does is cute and thoughtful. He is also very passionate about his work, which you probably know is all about dinosaurs! All in all, he’s sensitive, caring, understanding and extremely determined.

Mostly C’s: Joey

Joey is dumb, cute and absolutely clueless! His life revolves around food, food and more food and he’s extremely proud of his dating accomplishments. We’ve all come to love him for his unintelligent antics and childlike behaviour, but he’s also an amazing friend. He’s the guy you would turn to if you’re having a bad day because he has a natural talent of putting a smile on anyone’s face. If you ask us, no group of friends is complete without a Joey!

Mostly D’s: Rachel

Rachel is the beautiful blonde

with amazing style and class. She loves to shop and dress in the most expensive designer clothes. She’s also a true romantic at heart and loves everything that life has to offer. You can never have a dull moment with Rachel around, because she’ll gossip till she can gossip no more! But it’s her sophisticated, down-to-earth and mature approach towards life that truly makes her a gem of a friend.

Mostly E’s: Monica

Monica has always done everything by the book. Her perfectionist nature always pushes her to do her best in everything, be it cleaning, cooking or even getting married. She’s the kind of person who’ll always be

five minutes early to a meeting just to get accustomed to the new setting. She’s also the person who’ll slap you if you don’t clean your mess up! With that said, Monica is most definitely the selfproclaimed mother hen of the group.

Mostly F’s: Chandler

Chandler is the calm, composed and carefree man with no hang-ups in life. He’s also very sarcastic by nature and getting a straight answer out of him is next to impossible. But the most amazing thing about him is his commitment towards love and making his friends happy. He will go out of his way to make sure his friends are comfortable and safe; a true friend indeed!

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Inspire

Careers

Invest In Hire Assess The quality of the workforce can make or break an organization. Choosing competent employees that complement a company’s objectives and goals is the need of the hour, says Louise Kursmark… Good hiring leads to organizational success because people are the ones who devise and implement strategy, generate revenue, produce products, serve customers, and manage operations. As a hiring manager, you improve your chances of hiring the right person by assessing them thoroughly. Assessments come in as many flavours as ice-cream, and can be used to evaluate a wide array of traits, skills, and performance factors. These tools won’t give you instant answers, but when administered and interpreted appropriately, they provide critical information to support your findings, validate your choices, and help you decide between comparable candidates. Susan Guarneri, HR Assessments expert, says, “Assessment agencies

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are one way to go about it. However, you have to keep in mind that these agencies are not magic wands.” Her firm, Career Assessment Goddess, works with employers to pinpoint the precise objective of using an assessment tool. The employer has to understand what they are trying to assess Are they trying to improve employee performance; speed-up the hiring process; or reduce problematic employees? The number of assessments

available is staggering. As part of her ‘Master the Maze of Career Assessments’ 15-module tele-seminar, she provides a spreadsheet detailing more than 80 assessments, and guides students through the process of researching, evaluating, and selecting the right tool. But she cautions, “Unfortunately, they’re not tidily packaged for you to choose from; you must do your homework.” The benefits of appropriately selected assessment tools include cost reductions, streamlined hiring

processes, talent identification, and the ability to hire the right person to meet the organization’s needs and culture. Talent Identification - At Winegardner & Hammons, a hotel management company, candidates undergo a customized leadership assessment administered by The Gallup Organization before meeting with company executives. Dave Gordon, Winegardner & Hammons HR VP, considers it worth the hundreds of dollars it costs per candidate. “When we bring people in, we know they have what we’re looking for,” he explains. The company works with Gallup to find people who possess the desired leadership traits most of its managers already possess. Thus, its findings are a strong predictor of future success because they identify and select the right

workforce. Inexpensive Tests - While some are extensive and costly to administer, others are quick, simple, and cheap. Helene Cotter of HirePower Associates often recommends a 20-minute integrity test for frontline people. When it comes to healthcare organizations, she finds that an assessment that costs less than $20 per candidate helps in identifying red flags by examining risk factors in the areas of integrity, substance abuse, reliability, and work ethic.

Known as the StepOneSurveyII, this test is available through Profiles International. On the other side of the coin is the candidate being assessed. When interviewing for the role of senior training manager for a $30 billion industrial manufacturer in Chicago, one candidate found the experience somewhat challenging but believes it’s worthwhile. He explains, “The opportunity to learn something about yourself is always valuable. I took the Gallup Leadership Assessment and I was looking forward to the results. Then when I got them, it gave me added insight during my job search, and then on the job.” Assessments are complex tools that can add substantial value to a company’s hiring process. Although they are neither a quick fix nor a one-size-fitsall solution, when expertly selected and processed, they can provide a company with the right workforce, and return its investment in research, implementation, and administration.

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Column

The EM Crisis

The EM crisis is the third and final phase of this crisis, says Steen Jakobsen, Saxo Bank’s CIO & Chief Economist… The negative start to this year came as a surprise to most investors as we came into the new year with the usual expectations of a stock market ending 2013 up 10-15% and a Europe and US in continued recovery, but January soon became all about a potential EM crisis that ended up hurting even developed markets return in this year’s first month. The question now is how real is the threat of an EM crisis? I think it’s for real - the world is in a global rebalancing act where the by-product is lower growth globally, deflation in the developed market, and much weaker EM currencies as the FX weapon is seen as the only real option for economies desperate to maintain export growth. This creates a capital flow away from EM and equities as the investors rediscover the safe haven of bonds.

stronger FX. Similarly, when you buy EM equity, 70% of your return is from FX revaluations. Now, these EM countries are all seeking lower/ weaker currencies, which means for an investor the incentive to buy and finance EM has disappeared. Why buy an EM portfolio when the 100% in bonds and 70% in equity have been declared as “not happening” by government and central banks concerned about their current account and growth? In other words, the short-term policy of devaluing your currencies to create increased competition has destroyed the very reason we as investors buy EM. A viscous cycle has started.

This is exactly why this EM crisis is not going away. If the goal is to get inflow to EM, then the government needs to stop weakening their currencies and seek reform and stable currencies. Instead, we get There is a big cyclical and structural a “race to the bottom” between slow-down in the world right now: these export machines. The overall Asia, which almost on its own carried problem is that we can’t all run export the global economy through the surplus at the same time, someone crisis from 2008 to 2012, is now needs to import. The EM countries slowing down proactively. China, move from agricultural economies 36% of world growth in 2012, seeks to export machines, having an edge to reduce its shadow economy, from low wages and capacity; as fight corruption, and recapitalize the these economies grow they get a banks to secure a soft landing as the big middle class that wants better, credit expansion slows down. Rest more expensive products, often of the Asia, 24% of world’s growth, imported. This moves the trade has current account deficits to fight. balance into deficit, and after some During 2013 many of these countries, years the current account follows specifically the Fragile Five (South through with an ever increasing need Africa, India, Indonesia, Turkey, for accessing foreign investors to and Brazil) saw their currencies fall fill the gap between the increased dramatically as their financing needs consumption in EM and the export. moved into big deficits making them The problem is that what would more dependent on foreign investors help these economies are reforms and global monetary policy. The and a program to reduce export BRIC countries as a whole moved dependence. However, this will from surplus of 5% to GDP pre-crisis be long coming as many of these to barely breaking even, and inside countries have elections in 2014. An BRIC, China is the only exception election year means no new reforms, with surplus. and a policy designed to maximize voters’ expectations, which often What’s important to know about means subsidized energy and food EM investment is this: When you in the EM countries; not something buy an EM bond portfolio like ELMI, that improves imbalances. 100% of your return comes from 26

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Nadim Najjar

Inspire

Finally, we need to embrace this EM crisis; it’s the final phase of this crisis/rebalancing. It shows on one hand that EM countries are less competitive and need to rebalance their economies, but on the other hand it also means someone else is benefitting (current account data is zero globally). This “someone” is the US and Europe: The US primarily through very low energy costs compared to the rest of the world (Shale gas have made natural gas ½ the price of European natural gas), and Europe through low wage demand and deflation depressing prices. The world is simply more balanced than before the crisis, so when the real recovery comes it will be from a point of exit that is balanced, less leveraged, and more transparent, and that is excellent news for the next decade after this crisis ends. This final phase of the crisis comes after the US housing and bank crisis (2008/2010), then the European debt crisis (2010/2012). Asia carried the world on its shoulder so far in this crisis; as the world slowed down, Asia continued to keep very high investment ratios. Investment, which had big European and US content, meaning Europe and US had slowing domestic economies, but foreign demand through export orders to Asia. Now these same investment levels needs to adjust downward to the lower growth of Asia - the price is that we all slow down and face lower inflation. The EM countries need time to rebalance and to get to a point where the mandate for real change is established. The early sign of FX manipulation means we are closer, but not yet there. Getting to know your EM and its currencies where we end in 2014 in terms of return on our portfolios could very well be more dependent on where USD/TRY, USD/IDR, USD/ INR, and USD/MXN than on what Yellen and FOMC does. To me that’s a good thing.

Glow

Health

Are You Semi-Somniac? Does the alarm force you out of bed bleary-eyed and anything but refreshed? Do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, often longing to use your keyboard as a pillow during the day? If so, then you could be suffering from semi-somnia, says Dazzle’s Nisrine Kreidieh… Semi-somnia is a recent epidemic, and a new term coined by leading sleep expert Dr. Neil Stanley. Basically, it’s persistent, low-grade exhaustion and chronic tiredness during the day due to lack of or poor-quality sleep at night. Recent census in the UK showed that 30 million Brits are suffering from semisomnia today. “Around 75% of the population admits to waking up exhausted every day,” says Dr. Stanley, Former Director of Sleep Studies at the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit at Surrey University. But, this symptom is being discounted since the majority of us share a 24-hour hectic lifestyle. He blames the explosion of semi-somnia on a society that doesn’t sleep, which makes it increasingly hard for people to turn-off, coupled with our general disregard for the value of a proper night’s rest. “We live in a tired society, where we have come to accept being tired as the norm,” confirms Dr. Stanley. “As a result of living in a culture with competing demands on our time, our minds are always racing, wired up about all what went wrong during our overwhelming day, and depriving us of a good night’s sleep.” 28

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The days when people could claim feeling good and refreshed are incredibly rare, and the importance of sleep is completely underestimated, despite the fact that it’s vital for good emotional and physical health. Semi-somnia sufferers, who don’t know that it even exists until now, may take more than half an hour to fall asleep, and wake up frequently during the night on most nights. This leads to irritability, a lowered immune system, and depression. In the long term, it puts sufferers at risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Luckily enough, there is a remedy, which isn’t dependent on doctors or drugs: Prepare: Prepare yourself for sleep, the same way you would warm-up before you exercise. Soak your body in a hot bath and listen to soothing music to relax physically and mentally. Turn off your computer, blackberry, or even your mobile a couple of hours before you go to bed. Routine: Create a routine that suits you. Go to bed every night at the same time to develop a habit; that way your body would feel the urge to start winding-down at that time. Also, avoid watching TV in your bedroom unless it’s your pre-bed ritual; many people sleep with the TV on,

tuned in to something they’ve seen before like a sitcom. Don’t Eat: Eat three or four hours prior to bedtime, and avoid exercising directly before sleeping either. Contrary to what many people believe, exercise doesn’t exhaust you, it actually boosts up your energy. We recommend yoga before sleeping or a relaxing massage. Avoid Alerters: Completely avoid alerters such as coffee and energy drinks at night; switch to warm milk or herbal teas instead. Lavender has been proven as an effective remedy to aid sleep; drink it in a tea, spray your room with lavender essence, or add some lavender oil to your bath. Hot camomile, anise, and fennel teas also help you relax, which facilitates sleep. Understand: Admit that sleep is not a luxury or a sign of weakness. If you’re not a doctor or a soldier, give up your macho pride and don’t slave yourself working late into the night. Don’t Discuss: Don’t take your problems to the bedroom. Discussing financial issues in bed with your spouse is not a good idea. “Negative thoughts and worries are peaceful sleep’s enemies,” stresses Dr. Stanley.

Unconventional Sleep Fixes Try these interesting sleeping techniques: Sleep with your head facing north and your feet facing south. This aligns your body with the magnetic field of the planet, bringing your own energy into harmony with the Earth. Wiggle your toes. According to Reflexology, your feet are a kind of master control panel for the rest of your body. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re called Meridians, which are connected to every organ and part of your body. Lie on your back and wiggle the toes on both your feet at the same time up and down 12 times. This will relax your entire body, inside and out.

Feng Shui Your Sleep Dr. Maoshing Ni says that using Feng Shui helps you sleep betterâ&#x20AC;Ś The principle of Feng Shui is based on the ancient Taoist concept of energetic polarity. Yin and Yang are the terms for describing the energy states in the universe, which are both opposite and complementary. If you want to lead a long and healthy life, you would do well to strike a balance between the two polarities. Yin embodies negative electri-

cal charge and contractive energy, and its directions are north - the negative pole, and west, where the sun sets. Yang is characterized by positive electrical charge and expansive energy states, and its directions are south - considered the positive pole, and east, where the sun rises. Activities in our lives fit into different Yin or Yang categories. Relaxing activities

such as sleeping, reading, and bathing are Yin activities. Energetic activities such as exercise, cooking, engaging in hobbies, and studying are Yang. This means that your bedroom and bathroom should be located in the Northern and Western areas of your house, and your office, kitchen, living room, and dining room are best in Southern and Eastern locations.

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Ask Nisrine Glow

Health

I keep hearing and reading contradicting opinions about the importance of taking multi-vitamin tablets - some say they’re important and others say you should get the vitamins from a natural source; what’s more accurate? Bahira, Riyadh How often do you eat a cup of sautéed spinach? How about three servings of fatty fish, like salmon, per week? Probably not very often, but those are examples of foods and portions that are packed with the recommended amounts of essential nutrients. Research shows that most people aren’t making the nutrition grade and, therefore, can lack important vitamins and minerals like folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K, and even vitamin C. “Even if you follow a healthy diet, a busy lifestyle can make it difficult to obtain the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals from food alone,” says Elizabeth Somer, a leading registered dietician and author of several books, including ‘The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals’.

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Data on dietary intake from the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used the USDA’s Healthy Eating Index to compare what people say they eat to recommended dietary guidelines, found that children and adults scored 56 points out of a possible 100 (equivalent to an “F” grade), while seniors fared only slightly better at 65 points (equivalent to a “D” grade). The American Heart Association agreed with those findings in its 2013 report on heart disease and stroke, concluding that poor diet and lack of exercise are two of the main factors contributing to the high prevalence of heart disease in the U.S. One easy way to maintain good nutrition is to enhance your diet with supplements. However, the frequency of new studies combined with the staggering number of supplements available makes it increasingly confusing to know what’s right. Somer puts nutrition news in context, provides the facts for common misconceptions, and offers realistic tips to meet daily nutrition needs:

Email Nisrine Kreidieh at: nisrine@dazzlemagazine.com or by post to the Dazzle KSA office.

Misconception 3: Multivitamins are a waste of money. Multivitamins are a relatively inexpensive tool to achieve proper nutrition. “No reputable health expert will argue that supplements can or should replace a good diet and a healthy lifestyle,” says Somer. “However, multivitamins and nutritional supplements are one factor in a pattern of living that is known to maintain overall well-being. Think of multivitamins as an insurance policy for optimal nutrition they’re meant to supplement, not replace, a healthy diet.” For more nutrition information, visit www.vitaminsinmotion.com. 30

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Answer Source: Brandpoint.com.

Misconception 2: Multivitamins have no health benefits. Although recent studies report that vitamin and mineral supplements don’t lower one’s risk of heart disease or cancer, these supplements are still proven to be beneficial to one’s health. “If a study found that people who drank water had no lower risk for dementia, would you stop drinking water?” asks Somer. “Of course not, because water, like essential vitamins and minerals, is crucial to health and there is no controversy over its importance for human nutrition.”

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Misconception 1: It’s realistic to obtain all essential nutrients from food. Even experienced nutritionists have a hard time designing a diet that provides all the essential nutrients for one day and busy people often struggle to follow a highly regimented diet. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but the best approach is to focus on eating nutrient-rich foods as much as possible - like dark leafy greens (good source of lutein for eye health), colourful fruits, whole grains, healthy proteins and fats (such as salmon, which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA), and fill gaps in nutrition with a daily multivitamin. “Another supplement I always recommend is fish oil, or a vegetarian source from algae, because DHA and EPA benefit eye, heart, and brain health,” says Somer.

Sparkle Hair

Having another bad hair day? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what products to use? Well fret no more because Sonja Svensek shares her insights on some of the most annoying hair issuesâ&#x20AC;Ś

Hairy Solutions 32

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Problem: You’re trying to grow your hair, but your hairdresser advises you to get a trim every eight weeks. Solution: You can avoid trimming your hair that often by conditioning it properly and using products that provide protection against heat and damage. But, what you should know is that some people grow hair slightly faster than others, so don’t panic and make sure you always keep your hair in the best condition possible. This means you have to cut down on that blow dryer and straightening iron! Problem: Your hair is very short and it doesn’t look as stylish as when you first cut it. Solution: Short hair is still very fashionable. In fact, pixie cuts and punk glam spikes are still a huge hit. For a fashionable look, try not to cake your hair in lots of styling products and stick to using only hair wax or a bit of volumizing moose. And instead of always keeping your hair parted to one side or flattened, try a different parting (which instantly gives a new look), or go

for a messy style. Your choices are unlimited, so feel free to experiment. Problem: You have thick, bushy afro hair that is out of control and you hate tying it back all the time. Solution: Even though it might look thick and coarse, afro hair is actually very delicate and fragile. You really need to look after your hair, that’s why you should use a good shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. Don’t ever rub wet hair; you should dry-squeeze the excess water out or simply keep it wrapped in a towel. It’s also a good idea to use a softening serum and allow it to dry naturally. Blow-drying is an absolute no-no in this case, so don’t even think about it. Finish off with an anti-frizz spray as a final shield against frizz. Problem: You love ponytails, but you want them to look funky. Solution: Ponytails are like comfy sandals because they’re quick and convenient. However, just like sandals, ponytails

don’t have to be boring. The magic lies in giving your hair lots of oomph. When your hair is damp, spritz your roots with a volumizing spray and gently blow-dry it with your head down. Then, put a few big curlers at the crown and blast until completely dry. Your roots will now be va-va-vooming with volume, allowing you to achieve an edgier look. If your hair is very fine, tease it with a comb first and then tie it back loosely. Problem: It takes you hours to dry your hair. Solution: Isn’t it a nightmare when you have to spend hours on blow-drying your hair? Sadly, most of us just keep trying out all the latest hair dryers that claim to be faster and stronger than the others, but my advice is to ditch the dryer altogether. After towel drying, add a straightening lotion like Garnier Fructus Smoothing Cream and then twist your hair to form a turban. If your hair is very short, comb it to the side and keep it like that. Let it dry naturally and you will end up with smoother, healthier hair with less frizz and damage.

Hair Cheat Tips Here are some quick tips to glam your hair up: If you want your hair to look lively at a night event, tie a tight ponytail during the day and remove it just before the party. Your roots will lift instantly, giving your hair amazing bounce. Serum is one of the most important hair products a lady can own. If you’ve run out of it and you’re stuck in a rut, use a face moisturizer as a substitute. Just rub a small amount to add shine and control frizz. If your hair is a little greasy and you don’t have time to wash it, spray a mist of hairspray to absorb the grease.

5 Hair

Must-Haves

Every woman needs the following tools for maintaining healthy, stylish hair: 1. A good hair-dryer with different heat and speed levels 2. A wide-toothed comb 3. Hairspray 4. Heat and UV protective spray 5. Smoothing lotion

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Ask Sonja

Sparkle Beauty

What’s the best way to care for my hair and hairstyle this winter? Jackie, Riyadh

Holiday festivities may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can slack on hair care. Starting each day with a great ‘do can help you face winter challenges looking your best. Mark Townsend, Dove celebrity stylist, offers these tips to help you create fabulous hair styles that last day and night:

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Moisturized hair is the foundation for every style. During the cold winter months, hair tends to become dry, dull, and limp. Moisturizing your hair is crucial to getting any beautiful style. “I am a firm believer that using the right shampoo and conditioner to start your beauty routine is overlooked by many women,” says Townsend whose clients include many of today’s leading Hollywood stars. Townsend recommends you start your hair care routine with a product like Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, which, in just one wash, delivers hair up to five times smoother than if you used a non-conditioning shampoo, leaving beautifully moisturized hair that is not weighed down.

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

FEBRUARY 2014

Answer source: Brandpoint.com.

Applying these three simple tips to your hair routine will ensure you look your absolute best while not taking away from your valuable time.

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Always keep things fresh. “Every season is busy and women are constantly running around, quickly going from day to night leaving little to no time for beauty touch-ups,” says Townsend. “One timesaver that I recommend is for women to always have Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo in their bag; it’s the perfect way to give hair a pick-me-up.” This dry shampoo, with its weightless formula, uses starch to absorb dirt and oil ensuring hair is left feeling refreshed and just washed. The dry shampoo gets to work instantly, cleansing and making the hair perfect for the use of styling products.

sonja@dazzle-magazine.com

Make your hair sparkle. Adding a sparkly headband to your hairstyle - whether you have short or long hair, wear it up or down - is an easy and affordable way to dress up your look. “I love when women become a little more daring during winter,” Townsend says. “One way they do this is by trying new hair accessories.” Adding a sparkly hairpin, barrette, or headband can complement a range of styles, dressing up even the most traditional looks. Using a hairpin or barrette is a perfect way to add extra glamour to your hairstyle without having to work too hard. If you want to soften the look, loosen a few hair pieces around the forehead.

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Images: Courtesy and copyright of their respective brands.