LE BIRKIN ET MOI ♥

Last Friday I was invited to a Mad Men themed party, so I donned a flowy skirt, waist clinching belt, big pearls and my friend Zahra's Birkin, which we like to call Ruby. Hundreds of Polaroid photos later I finally shared one on facebook.. which inspired the incredibly talented Alaa B from Inside My Head (who also designed my blog's banner and logo) to design a series of adorable posters with Arabic Typography that say "Dad I want a Birkin!" and "Just one Birkin", etc. Check them out on her blog here..

She even made me some personal ones with Egyptian dialect..and one that says my parents name in a plea to get them to buy me the bag...Super cute!!

Where would I be without amazing friends?? I love you girls ♥

INTERVIEW: DAS DELIGHTS... MY FEATURED ARTICLE!

A while back I interviewed the designers of DAS collection for HauteMuse magazine's first issue. My article is featured above :) The magazine quickly sold out and their upcoming issue is already causing a lot of buzz. So be sure to grab a copy to read this along with many other great pieces.

EVENT: NIVEA VISAGE BLUE & WHITE BLOGGERS NIGHT

Last week I attended a fabulous night of pampering with the Nivea Visage team at the Nivea Haus spa in Dubai Mall. We were introduced to the new range of products called Aqua Sensation, which combine the brilliance of existing Nivea creams with Noble-prize winning Hydra IQ technology.

The incredibly passionate brand manager, Maya explained to us how basically the realization that skin can hydrate itself led to years of research by Nivea to recreate the natural process. This process involves the Hydra IQ in the products activating aquaporins (water canals) which allow moisture to move between cells. This means that the skin can moisturize itself even at a very deep layer.

Chemistry lesson aside, we went on to the practical test and received mini facials using the products that best fit our skin's needs (The range includes two different sets of products for normal to mixed skin skin and for dry skin). I gladly complied as my amazing beauty therapist asked me to lie down and relax, all I can say is it was 25 minutes of bliss! Which were then followed by lots of sugary sweets and hair treatments, manis and pedis, make up sessions and even temporary tattoos that are made of 24 carat gold and topped off with Swarovski crystals.. yup.. we were spoiled!!
To try out this experience head down to the Nivea Haus spa in Dubai Mall and get your hands on the new range of Aqua sensation products. I've only been using them for a week and can already feel the difference in my skin every morning.

Cupcake galore!!!

 Learning more about the products

 The beautiful Nivea Haus spa at Dubai Mall

 Getting a hair treatment and an introduction to Nivea's hair products exclusively sold at Nivea Haus

 Hair done.. Getting a quick post facial eye make-up fix

Finishing off the 24-carat temp tattoo

 Tinkerbell ♥

:theatrical photo shoot:

i had quite the exciting adventure with Kim Thiel and her model this past week.  i assisted her while she created this amazing photo {i blew up the hot pink balloon and mastered the bubble machine}

Liz Earle wins coveted Which? Awards

The annual Which? Awards took place this week (23 June) in London and were hosted by hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky. The awards are entirely independant and aim to publicly reward the best businesses serving the UK customer and winners are chosen on the basis of Which?’s rigorous research and feedback from its members. Beauty brand Liz Earle won Best Online Retailer for lizearle.com and was shortlisted as the top performing online shop across the Which? survey for the third year running.

Which? Awards 2011 shortlisters and winners:

Best High Street Retailer
Winner - Richer Sounds
Shortlisted – Lush, Lakeland

Best Car Manufacturer
Winner - Hyundai
Shortlisted - Mazda, Toyota, BMW, Skoda

Best Supermarket
Winner - Waitrose
Shortlisted - Marks and Spencer, Lidl, Aldi

Best Financial Services Provider
Winner - First Direct
Shortlisted - NFU Mutual, The Co-operative Bank

Best Home Audio-Visual Brand
Winner - Samsung
Shortlisted - Panasonic, Sony

Best Large Home Appliance Brand
Winner - Bosch
Shortlisted - Miele, AEG-Electrolux

Best Mobile Service Provider
Winner - Tesco Mobile
Shortlisted - ASDA Mobile, O2

Best Online Retailer
Winner - Lizearle.com
Shortlisted - Lakeland.co.uk, John Lewis.com, ChainReactionCycles.com

Best Photography Brand
Winner - Canon
Shortlisted - Panasonic, Casio, Nikon

Best Portable Media Brand
Winner - Samsung
Shortlisted - Apple, Sony
Best Small Home Appliance Brand
Winner - Philips
Shortlisted - Kenwood, De’Longhi, Morphy Richards

Best Travel Company
Winner - Trailfinders
Shortlisted - Kuoni, P&O Cruises, Saga

Which? Positive Change Award
Winner - Barclays

Which? Consumer Action Award
Winner - The Co-operative Energy

The Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year
Winner - Orwells, South East

Which? Local Business of the Year
Winner - Mand Made, Electrician - Sheffield

www.which.co.uk

Fashion label FLY53 to open new concessions

Fashion brand FLY53 is about to add Wolverhampton, Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Middlesborough, Nottingham and Metro Centre Gateshead to its existing House of Fraser concessions doubling the amount of doors to fourteen. This is in addition to having two Selfridges areas, the brands first outlet store in Livingston with another planned pre Christmas this year, and an increased independent retailer base. This independent clothing brand will be also launching the AW11 season at Bread & Butter exhibition next month. The philosophy of the brand is to create striking and intelligent clothing that is well designed, unique and inspirational.
www.fly53.com

Creative Head Magazine announces 2011 Most Wanted and It List finalists

Creative Head Magazine has announced its 2011 Most Wanted and It List finalists. The winners will be announced at the Most Wanted and The It List Grand Final night hosted by Keith Lemon and attended by high-profile figures from the hairdressing industry as well as VIPs from fashion, the arts and the media.

For more information about the Grand Finals and to book tickets visit the websites: head1st.net/mostwanted or head1st.net/theitlist.

Most Wanted 2011 Finalists

Best Salon Team
Headquarters Hair Salon, Kingston upon Thames
Ken Picton Salon, Cardiff Bay
Marc Antoni, Henley on Thames
Mark Leeson Hair Body & Mind, Mansfield
Michael Van Clarke, London

Best Online Salon
Burlingtonshair.com
Hmhair.co.uk
Kenpicton.com
Leobancroft.com
Lisashepherd.co.uk

Best Local Salon
Ekko Hair & Beauty, Banbury
Janet Maitland, Gileshead
Michelle Griffin Academy, Birmingham
Peter Prosser Hairdressing, Hereford
Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa, Cheltenham

Best Salon Experience
Hatstand Nelly, Aberdeen
Ken Picton Salon, Cardiff Bay
Lockonego, London
Percy & Reed, London
The Chapel, Tunbridge Wells

Creative Talent of 2011
Johanna Cree Brown, Trevor Sorbie
Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson Hair Body & Mind
Skyler McDonald, Seanhanna Salons
Alexander Turnbull, Alexander Hair & Beauty
Tim Scott-Wright, Lisa Shepherd Salons

Colour Expert of 2011
Rebecca Adams, The Chapel
Jasmin Allen, Errol Douglas
Claire Chell, Francesco Group
Karine Jackson, Karine Jackson
Christel Lundquist, HOB Salons

Business Thinker of 2011
Leo Bancroft, Leo Bancroft
Jeff Letter, Feathers
Ken Picton, Ken Picton Salon
Michael Van Clarke, Michael Van Clarke
Tommy and Esther van der Veken-Prins, Tommy’s

Hair Trend of 2011
William Eagles, Cream
Andrew Heasman, RUSH London
Kevin Kahan, Kevin Kahan
Carl McCaffrey, Toni&Guy
Janer Stewart, Angels

Session Stylist of 2011
Malcolm Edwards
Luke Hersheson
Guido Palau
James Pecis
Shon

Hair Icon of 2011
Errol Douglas
Mark Hayes
Luke Hersheson
Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck
Sam McKnight
Angelo Seminara
Eugene Souleiman
Neil Moodie
Adam Reed
Josh Wood

The IT List 2011 Finalists

The Fashionista
George Akkad, Toni&Guy
Christopher Appleton, George’s Hairdressing
Jason Crozier, No 74 Hair & Beauty
Leigh Keates, Michael Van Clarke
Warren Holmes, Nicky Clarke

The Entrepreneur
Becky Candy, Becky Candy Salons
Sinéad Kelly, The Velvet Room
Skyler McDonald, Seanhanna Salons
Richard Phillipart, The Boutique
Leanna Sutherland, Evocativ

The Visionary
Christopher Appleton, George’s Hairdressing
Skyler McDonald, Seanhanna Salons
Katie Mulcahy, Lisa Shepherd Salons
Dan Spiller, Marc Antoni
Kim Rance, Clipso

The One To Watch (Female)
Valerie Benavides, Brooks & Brooks
Sophia Hilton, Brooks & Brooks
Isabella Hyde, RUSH Hair
Chantal McAuliffe, Rainbow Room International
Leah Walton, The Colour Room

The One To Watch (Male)
Andrew-Thomas Corbett, Toni&Guy
Warren Holmes, Nicky Clarke
Leigh Keates, Michael Van Clarke
Ross Taylor, Paul Falltrick Hairdressing
Angelo Vallillo, Zullo & Holland

www.head1st.net/mostwanted
www.head1st.net/theitlist