Dubai Festival City: Pirates of the Bay, Famous Dave’s and so much more

I love mall-hopping with my little girl. It’s our mummy-daughter bonding time, and one of our favorite shopping destinations has always been Dubai Festival City Mall.

Apart from a wide range of shopping options including the two anchor tenants Ikea and Robinson’s which do not have stores anywhere else in the city, Dubai Festival City has a great selection of restaurants and cafes, and the spectacular IMAGINE show that takes place every half-hour at the harbor front is absolutely magical for kids and grown-ups alike.

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Staycation at Radisson Blu Ajman

Last weekend, I flooded my Insta Stories with live updates from our weekend away at Radisson Blu Ajman. This is one of the Radisson Blu group’s newest hotels and opened its doors a little over a year ago.

Located in a quiet corner of the industrial heart of Ajman, the grandeur of the hotel façade stands out with its European-inspired arched windows and astute driveway. The location is actually ideal for tourists wanting to explore the Northern Emirates as it is just off-road from the E11 highway that connects Ajman, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.

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Master of Wok: Dubai’s Brand New Authentically Thai Restaurant

What’s not to love about Thai cuisine? The exotic blend of herbs and pungent spices makes Thai dishes a treat for the entire senses, and despite having that ‘feel good’ comfort food vibe, Thai food in general is very wholesome and healthful.

Great news for Thai cuisine lovers out there, we have a brand-new nook in town that gives you an entirely authentic Thai dining experience. Introducing Master of Wok, now open on the bustling 2nd December street juxtaposed between swanky Jumeirah and great-value Satwa.

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The Gota Patti Saree by Suchita Stylista

There is nothing like traditional Indian hand-worked embroidery. Every region of this vast country boasts of their own style of handiwork and hand looms, and the North Western state of Rajasthan arguably takes the lead when it comes to the brightest hues of color and color clashes. The art of tie-dye that was an integral part of the hippie movement of the roaring sixties was born here.

Rajasthan is also home to Gota Patti. What is Gota Patti you ask? It is an ornate version of applique embroidery where intricately cut pieces of gold or silver ribbon are placed into a pattern and sewn onto either georgette or silk.

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Walnut Grove: Now Open in The Dubai Mall

South African fine-dining cafe and diner concept Walnut Grove has opened its second store in Dubai. Their first branch is located in CityWalk, and their newer and arguably more prominent location is in the heart of The Dubai Mall, right by the waterfalls.

The savvy, brightly lit cafe looks delightfully inviting with its Parisian-inspired interiors but the real highlight of the new branch is its spacious outdoor seating area that boasts of a stunning view of the Dubai Fountains and the mighty Burj Khalifa.

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The Grove Salons: A Chitchat with Owner Ruchika Singhal

If you are following me on Instagram, you might have seen my stories showcasing my experience at The Grove Salons at JLT, Dubai. I don’t think I’ve had such a detailed chat about my hair as I did with their hair magician Cherizeh Gadhiali. She didn’t just give my hair a new color, but brought it to life with a special state of the art Kerastase treatment that gave my dried up ends some much needed TLC.

Loving my new ‘Matte Blonde’ color. Its less on the brazen orange and more on an earthy muted, nearly green tone that seems to work well with my tanned complexion.

Get 15% off all services at The Grove Salon JLT with my code TEZZY15
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Blue hues on a boat to nowhere

I am a big fan of Suchita Stylista, the Indo-Western fashion label created by locally based German-Indian designer Suchita Pandey. With roots in the heart of Rajasthan, the collection is inspired by the folklore of cultural fabrics and hand-dyed traditions yet recreated for the silhouette of the modern woman.

When Suchita asked me to showcase some of her latest designs, I turned to my very talented photographer friend Nervijo Photography for inspiration on a mood board that will be apt for the Suchita Stylista story.

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‘Chatpatta’ Treats at Rajdhani Street

If you are a fan of North Indian thaali’s, chances are Rajdhani is way up on your list. Banking on their well-established brand name, the company has now opened a sister chain called Rajdhani Street.

I visited their branch in Karama (Dubai) last weekend. The interiors are colorfully kitsch and inviting. The walls are splashed with color, and at one end is a retro-style Indian bicycle heaped with a pile of colorful ware.

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Breakfast at The Market Place (Marriott, Al Jaddaf – Dubai)

A night’s stay at five-star property Marriott Al Jaddaf includes a complimentary breakfast at their all-day dining restaurant, The Market Place. The breakfast runs from 8 am till 11 am and covers a wide range of international breakfast favorites.

Having over-snoozed in my comfy queen bed with the curtains blocking out the morning sun well past 9, all my good intentions of doing a few laps at the pool post breakfast were forgotten and we headed downstairs a little past 9.30 am.

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