A 4 hour vacation...

Have you head of Passion Restaurant in Adliya? It's a restaurant but not just a restaurant. Its my mini vacation spot in Bahrain.

I recently happened to walk by the restaurant and the friendly manager invited us in to have a look around the place,which is three levels high, the rooftop being my favorite spot. Whats even better is that there's a little rooftop on top of the rooftop! Thatched huts, oriental lamps and a little tuk-tuk in the middle of the roof makes the place seem so unlike Bahrain. I honestly felt like I was in Bali.

Apart from the amazing interiors and ambiance, the food is extremely good, right from the presentation to the price. You really wont believe the price you pay for such a well presented and delicious meal.

On another note, I'm all about white this summer, which is why I wore this beautiful crochet trimmed dress and my (obvious) favorite denim vest. Giant sunnies, milkmaid braids and lots of fun accessories to add a quirk to this otherwise elegant dress? Yes please!

Dress:Monsoon Fusions, Vest:Forever21, Belt:Camaieu, Sandals:H&M, Sunglasses:Aldo, Bag:Monsoon, Bracelets and Neckpeice:Monsoon and Camaieu

                                                                                 

Cruelty Free Beauty : Leona Lewis X The body Shop

Have you visited The Body Shop recently? If you have read about all the good things I had to say about the Strawberry dry seed oil from TBS on my Facebook page, I'm sure you guys would have made a trip or two already, as most of you have shown interest in the product that has worked wonders for me.

Moving on, the latest collection has finally hit stores in Bahrain and it's a whole new line of Cruelty-free beauty products in collaboration with none other than the glamorous Leona Lewis! 

As if the posters and banners aren't attractive enough, these products are amazing and super yummy.From summery shades of pink and orange lip glosses to heavenly scents, it's a great range to own this summer.

Leona has put her name on an exclusive cruelty-free makeup and fragrance collection, the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis. Featuring 100% vegetarian cosmetics in fashion-forward shades, the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis features quirky packaging with a floral deer motif, celebrating the fact that The Body Shop was one of the first beauty brands to use cruelty-free, man-made musk instead of musk derived from the musk deer. The Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis is available at selected stores in Bahrain from April 25, 2013.

Leona Lewis says: “I’m passionate about beauty and I’m all about animal rights. As a result, I’m really conscious of where the products that I use come from. The Body Shop sells cruelty-free, ethical products containing amazing Community Fair Trade ingredients. The collaboration is a natural fit!”

Let's hear more about these amazing products from Leona herself, who talks to TBS in a exclusive interview about the collection:

Tell me a little more about the new Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis?

All The Body Shop® products are cruelty-free, and the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis was created to raise awareness of cruelty-free beauty. It features trend-led makeup and a playful musk fragrance, all presented in super-stylish packaging with a pretty, floral deer motif. I chose two wearable colour palettes that would suit all skin tones from fair to dark; a playful, feminine pink that is going to be a key trend this season, and a sun-kissed bronze which is perfect to help give skin a glow this spring.

What was the inspiration behind the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis?

The Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis is a playful, fashion-forward collection that’s perfect for spring, bursting with free spirit and wearable shades for every skin tone.

How involved were you in the making of the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis? 

I worked with The Body Shop team to develop the collection and the pattern for the cruelty-free deer logo which is featured on the packaging, which I love!

What was the inspiration for the deer logo featured on the packaging?  

Traditionally, musk fragrances were obtained from deer. The Body Shop was one of the first beauty retailers to use man-made musk in their classic White Musk fragrance. The logo celebrates the freedom of the deer and the cruelty-free ethos of The Body Shop.

Can you tell me more about each product in the collection?

Shimmer Palettes – I am a huge fan of The Body Shop® Shimmer Palettes so I couldn’t resist adding them to my own collection featuring the cruelty-free deer design! Super versatile, Shimmer Palettes complement all skin tones and are great for highlighting and contouring. I chose two shades; a pretty Blush to give a lovely flush of rosy colour and Bronze for a sun-kissed glow.

Blusher Brush – This super-soft brush is tailor made for the Shimmer Palette in my collection and is brilliant for sculpting, blending and dusting.

 Lip Gloss – Shiny lips continue to be a big trend especially for spring, so Lip Gloss was definitely a must-have product in the collection! I chose four fresh, sheer shades with shimmer-free finishes, which give a gorgeous glaze. These glosses are amazing and have a yummy minty flavour too!

White Musk Libertine - I wanted to incorporate a cruelty-free musk fragrance into my collection to celebrate The Body Shop® White Musk®, one of the first fragrances to use man-made musk. A playful  scent, White Musk Libertine definitely stands out from the crowd. It’s an intoxicating blend of musk, Turkish delight, baby orchid and Chantilly cream.

What is your favourite product in the Cruelty-Free collection? 

The whole collection is amazing and I adore them all. I'd say the White Musk Libertine is such a gorgeous fragrance and has a great 'cruelty- free' message around it, so it really stands out for me. Cruelty-free musk is a signature scent of The Body Shop and a must have for all us ladies!

To know more, try on and shop the range, visit The Body Shop at Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall today! Hurry!

Rompers and things...

I have a very bad habit of purchasing clothes and shoving them in my closet, only to find them months later, with the swing ticket still intact. Such is the case with this printed romper I discovered in my cupboard last weekend. I got it from Max and from the children's section apparently, because the back neck label reads age 11- 12 years.

I paired it with my favorite colored blazer and killer heels to tone down the casual-ness of the outfit. I love the vintage print and the lightweight fabric, which makes it perfect for summer.

Remember, when wearing darker colors in the scorching heat, make sure that you add in pops of pinks, blues, greens or yellow. Also if you're the one to always wear black, make sure you invest in some great linen pieces in your wardrobe. Apart from being super comfortable, high street retailers like Zara and Mango have some amazing linen separates you can use to mix and match.

Romper:Max, Blazer:Splash, Shoes:Miss Selfridge, Bag:Thrifted,Watch :Aldo, Necklaces:Camaieu, Cuff:Mango

Glitter Chocolate nails

I love wearing glitter nails, but sometimes its so hard to find a good glitter nail polish that actually looks like glitter and sparkles. So I decided to use fine glitter eye shadow powder on my nails instead of polish and the results are brilliant!

Before we begin, let me point out that you will want to use very fine powder, preferably eye shadow glitter.

You will need:

Nail polish and eye shadow glitter in matching colors, or not- your call,Top coat- glossy,Q tips and a brush.,Small square paper to dust on glitter.

1. Paint your nails and let them dry. 2 coats and seal. Pick a nail youb want to use the glitter on and apply one more coat of color. Do not wait for it to dry!

2. Place your finger on the small square of paper and immediately pick up some glitter dust and dust it on the nail, ensuring all areas are covered. Press down slightly your thumb.

3.Dust off excess powder with a brush or by gently blowing on the nail. Stubbon dust can be taken off using a Q tip and some remover.

4. Do not waste the glitter powder left back on the paper, fold and drop back in the remaining dust into the glitter pot.

5. Apply top coat on all other nails except the glitter nail to give it a much more 'popped out' effect!

                                                                              

Closet confessions

If you've been following me on Instagram for a while now, you'd know how obsessed I am with accessories. I have collected them over the years and have maintained them well, which is why they might seem like a lot. This is not even the entire collection, these are the accessories I keep outside the cupboard because I pick from these on a day to day basis as opposed to the more extravagant stuff I only bring out once in a blue moon.

Anyway, I love to hang my neck pieces so I use this...umm...socks hanger or tie hanger (I don't know what exactly) to make it easier to pick out once I've gotten dressed. 

Also, the perfume is my sister's department. The same way I'm all about the accessories, she loves perfumes!

Tip: Don't throw away the empty bottles! Get rid of the lid and keep the open bottle in your cupboard,shoe closet or even the lingerie drawer!

                                                                             

My top 10 Summer Style Tips

Summer is here ladies. And with that comes the sundresses, shorts, linen and fun colors! Here are my top 10 tips on summer style and how to make the best of your wardrobe:

• Experiment with all the colors- colors you have never dared to wear before. Think neons and bright eye catching colors.
• Make cotton and jersey your best friend. Stay away from satin as much as possible  Satin will only make you sweat more than usual.
• Don't be afraid to wear black once in a while. As long as the fabric is breathable, its all good.
• Layering isn't only for winter, add a cropped jacket or vest over your favorite sundress.
• Bronzing is a must ladies. It's always nice to have a subtle sheen to your legs when you're working shorter hemlines, so add some shimmering body cream or creamed bronzers to your beauty basket.
• Don't wear too much foundation unless you want your face to leak.
• Try out bold colors on the lips, opt for brighter colors. Switch from maroon lips to burnt orange.
• Flats are always better in the summer. Think strappy flats, cute ballerinas and thong slippers.
• If you want to wear heels, choose wedges during the day and stick to pumps in the night.
• Drink water.Lots of it. Your skin will thank you

Dress and Vest: Forever 21, Necklace, bracelet and bag: Monsoon, Flats :H&M, Sunglasses:Aldo

                                                                          

Stay stylish all summer long!

xxoo

Cat eye makeup tutorial

                                                                         

After getting so many requests via email, my Facebook page and Instagram, I've finally had the time to film my eye make up tutorial. I'm not that great at editing so hope you guys are okay with the poor quality. Hopefully my next video will be better.

Products I've used in this video:

• Mac studio fix fluid NC 42
• Benefit- hello flawless
• Garnier eye roll on Medium
• Lakme liquid liner in Black 01
• Victorias secret mini nude eye pencil
• Maybelline shimmer eye shadow in "Nightsky"
• Benefit- They're real
• Beauty Rush by VS luminous shadow in "glow nude"

Feeling the blues and the pinks...

I've missed this denim jacket all winter. You may recognize it from the summer of 2012 where I wouldn't stop raving about it. Needless to say, Its still my summer favorite.

Denim is great for summer. Be it skirts or vests or cropped pants or even lighter chambray shirts.Try pairing hot colors like neons to spruce up your summer looks. White is still a winner all year round, but it wouldn't hurt to go loud and daring either.

On another note, the bun maker that a lot of you have asked me about is no longer available at 5 circles. It's out of stock and I'd like to believe its because you guys loved it a little too much? The shopkeeper couldn't thank me enough on my recent visit there while I was shopping for hair supplies.So thanks to all those of you who watched my hair tutorial and purchased the bun maker !

I'm still looking for other places that have it and will update you guys as soon as I'm aware of it.

Until then,

xxoo

Dress and vest: Forever21, Neck pieces and footwear:Monsoon, Bag: Furla