I’m missing the gloomy grey weather already. Last week was surely the last of the UAE winter, and we made good use of it over the weekend by treating ourselves to a soulfully good pan-Asian dinner. We headed to the newest hotel establishment in Sharjah. Yes, Four Points by Sheraton now has a branch in the heart of Sharjah, right off the busy, bustling King Faisal Road.
We were here to try out the recently launched pan-Asian restaurant Cheeky Chan. Don’t you just love the cheeky name?!
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.
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.
Jones the Grocer has long been one of my favorite deli diners in the city, and I only recently discovered they have a branch on the very scenic Flag Island, Sharjah. The Sharjah branch is around a year old, and is far larger than its Dubai counterparts.
‘Arjwan’ is a vibrantly blue flower that blooms against all odds in the harsh heat of a Mediterranean desert. This rare, beautiful bloom has been a part of Emirati culture for centuries, and has even been used for topical medicine.
Inspired by this desert beauty is an authentically Emirati restaurant by the same name, located inside the very pristine property of Sheraton Sharjah. I was in awe with the place as soon as I stepped in. From deep, dark woods to the aqua-blue upholstery befitting the Arjwan bloom, the ambiance here is delightfully astute and Arabesque.
The ‘Sunscreen Song’ by Baz Luhrmann tops my all-time favorite songs list. The lyrics are full to the brim with life advice, and the one that resonates most is to wear sunscreen.
As the UAE summers draw closer, I thought a post on sunscreens was mandatory. Read on to increase your IQ on sunscreens. I’ve also reviewed 5 sunscreens from 5 awesome brands just for you 🙂
The Sharjah Food Festival ended this weekend. The festival is spread across three areas within Sharjah; Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Qasba and Al Montazah. We spent an idle Friday evening at Al Majaz Waterfront courtesy Zomato, and had a great time.
The Sharjah Food Festival has stalls from many well-known brands, and is also a great introduction to a few I have not heard of earlier.
We had a lovely, laid-back lunch Levant lunch by the sea this afternoon. This was my very first visit to Zaroob, the very kitsch Levant street-food outlet located on the scenic water front of Al Majaz, Sharjah.
Do you wear red lipstick? Following on from my last beauty post on two of my favorite red lipsticks (click here if you missed it), today’s post is a whole list of reasons you need to wear red lipstick too! 
I’m travelling home to New Zealand, and the direct flight from Dubai will take me just over 18 hours in a compressed, air-conditioner thawed plane. This really sets the scene for dry, dehydrated skin. To avoid the all too common ‘jet-lagged’ look, keeping the skin well moisturized, and staying hydrated is key.
I decided to whip up my very own, all-natural, multi-purpose beauty balm for the journey. Why tow along a whole heap of products when you can make do with just one multitasking jar of goodness that you can proudly DIY yourself?
Best of all, this Beauty Balm takes under 10 minutes to create, and you only need 2 easy-to-find ingredients. Read on for the recipe!
The Tezzy Files 