Issue 50, February 2014
50
MAGAZINE
CELEBRATING
ISSUES
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LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION
Coming Soon
At the Gate Mall - Kuwait
FOOD
36 5 traps You should know about the Food Industry 82 CityPages goes Food Tasting
ART
INTERVIEW 28 Dr. Mohammed Ismail Jassem and Ms. Alexandra Uzunova 42 Liliane Zaher 50 Dr. Naif AlMutawa
HEALTH
58 Artronauts Go Live!
26 Conjunctivitis 34 Be a Savvy Birth Consumer - I
56 One-On-One with KINDA 60 Blogger of the Month 64 AbdulRahman AlShehab 94 Huda Al Medlej 98 Nazaneen Ghaffar 106 Reham AlHabib
AUTO
122 2015 LEXUS RC-F
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KIDS
144 Kids Pages
BEAUTY
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71 The Power of Herbs 72 MakeUp Call by Layla Harmony
ENTERTAINMENT
LITERATURE
88 February Movie Releases
86 Fame in the Adriatic by Nada Faris 89 Short Stories by Nadia AlHassan 92 February Book Releases 93 CP BookClub by Nada Soliman
90 Top Music Charts
106 FASHION
110 Cruise And Couture 112 Zouch Fashion 114 Fashion Update
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FEATURE
REGULARS
22 How to Master the Art of Positivity
68 The City Guide 75 Life of a Diva
25 Once upon “this time of the year” 54 The Expose 74 Perfume Medicine 79 Friendship 91 Phillip Hoffman 96 moonstruck by Faith AlFahad 97 Mise en Scene: Filling Your Frame
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80 Know Your Birthstones 124 Events 135 Press 140 Say Cheez with CityPages 146 Horoscopes 150 Homework for Grown-Ups
FITNESS
38 Did You Ever Think that the Reason Your Foot Hurts is Because of Your Core? 40 The right physique with the right supplements 46 Yoga is not a Religion
TECHNOLOGY
102 Cool New Gadgets 104 ماذا تفعل عند ضياع جهازك الذكي
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ISSUE 50, VOLUME 4, FEBRUARY 2014 citypageskuwait.com
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Plastic
surgery for your hair العالج االمثل للشعر المتضرر تجدونه لدى ارقى صالونات الكويت
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facebook/spaandmore
شركــة سبــــا آنــد مــــــور متخصصون في تجهيز الصالونات ومراكز التجميل والمعاهد الصحية
@spaandmore
Jabriya - Tel:. +965 25353248 - Fax: +965 25353249 P.O.Box: 629 Jabriya 46307 Kuwait - Email: spa@spa-more.com
www.spaandmore.net
February, 2014
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Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief
Jameel Arif
General Manager & Editor
Abeer Al-Abduljalil
Dear Readers…
Managing Editor
The 50th issue of any magazine is worth smiling about, especially when it’s weathered an international recession
Kinda Al-Faris
and a digital revolution and still it grows and GROWS. It’s all about people so we’ve featured some special people
Executive Editor
Muhammed Altaf
who we think are "PRIDE FOR KUWAIT". That’s what you all are. Not only the people featured in each issue but
Sr. Sales Manager
our readers too - You are all inspiring and special to us. I am fuelled by the power of you all, rocketed along by
Claudia Farias
the energy in each story. Who will you meet in this, our celebration issue? - Dr. Naif AlMutawa, Huda AlMutlej,
Content Supervisor
Tanya Burns
AbdulRahman AlShehab, Reham AlHabib, and many others.
Creative Director
It’s February again! our favorite month when we celebrate the National and Liberation day of Kuwait and we love
Graphic Designers Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi
to see the flag of Kuwait everywhere!
Contributing Team Maha Al-Rashed Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Mohammad Al-Sharrah Abdalla AlMuzaini Nadia Al-Hassan Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Nada Soliman Ahmed Al-Ragum Nada Faris Ali - DJ RAVEN Oussama T. Hussein ARTRONAUTS Reshmi Revi ASAMA Perfumes BirthKuwait Sanaa Abdul Hamid Dr. Nazia Nausheen Sandra Bakhamian Faisal Al-Dhofari Sherihan A. Hassabo Halah Faisal AlHajji Talah Alabdulaaly Khaled Al-Amiri Zahra Ashkanani Khaled Al-Zawawi Zahra Taqi Layla Harmony Photography Team Abdulaziz AlSoraya Natalia Sitcai Abdulaziz AlShayaji Shahbaz Hussain Ahmad Emad Abdullah Hamadah Antonio O. Alcantara I Othman AlMishaan Eric O. Fabro Bulk Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal
Yep, it’s also the month of love, Valentine’s Day. It’s a day some love and others loath. But there really shouldn’t be so much pressure. Why does it have to just be about romance? Why can’t you celebrate loving your cup of coffee? Your child? You favorite pair of shoes? heck, why not just celebrate loving yourself.
Do it differently this year, and create a day that’s all about the things you love. So for me it’s pretty simple, it involves my family, my CityPages, and a hot cup of coffee. What do you love?
In this issue we celebrate our 50 successful issues! I know it seemed a long way and it really was a hard one. But, believe me; we at CityPages loved working hard while putting together each of the 50 issues. For our 50th issue we’ve given the magazine a slight design tweak. We think everything grows better with age and CityPages is no exception.
Enjoy this 50th issue of CityPages - Made with lots of love and many strong cups of coffee.
Corporate Copies and Subscriptions Distributed through:
Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor
DISCLAIMER
jameelrf@citypageskuwait.com
Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 14 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © February 2014
CityPages accepts unsolicited ar ticles (1000 words or less) in English or Arabic. Submissions may be sent to:
submissions@citypageskuwait.com
in .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx format. CityPages will notify the author upon acceptance but will not entertain inquiries.
Opening Soon in Kuwait At The Gate Mall
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Free Copies of CityPages are Available at:
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(Kuwait International Airport)
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
If you would like to receive copies of CityPages magazine at your location as distribution point or reading material, please get in touch with our distribution team at: subscriptions@citypageskuwait.com 16
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February, 2014
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International @intoptique Optique
Hello my Dear Ones!
Dear CityPages readers,
February is here with the spirit of love and the love for the celebration of our
It’s a chilly 5 degrees Celsius outside as I’m writing this note to you, and it just
country's National and Liberation days. Are we ready? Oh yeah! You will read
dawned on me that we have had a very long and cold winter this year. Not one
more in this specail issue about some of our pride of Kuwait. I am so happy and excited about our 50th issue. We really worked very hard to reach here and its your love and support that has always motivated us and we hope to have your continuous love and support.
to complain about the cold I have taken the opportunity to break in the many pairs of boots I haven’t been able to properly wear up until this year. I have a feeling we are looking at a beautiful spring season to match as well, so something for all of us to look forward to. This month CP celebrates Kuwait’s Independence & Liberation days, Valentine’s
We pick them very carefully and really are proud of them as Kuwaiti's achievers.
Day, and our Fiftieth issue, so we are well and truly in the festive spirit as we close
In another way, it's the Pink and Red month! The month of Valentines, the
this month’s magazine. We are featuring so many interesting people such as the
month of butterflies all around us with beautiful flowers all around.
super energetic Daniel Hinderer of SEVENFRIDAY watches, as well as interviews
Feel the happiness and enjoy life by loving and being loved. Always keep peace in your heart and walk with your big smile! We choose especially for you here the best to enjoy your love pink month, enjoy reading our special issue and check our new places and talents!
with our friend Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa of 99 comic fame. We also meet with more of our local talents, Riham Habib owner of RPersonalShopper, as well as AbdulRehman Al-Shehab, Founder of Let's PopCorn. Our youth are responsible for creating the tidal wave of entrepreneurship which has hit our shores. I always say it’s these fresh establishments which are going to someday grow to be the next blue chip companies of Kuwait one day.
Give your All & Enjoy Life!
Enjoy the many celebrations coming your way, and remember to keep doing what you love.
Happy Feb.
Abeer M. Alabduljalil
Kinda Al Faris
Managing Editor
Executive Editor
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50 CELEBRATING
ISSUES
CELEBRATING 50 ISSUES 20
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YARA
MANY MORE TO COME... February, 2014
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How to Master the Art of Positivity “Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.” ~Sarah Ban Breathnach, author
Being constantly positive is not easy. In fact it can be exhausting especially in the beginning as you try to make that shift from your usual self, who might see things as they are, to someone who tries to paint a prettier picture around them. The difference however between the two is unbelievably big and worth trying to make that shift. You will find that while you are on your way to a whole new you, things will go against you and the plans that you have previously and meticulously laid out will inevitably take a wrong turn. The key to your success however is to stay the course, and stay positive. Why would you do that instead of getting frustrated and letting your fears take over you? Because you will end up upset, you will hand over the reins of your life to stress and end up back in square one. Learning to be positive will have a huge impact not only on your emotional and psychological well being, but even on your physical well being.
3. Start your day right. Try not to wake up “on the wrong side of bed”. Start your day happy, be thankful that you had a restful night’s sleep. Enjoy the beautiful sun that's filtering through your window. No sun today? Enjoy the rain and plan to go out and jump in the puddles. When you wake up with the intention that you will have a positive day, well, then you WILL have a positive day. Try it out and see how it goes! 4. Follow a healthy lifestyle. Change the way you eat, exercise t least three times a week and treat your body with respect and your body will respond in kind. Exercise not only keeps the heart healthy and gets oxygen into the system. It also helps deplete stress hormones and release mood-enhancing chemicals that help us cope with stress better.
5. Be grateful! Again and again and again, it all comes down to gratitude. Be grateful to the life you have, appreciate the people around you, and be thankful for Now that I sold you on the idea, how do you get started? Well thankfully I have a the experiences that life throws your way. Being grateful will reinforce your positive few steps that could help you out! state by keeping you focused on the good and taking your attention away from 1. Being positive is a choice. This is the most important step, realizing that whatever might put a damper on your mood. you have a choice, as with everything in life. You can choose to be positive and Now that you have the secret recipe, start to put it into action and observe the equally you can choose to be negative. You can see the same situation as doom transformation it will have on your life! Have a wonderful journey to a new positive and gloom, or a blessing in disguise and a lesson to learn from and carry on in your You! journey of life. This is something no one can take away from you. Once you believe in this concept, the shift becomes easier. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses” ~ Abraham Lincoln 2. Use affirmations and visualizations. Affirmations are positive statements we say to our selves to help us look at a situation or at life from a Zahra Taqi different angle. Be aware of the language you use when talking to your self or describing your self. Instead of saying that you are fat, today try saying “I am a beautiful, healthy, curvaceous woman!” Instead of telling your self that you cannot is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones reach your goal, try “I am smart, intelligent and I have a vision”. You are basically Zahra Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop training your self to see the happier side of life, and the positive side not the usual her a line on her email: zahrataqi@gmail.com or find her on FB: http://www. facebook.com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @MilestonesCoach negative, black and white picture you are used to seeing. 22
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Mr. & Mrs.
Once upon “this time of the year”
T
he alarm goes off at 6:30 am; Mr. And Mrs. get up and start taking turns to the bathroom, then the dresser, then for a quick coffee from the Nespresso they decided to finally buy to have fresh coffee every morning before running out to work- it's a typical day.
While Mrs. was unlocking the door to the house, she could swear she almost heard every single beat of her heart chasing one another of excitement. In her mind, all she could see was candle lights everywhere, a punch of red roses beautifully arranged in each single vase around the house, and pink flowers’ petals indicating the way to her gift. She kept her eyes closed to live the moment of…..”Nothing?” Mrs. opens her eyes to yet another disappointment of, not only a Valentine’s-Free apartment, but also one with a dirty dish decorating the dining table and a pair of shoes and socks thrown in the living room waiting for her to decide their fate.
Mr. arrives to work, parks his car, and checks his watch to find that he is 20 minutes late; not a good way to start his day. With a grumpy face, he stepped into the office, everyone was looking at him and smiling; weirdly!! No one is even greeting him with a normal "good morning"; it is only the "smile". Opening the door to his office, he realized what the creepy smiles are about as all his co-workers are waiting to see his reaction to the red roses filling the place and the big banner reading "Thank That was it! Mrs. will definitely declare war now and she knows where exactly she you for being in my life...Happy Valentine" that Mrs. spent the night hanging with the should direct her first hit. She goes straight to the bedroom, turns all the lights on, and stands by sleeping Mr.’s head with a look of a serial killer in her eyes. help of a couple of his close colleagues. Around the same time, Mrs. arrives to her workplace with a huge optimistic smile on her face that gradually faded with every passing hour of the day as she waits to hear the voice of someone calling her name announcing to have a very special something delivered just for her. No one called her name and nothing special arrived. Nothing! However, all of a sudden she regained her smile thinking how brainless she is to think Mr. would make such an expression at work; “he must have something prepared for me when I get back home” she thought.
And as Mr. was about to come back from the land of the resting, “One question:” she started “did you even remember me today?” A long argument took place in reply to the hidden accusation but this very question wasn’t yet answered until 3 hours later when Mr. uttered the unutterable!!! “What’s so special about today anyway? What is Valentine’s really? Don’t we love each other 365 days per year?” Well, let’s just say that some questions are meant to be left unanswered!
The Mr. who had “uttered the unutterable” before is already doomed. But for those who secretly have the idea but haven’t been crazy enough to share it out loud, just follow the 3 Valentine’s survival tips and you shall forever live in peace. Don’t overlook it. Whatever you do, don’t pretend Valentine’s doesn’t exist or have no meaning unless you want to end up like the Mr. I was telling you about! Grant her a wish. Don’t trust a girl who says “I don’t like or care for gifts”. We adore gifts; from a single long stem blossoming rose to a diamond ring; we love ‘em all! One kind of gifts we hate though is the one deprived from thoughtfulness. A girl wouldn’t necessarily expect an expensive gift, but she is certainly waiting for thoughtful one…Put some effort in it. Special-ize it. The element of surprise is what a special occasion is all about; making everything about that day special for her and not just wrapping a box and giving it to her as if it is a duty you are born to fulfill. Have a peaceful Valentine’s everyone! Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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Conjunctivitis
C
onjunctivitis, also commonly known as ‘Pink Eye,’ is caused by an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane which covers the white part of the eye and the inside surface of the eyelids. Although it is transparent, the conjunctiva contains bloods vessels which dilate when they are inflamed causing the eyes to appear red and bloodshot. It can occur in teens and adults, but most commonly in young children, who are more vulnerable to infection. In fact, the pink eye epidemic can spread quickly, especially in communal settings like classrooms and playgroups. Conjunctivitis is a fairly common condition; however, there are a number of factors that can cause the eye to look pink/red. Though it can be irritating, pink eye rarely affects your vision. The primary types of conjunctivitis – viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis – differ in cause, symptoms and treatment. Viral conjunctivitis is caused by an adenovirus, a common respiratory virus responsible for the common cold like sore throat. The herpes simplex virus also causes viral pink eye. This type of pink eye is very contagious and can spread easily by coughing and sneezing. Usually only one eye is affected by viral pink eye causing swollen, itchy eyes, excessive watering, light discharge and sensitivity to light. Crusting on the eyelids occurs sometimes. Applying a cold, wet washcloth to the eyes several times a day can relieve these symptoms. Eye doctors usually do not prescribe medication against viral conjunctivitis as it will run its course over several days and clear up on its own without medical treatment. However, in some cases it can last a few weeks and become ongoing and chronic. Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection which may develop when bacteria enters the eye or the area around the eye. Caused by bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci and haemophilus, this type of conjunctivitis is contagious, especially when one comes in direct contact with infected hands or items that have touched the affected eye. The eye doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments, and within a few days of treatment the condition should improve. One or both eyes can be affected, appearing severely red with a yellowish discharge in the corner of the eye. In some cases, the discharge can be severe enough to cause the eyelids to be stuck together when waking up. Mild pain, swelling and drooping of the eyelids can also occur. 26
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Seasonal pollen, animal dander and dust cause allergic conjunctivitis among susceptible persons. Both eyes are affected simultaneously, leaving them with an itching and burning sensation and excessive tearing. These symptoms are often accompanied by stuffiness, a runny nose and light sensitivity. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious as it occurs when allergens are in the environment. Allergy medications such as artificial tears that dilute irritants in the eye’s tear film, and antihistamine allergy pills or eye drops help control the symptoms and soothe the eyes. To prevent a pink eye outbreak, wash your hands often and thoroughly, and encourage your children to do the same. Avoid sharing hand towels, rubbing and touching the eyes as this causes bacteria and viruses to spread. Contact lens wearers should always follow the lens care and replacement schedule instructed by their eye care provider carefully. Also, if conjunctivitis does occur, stop using your contact lenses until the eyes are fully cleared. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, your eye doctor can advise you how to minimize the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis before they begin. Conjunctivitis can still develop despite taking precautions. Be considerate to others to avoid spreading the contagious types of conjunctivitis. If you are unsure if you or your child is suffering from pink eye, consult your eye care practitioner, because red or pink eyes – especially in combination with severe pain and blurred vision – can be a symptom of many other types of eye problems, which can be more serious than conjunctivitis. Erika Habig
Erika Habig is an optometrist and contact lens specialist at International Optique. She studied at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry and Dispensing Optics. For more information contact International Optique. Tel: 25714007 – 97234787, www.intoptic.com – info@intoptic.com, Instagram: @intoptique
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Dar Al Shifa Hospital continues to lead the way in Kuwait and in the Middle East with its medical imaging technology. One of the latest achievements to share is the ongoing installation of a new Ultra High Filed 3T MRI scanner at the Diagnostic Imaging Center (D.I.C.). Weighing 7 tones, the magnet was lifted by cranes and moved into the Basement. The Delicate installation proceeded without a hitch, as the whole team specially flown to Kuwait was very well prepared for the task. Commissioning work is now proceeding ahead of the new MRI unit planned opening soon. The New MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner is the first Ultra high Field Machine in the Private Sector and the First 64 channels system in the Middle East. Its major use will be for Stroke, Heart disease, Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Functional Neuroimaging, preoperative mapping and is expected to provide clinicians with the most advanced imaging of Neurological, Cardiac, Musculoskeletal and other conditions. CityPages had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Mohammed Ismail, Consultant Radiologist – HOD of the Radiology Department and Ms. Alexandra Uzounova, the Manager of Clinical Ancillary services at Dar Al Shifa Hospital and learnt how Dar AlShifa hospital has always been maintaining a leadership position by investing in the latest technology and people.
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Dr. Mohammed Ismail Jassem and Ms. Alexandra Uzunova Kindly introduce yourselves to our readers: My name is Dr. Mohammed Ismail and I am a Neuroradiologist. I have been working at the hospital since 2004. It was initially part-time and then as full-time. Currently, I am the Chairman of the Diagnostic Imaging Center (D.I.C.) I am Alexandra Uzunova the Manager of Clinical Ancillary Services which includes four departments: Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy. I have been working in Dar Al Shifa hospital Radiology since 1995. Basically, I am a Radiology technologist by education, however throughout my work in the hospital I had passed through different stages in my career - Technologist, Chief Technologist, Clinical Development Manager, member of the D.I.C. Executive Board and now Manager of the Clinical Ancillary services My question to Dr. Mohammad is that what inspired you to go for full-time position with the hospital? The organizational structure and the quality culture in the hospital. I tried it for
many years as a part-time and I felt comfortable moving from a governmental hospital to Dar Al Shifa as a full-time. The working environment is safe and the professional development and exposure to latest imaging technology are part of the daily routine. Could you talk more about the new development in the technology? And equipment in the Radiology department at the hospital? Actually, the changes really started in 2008 when we introduced our first High field MRI machine that was 1.5T MRI which was actually a replacement to our previous 0.23T Open Magnet. It was a very brave step to be taken at that time because it required bigger investment and it was challenging for a private sector hospital to invest in such a machine as we had to think that who would leave the government hospitals for free and pay for such tests in the private sector. But, we developed our excellence in MRI Imaging. Patients trusted us because we provided compassionate care, accessibility, safe environment and timely diagnosis, February, 2014
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the physicians were impressed by the high quality of the offered MRI services, diagnostic reliability, accuracy, same day report policy and the use of the most advanced technology available at that time. We started embarking into a more sophisticated imaging MRI techniques that at that time no one in the private sector had (Spectroscopy) and we were lucky having a sub specialized radiologist as Dr. Mohammed with us. In 2010 we had another big development in the Diagnostic Imaging Center (D.I.C.) when again very bravely we went for a dual source CT scan machine At that time, private sector doing cardiac CT imaging was kind of a madness investing that much. But in one year, we actually recovered our investment and we established ourselves as leaders in Cardiac Imaging. Along with developing the CT imaging we ask ourselves why don't we take up the next challenge into the Cardiac MRI? Nobody in the country does Cardiac MRI s far. .5T MRI technology, good technical expertise and a good pool of competent radiologists we were able to embark on such kind of challenge. Next achievement came on Sept.26. 2013, we were awarded by the American college of Radiology (ACR ) CT Accreditation for outstanding CT scan imaging and Low Radiation dose for adult and pediatric patients becoming the 1st Imaging Center in the Middle East and 4th outside the USA achieving it. ACR granting us a pediatric imaging logo “Image Gently� was very valuable recognition. In 2013, we had implemented a fully integrated enterprise RIS & PACS solution along with a first commercially available patient portal .Following our principle of transparency, D.I.C. offered to all patients open access to the diagnostic results and the images. Our patients can access and share their imaging results between facilities, physicians and other healthcare providers all over the word. The Portal allows access by a unique and secure login, generated and e-mailed to each patient after examination and it can be accessed even through smart phones. As you have been a leader in introducing and investing in new technology, are other hospitals in the government or private sector following you and upgrading their technology? The competition in the private sector for medical imaging is really tough. In order to secure a leadership position, you have to keep upgrading equipment and manpower. Market analysis is very important, advantage goes to those who properly access the client’s needs and grasp the opportunities for improvements. In the race for excellence, right decision making is of prime importance. We are lucky that we always had a visionary and very supportive administration and hospital owners.. Because, you can either only dream or you dream and someone makes it a reality by believing in it.
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What other activities are organized by the Department? We are the first Imaging Center in the private sector that started organizing conferences and workshops. Last year we organized the 1st Multi-disciplinary Scientific Symposium" Meeting of the Minds" and due to the interest of the medical community it had become now an annual event and this year it will be on 22nd and 23rd of February at Jumeirah hotel, The attendees are from various hospitals in Kuwait and from GCC. It is for free and we do not charge for it, as the main purpose is to promote the team work between different medical specialties and imaging physicians. We just opened the registration for this year and till date we have around 150 registered attendees.
latest developments in this field? Basically, it's by attending various educational activities internationally. I usually go twice a year to different Conferences and workshops. Reading journals and discussing with my colleagues also help me keep updated.
Dr. Mohammed, you have been driving the change for constantly upgrading the technology at the hospital. How do you yourself keep updated with the
Can you tell us more about the new machinery that is getting installed at the hospital the 3T MRI scanner? The new magnet that hospital had purchased and is currently being installed is one-of a-kind not only
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in Kuwait but Middle East.The system is fully equipped for advanced Neuroimaging and its employing a sophisticated technology that has been previously confined to research facilities, along with whole body imaging, dedicated musculo-skeletal imaging, Breast, prostate spectroscopy and outstanding cardiac. It was very challenging finding the place we would go train ourselves on functional-MR. As hospitals doing this kind of imaging are few in the world.This new magnet will help us a lot as the double field strength of the magnet will reduce the exam times, have very high quality images and very high diagnostic accuracy.
What kind of patients do you think will mostly benefit from the new machine? All patients will benefit but the main advantages are in Neuroimaging & Musculoskeletal & Cardiac. For neuro-imaging part we think epileptic patients. Because for these types of patients it's critical to find a focus for the disease to be cured. With this machine we can do a thinner cut and see the smallest traces of what is causing it. In February, 2014
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epilepsy, once you have found the focus it is much easier to remove that focus and treat the patient and the chances of recovery are much higher. With the previous machine, it was very difficult to see the focus that initiated the disease. The other thing is for the pre-operative mapping of the brain that is if the doctors has to remove a tumor from the brain or any other region, it is very important to see the function around that tumor. So, before the procedure, we do a routine imaging and what we can do extra is the functional MRI and locates the function associated to the tumor. What exactly is the Functional MRI? What we do actually in a Functional MRI test is during the MRI exam, we ask the patient to perform certain tasks such as hand motion, lip motion, speech, or vision, or any other task and by doing so we can come to know that which part of the brain gets active. So in general, before surgery we can know where the function is related to the tumor so that you do not have to cut more than it actually required. And it may also give you more details to have a better decision making. With this magnet we can also detect the nerve fiber tract which goes from the cortex of the brain to the rest of the body as during the surgery we do not wish to damage much of the fiber from the body. How can it help for cardiac patients? Cardiac MRI can show the function and the viability. It can help the cardiologist or even the surgeon to know 32
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whether the patient needs a by-pass or not. There is another interesting thing with the new machine is that we have got something called the DOT engine, it facilitates training for the new technologists, because cardiac imaging is one of the most challenging to perform. DOT engine ensures the reproducible image quality and protocol accuracy Where has the machine come from? It's from Siemens, Germany, as most of our equipments. We loved the machine as apart from all the advanced technology, it was supported by amazing software and innovative applications. I see a monitor outside in the corridor while entering your room. What exactly is it? This is “Vue Beyond” Business intelligence tool, which monitors real time the Diagnostic Imaging Center Performance. We have installed a big dashboard in the corridor that shows the staff productivity, patient scheduled times, waiting times, turnaround times, etc. Myself and Dr. Mohammed always go through it and use it as a tool to proactively monitor the workflow and prevent inappropriate utilization of our resources. Tell us more about the peer-review system Dr. Mohammed? It is actually a system that helps us take other doctor's opinion on important cases. It gives us a second reading of the same report. The system randomly selects the
cases and doctors for the review. How big is your team now? At the moment we have 9 radiologists,17 technologists and 15 nurses. You both look very passionate about your work. How do you manage your professional and personal life? Do you actually get any time to spend at home? Dr. Mohammed: I am not married, so it's not a big problem for me and besides I love my work. Ms. Alexandra: Definitely I do spend time at home as I am a Mother of two girls and a wife too…. But sometimes I get carried away, as I really enjoy what I’m doing and it doesn’t feel like work it’s more of a second home to me after almost 19 years with Dar Al Shifa hospital. Your message for the people of Kuwait on the occasion of the National and Liberation Days. Happy National and Liberation days to all! We would like to say that in Kuwait you have the most recent and scientifically ground breaking imaging equipments and experts available, so you don't have to go abroad for such exams. Here, you will get excellent care, safe environment and we can assure you that we have extremely competent and sub- specialized Radiologists, highly trained, patient focused technologists and nurses.
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Be a Savvy Birth Consumer Part One Do you want to get the most out of your birth experience? Be savvy. Understand the language used during birth and make informed decisions. While birth is a normal process and research shows that many of the routines at hospitals today are not necessarily beneficial and may even be harmful, the fact remains that birth today has become intervention-intensive and the majority of moms in Kuwait will likely experience one or more intervention during their birth. Most of the statistics for these interventions are not publicly available in Kuwait, so I will use the most recent statistics for women in America. The most recent Listening to Mothers Survey showed that the majority of women surveyed experienced one or more of the following interventions during labor: • Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)(93 percent) • Restrictions on eating (87 percent) • IV fluids (86 percent) • Restrictions on drinking (66 percent) • Episiotomy (35 percent) • Epidural anesthesia (63 percent) • Artificially ruptured membranes (55 percent) • Artificial oxytocin augmentation (53 percent) • Cesarean surgery (24 percent) What would those numbers look like in Kuwait? Perhaps some would be higher and some would be lower. The point is that you should be familiar with some technical medical terminology before you give birth. In the next two articles we will provide you with a brief explanation of the terms you should be familiar with before you give birth:
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Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM):
You know the machine they hook you up to by wrapping stretchy cloth around the top and bottom of your belly to hold in place two little circles? Yep, that is the EFM machine. The EFM was designed to continuously monitor the baby’s heart rate in an effort to detect fetal distress and prevent injury. Sounds innocuous, yes? However, research shows that one of the unintended consequences of the routine use of continuous EFM is an increase in cesareans without any improved outcomes for babies. (Translation: harmful for mom, no benefit to baby.) The key words are: Routine and Continuous. The WHO and ACOG (American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists) recommend intermittent monitoring with a Doppler or stethoscope during labor for low-risk healthy moms, every 30 minutes during active labor and every 15 minutes during pushing. This also allows mom to be active and upright during labor which will help keep her comfortable and move things along. Research shows that there are benefits to continuous EFM if you are using Syntocin/Pitocin, have an epidural, your baby is experiencing changes in heart rate, or if your or your baby are not in good health. But if you are a healthy low-risk mom, research shows that you would benefit more if your doctor monitored you and your baby intermittently with a Doppler or stethoscope.
Restrictions on Eating and IV Fluids:
OK, so doesn’t it sound a little crazy in the same sentence: Restricting normal eating and drinking, but then trying to keep mom nourished through an IV? The practice of restricting moms eating and drinking began when the majority of moms gave birth under anesthesia and the accompanying fear of aspiration. In addition, studies have confirmed that that are no medical benefits to routinely restricting eating and drinking during labor. Instead it deprives a woman of energy when she needs it most. In addition, routinely hooking up mom to an IV during labor restricts movement, may adversely impact labor progression if mom becomes over-hydrated, and increases risk of low blood sugar in babies. The WHO and ACOG recommend fluids be offered to mom by mouth, and the routine use of IV fluids be eliminated. If you are a healthy low-risk mom ask your doctor about a hep-lock, an IV started in your hand/arm that is capped off so that it is in place and available but does not interfere with mom’s movement and normal labor progression.
Episiotomy:
This is a controversial procedure with no easy explanation. Sometimes when moms are pushing their babies out, the doctor makes an incision to widen the birth canal (yeah- they cut down there!) This is a controversial procedure because research has provided no evidence that an episiotomy reduces the risk of perineal injury, improves perineal healing, prevents birth injury to babies, or reduces the risk of future incontinence (these are all reasons cited by doctors for the routine use of episiotomies). Research does show that routine or liberal use of episiotomy is likely to be ineffective and harmful to mother (the list of risks to mom are too long for this article). In addition, the WHO recommends eliminating routine or liberal episiotomy. Of course there are times an episiotomy would be beneficial. For example, if a change of position or taking a break from pushing does not resolve signs of distress in your baby, or if your baby is very large or in an unusual position (again, first try changing your positions to see if it helps) an episiotomy might be necessary. If you want to avoid an episiotomy, discuss your concerns with your doctor before hand and choose your care provider carefully, push in an upright position that lets your birth canal stretch gently as your baby descends, change positions often while you’re pushing, push spontaneously when you feel urges rather than directed, and remember your body knows how to give birth and be patient!
Sarah Paksima Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
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5 traps You should know about the Food Industry Bigger, juicier, saltier, sweeter, crunchier, and every day more and more, the result: a society of constant exposure to the ‘eat more food’ environment. Due to the great efforts of health advocates, the food industry has definitely taken some positive steps in the right direction, by launching health campaigns and being more careful about their labels and ingredients; nevertheless, some hidden facts will remain unchanged.
almost all of the fiber and nutrients stripped out. This same stripping out of nutrients happens with highly refined white bread compared with whole-wheat bread. Ever wondered why you can drink 2 cups of apple juice easily and can hardly finish 2 apples? Or
1.The studies that are supported by food producers tend to minimize the health concerns associated with their products. According to reviews of hundreds of studies that looked at the health effects of juice and sodas, the likelihood of conclusions favorable to the industry was several times higher among industry-sponsored research than studies that received no industry funding. Hence, if a study is funded by the industry, results tend to be closer to advertising than science; therefore, when reading any type of study, simply check whether it is genuine, or funded! 2.Less-processed foods are generally more filling than their highly processed counterparts. Fresh apples for example, have an abundance of fiber and nutrients that are lost when they are processed into applesauce. And the added sugar or other sweeteners increase the number of calories without necessarily making the applesauce any more filling. Apple juice, which is even processed further, has had 36
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why after eating a sandwich of white bread, you ask for another one shortly? The more processed, the less filling, the more you buy! 3.A health claim on the label doesn't necessarily make a food healthy. Health claims such as "zero trans fats" or "contains whole wheat" may create the false impression that a product is healthy when it's not. Zero trans fat products can contain partially hydrogenated oils which is a form of trans fat; those that contain whole wheat or real fruit have only small insignificant amounts of them. Again, you should watch the ingredients, the first ingredient listed on a package is the main ingredient; those listed farther down are included in smaller amounts.
as being “unhealthy” while corn bread and tortillas are the new healthy substitutes? Newsflash, corn is the number one crop in the USA, and is still being grown despite the debated environmental hazard caused by its agriculture. The same goes for rice being blamed as “fattening” when potatoes can be eaten in moderation as a vegetable in a healthy diet. Well, both are healthy carbohydrates and both should be included in a healthy meal plan, but potatoes are more important to the American economy than rice, hence the recommendations! In conclusion, your diet should include all food groups and check with your dietitian as food quality and quantity is what matters for your health and weight. 5.“Diet” is the number one reason why societies have become so obese. The formula is simple, eat right, eat healthy and keep moving! A diet promise that seems too good to be true, most probably isn’t… whoever tries to sell diet formulas that look like magic potions, surely won’t do you any good… and any diet that makes you stop eating one or more types of food or food groups is a desperate attempt to have you alter your healthy habits for no reason. In conclusion, life is meant to be lived happily and healthily! So enjoy your food, choose a wide variety of food products, don’t over eat anything, exercise, and finally be wise and use your common sense when judging any organization or even any expert’s offering. Sarah Dimashkieh
Director of Clinical Operations, Diet Care
4.World politics and economies are the trend setters of what is so called “healthy” and what is not. Ever wondered why wheat bread is always accused
Sarah holds a B.S in nutrition and dietetics and an MSc in Clinical nutrition both from the American University of Beirut. She is currently pursuing her MBA from KMBS. She is a Member of the Lebanese Dietetics Association, member of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formally known as ADA) and is HACCP certified.
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Did You Ever Think that the Reason Your Foot Hurts is Because of Your Core?
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ow many times have I been at some gathering where someone was complaining about a bunion on their foot, I can’t even begin to count them! Once someone mentions that, then the theories come out and all the recommendations of the fantastic surgeons that can cut that bunion right off, and you can go back to wearing your Louboutins again…wrong! There’s a reason why you have bunions, and I’m sorry to say it has nothing to do with your feet and more to do with your core. A bunion if you’re not familiar with what they are, are a hard bony bit that grows on the inside of your foot that doctors love to remove, only once you remove them you really can’t wear open toe shoes anymore I’m sorry to say. The reality is that because you lack the core strength necessary to maintain the correct posture, your pelvis goes into an anterior tilt. Let’s break this down, imagine your pelvis to be a bowl of water, and you are trying to tip the water out of the front of it; that’s an anterior pelvic tilt. With this happening in your pelvis, there is a domino effect on the rest of your body. The result of an anterior pelvic tilt is the femur, a bone in your legs, actually one of the largest bones in your legs, will internally rotate bringing your knees closer together. That in turn, causes the feet to become internally rotated; are you starting to get the picture? Now, for every step that you take, with an internally rotated foot, caused by internally rotates knees, and an anterior pelvic tilt; the medial part of the foot hits the floor more than the lateral part of the foot (outer part). So every time the foot hits the floor, the inside of the foot takes the brunt of the weight and pressure, and human bodies being so smart let the brain know that its too much stress on the foot, so its better off laying more tissue down to help reduce the impact on the big toe and internal part of the foot resulting in foot pain. So if the doctor comes in and chops off that tissue, its not really going to correct it, the body will communicate to the brain that there is still too much pressure on the toe and that we have to lay some more tissue there to reduce the pressure on the toe, and again you have a bunion. So let me give you a solution that I believe would help. Simply work on your core; and when I say core I mean your Pelvic Floor, Transverse Abdominus, Diaphragm and Multifidus all components in what we refer to as your inner unit. There is a direct correlation between foot pain and pelvic tilt, the normal pelvic tilt measurement in women is 7-10 degrees, however women with foot pain usually fall on the 12-14 degree measurement; once corrected, their foot pain miraculously disappears. For all the high heel loving ladies out there, I would just like to give you something to think about before you put on your super high heels. For every inch put on your heels, the pelvis tilts forward 11 degrees, and your pelvic mechanics get disrupted. Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge fan, but sometimes its just not worth the pain. 38
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Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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The right physique with the right supplements Ever wondered why supplements are called supplements? The term 'supplement' it self derives from the Latin origin 'supplere,' meaning fill up or to complete. Simply put, it means a component of some sort that may complete or enhance something else when added together. There's a lot of hype surrounding supplements when it comes to the fitness industry. Why, grab any fitness magazine and you'll probably encounter countless ads promoting a supplement of some kind with some sort of new-found nano technology which promises to deliver an even more intense burst of energy/mood enhancer/<insert overzealous adjective over here> that will revolutionize your workout and results. Yes, there is no denying that exercise is the best preventative activity one can do to slow down the effects of aging and the onset of many diseases. However the supplement business in the fitness industry is a multi-billion dollar one simply because many are drawn in by the hype of their ads promising to deliver everlasting longevity and bombastic results. Thus if you're thinking of picking up a supplement or 2, here are some pointers and tips to help you get started:
1. Whey protein
Remember that nursery rhyme; Little Miss Muffet, who sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey? Yup, whey protein is made from whey, the by-product liquid in cheese production. Most generic whey protein brands will have about 20-28g of protein, 2-6g of carbohydrates and perhaps 6g of fat per serving of their protein shakes. Whey protein isolates are basically the same thing however these protein powders been filtered several times in their production hence their carbohydrate and fat counts will be lower. To help regulate and keep your metabolism active throughout the day, many fit gurus will advocate eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day. Thus if you find it tedious to prep and physically eat 5 meals, I would say in this instance you can supplement 2 of them with your whey protein shakes. I find that females are pretty skittish when it comes to trying out whey protein powders as they assume that it will make them hulkish or bulky. That's certainly not the case. As a comparison point, 100g raw chicken breast will give you 21.2g of protein, 0g carbs and 2.5g of fat. Dymatize's Iso-100 Protein powder yields 25g of protein, 2g carbs and 0.5g of fat per serve. The macronutrients of the protein powder seems pretty similar to the macros of the chicken, no?
C after exercising help reduced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma by nearly 50%. Regular exercise along with Vitamin C plays an integral role in boosting your immune system as well as helping your body ward off harmful diseases too!
3. Fat Burners
We all dream of a shredded physique with washboard abs. The fitness industry is rampant with a crazy selection of fat burners, all designed with the solid promise to get you beach body ripped for summer. Most fat burners are classified as "thermogenics." When you exercise, your body's internal temperature increases, prompting an increase in your metabolism too. These thermogenic fat burners causes your body's temperature to increase in a similar manner whether or not you're exercising. People have reported having great fat loss success in using these tablets along with a healthy nutrition and exercise plan in short periods. However please be advised that should you be wanting to try them out, note that these tablets are sometimes laden with caffeine and other stimulants that may over-excite one's central nervous system. Hence be sure to read the ingredient labels or to seek advice from a certified fit geek (personal trainer or physician) prior to taking them as these tablets may not be suitable for you if you are, for example, sensitive to caffeine. If you're new to fitness and are wanting to try out a supplement or 2, the 3 supplements mentioned above are great starting points. I wouldn't take more than that as I initially said, supplements should be components that will help you complete the task to enable you to hit your fitness goals and not be the main focus when it comes to your health and wellbeing. As an athlete myself, at present the only supplements I'm taking are a good fat burner and a multi-vitamin tablet that has a high vitamin C content. The rest of my nutrients are received from consuming real food.
Hence depending on your fitness goal, choose your whey protein powders carefully as there are a myriad of them to help you based on your activity, lifestyle habits and fitness goals.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid is a must to any active gym/ workout nut. A water-soluble vitamin that's naturally present in foods, the American National Institute of Health recommends a daily intake of 90+mg of Vitamin C for male adults ages 19 and over; and 75mg for females. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize cell-damaging free-radicals when ingested. Taking Vitamin C post-workout helps reduce cortisol levels and aids in muscle recovery. A research group in Finland also found that taking Vitamin 40
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Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer Reshmi Revi is the Education and Personal Training Manager for MultiWorks and an IFBB Bikini Competitor. A Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Reshmi holds a Bachelors of Communication Studies Degree from the Auckland University of Technology. A fitness enthusiast, she welcomes your queries and comments at rrevi@multiworks.net. Follow her on Twitter & Instagram @Q8MissFit.
Liliane Zaher is a Clinical Dietitian and Nutritionist. She has earned her B.S degree in Dietetics and food science from the American university of Beirut in 2002. She has over 10 years of experience in clinical nutrition and helped more than 2000 people from all age groups reach their dietary goals. She has written many articles for numerous publications, and has made regular appearances on TV and radio programs advising on nutrition and health issues. She has also participated in several conferences and has given many lectures related to nutrition and healthy eating. This month CityPages had an opportunity to meet this passionate nutrionist for an exclusive interview for its readers.
Please introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a clinical dietitian and nutritionist passionate about food and how it nourishes our bodies, souls and social environments. Second only to this love of food's amazing abilities, is my love of teaching others how to appreciate and enhance their personal relationship with food and health. My goal is not to tell people what to eat, but rather to teach them how to nourish themselves and their families in a way that will ensure life-long health and happiness. I am a wife and mother of two. I enjoy eating, feeding others, cooking, and creating heart healthy meals from scratch. I value and embrace foods like kale, salmon, raw cacao, quinoa and Chia seeds but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room for indulgences once in awhile too: French fries with salt and ketchup or chocolate chip cookies anyone? Food is to be enjoyed and not a set of rules!
coaching, public speaking, and private practice. I have helped hundreds of people to lose weight, improve their diets and live healthier lifestyles. I am currently focusing on general nutrition and weight management.
Why did you decide to become a dietitian?
I was always interested in a career in health, and decided to combine that with my love of food and become a dietitian. I was also drawn to the teaching aspect of nutrition, as well as the constant learning. This is a dynamic subject and the data is constantly changing and I knew I would enjoy learning and growing along with the field.
In your opinion what is the concept of healthy diet?
A good diet is a nutritional lifestyle that promotes good health. A good diet must include the main food groups in the right proportions (complex carbohydrates, Tell us about your educational background? I received my B.S degree in Dietetics and Food Science from the American University proteins, fruits, vegetables, dairy and healthy fats) because one single group cannot of Beirut. I have more than 10 years of a diverse professional background ranging provide everything a human needs for good health. Meanwhile, most nutrition experts also agree that mealtimes should be a pleasure from inpatient/outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy and food service, to wellness 42
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rather than a penance. This means its fine to eat small amounts of our favourite foods from time to time. I always tell my clients healthy eating is about moderation and not DEPRIVATION!
How you see obesity problem in Kuwait?
Obesity trend is on a continuous rise globally, and Kuwait is among the countries with the highest obesity rates worldwide. According to recent studies and statistics, Kuwait is ranked second in obesity on a global level, with 42% of its population being obese. An estimated 36 percent of men and 48 percent of women are obese, while 74 percent of men and 77 percent of women are overweight. The country’s high obesity rates have led to a rise in obesity-related health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Kuwait is ranked third in the world for diabetes prevalence and first in the MENA region. Research implicates that by the year 2030, one in 10 adults will suffer from diabetes.
What are the main factors behind obesity in Kuwait?
The excessive consumption of fatty, salty, processed and pre-packaged foods, as well as lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle are the main factors behind obesity in Kuwait. Another contributing factor is the significant increase in the number of restaurants and International fast food chains that serve fatty and unhealthy food. There are approximately 4,783 restaurants currently operating in Kuwait, with 1 restaurant for every 230 people, unlike the US where there’s 1 restaurant for every 600 people. In addition, the Culture in Kuwait involves food at every family gathering and social event.
What is your philosophy about weight loss?
When it comes to weight loss, I don’t believe in harmful deprivation diets, water pills, harsh chemicals and other quick-fix gimmicks that provide temporary weight loss but can harm your body and your health. Weight loss must be looked upon as involving all aspects of your life. From how many calories you take in to how much exercise you do. It is important to adopt a holistic view of weight loss no single element in a weight loss plan is more important than any other. Lifestyle change, calories, exercise, family, social support, work, medications all play some role in successfully losing weight for life.
What is your best weight loss advice or diet?
Every day I meet people that have tried hundreds of diets and failed to achieve their weight goal. Starting a diet and staying on it can be challenging, especially if you're going about it the wrong way. Crash diets and unrealistic expectations only lead to failure and weight gain. In this case, motivation is key to keep you committed. Here are a few tips to keep you on track; Change the Way You Think
Many people dislike dieting because they associate it with food deprivation and drastic restrictions. Rather than thinking of it as dieting, think of it as eating healthy. Think about which foods are offering your body the most nutrients. If you can select nutritious foods 90% of the time you’ve got yourself a healthy balanced diet and you will soon feel the results. Find you inner motivation
they do not have excess body fat. BMI cannot take into consideration, for example, where the body holds fat. Belly fat, which is known as visceral fat, is more harmful than fat that simply sitting under the skin. Even relatively thin people can have high levels of visceral fat, which means they might be considered healthy by BMI standards, but internally they may actually be at higher risk of developing health problems related to weigh gain. It is important to combine BMI with a comprehensive evaluation of the patients’ medical history and lifestyle habits to get a meaningful, if not yet perfectly precise picture of their weight-related health and to use other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution such as skin fold thickness and waist circumference, No one else can make you lose weight, it’s all about calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios. you. Ask yourself why you want to lose weight? Make What role does determination and a list of what’s important to you to help stay motivated and focused, and then find a way to make sure that you Willingness play in losing weight? can call on your motivational factors during moments I believe that successful weight management, that is, losing weight and keeping it off, requires motivation of temptation. and commitment rather than determination and willingness. You have to commit to making smart Realistic Goals Setting realistic goals can help you stay committed choices and sticking to your choices for weight loss to to eating healthy. It is best to aim for losing (0.5 kg be successful. to 1 kg) a week and keep in mind that even modest The question is not where do you find the will, it's weight loss can improve your blood pressure and your where do you find the reason, the sense of purpose, that powers the will? cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels.
Changing your eating habits and adding a little exercise can substantially reduce the impact of illness and chronic disease.
Find Support
According to research, Losing weight with one or more friends can help keep you on track.. Losing weight with a friend is more fun and makes the process a social experience -- you listen to each other and motivate each other to exercise and eat healthy. Keep a Journal
Writing down everything you eat on a daily basis can help you lose weight and motivate you to keep going. By writing down what you eat, you hold yourself accountable -- most likely you won't eat that second or third cookie knowing that you have to write it in your journal.
Do you conduct any workshops for awareness?
Yes of course. Raising awareness is a fundamental part of my job as a dietitian. I have participated in many workshops to increase awareness of healthy eating and the benefits of being physically active. With the most recent participation being the “Fight Fat” campaign where my role was prominent in raising awareness on this matter. Furthermore, I continue to give educational lectures related to nutrition and healthy in a number of schools and universities in Kuwait. I also make sure to harness the power of social media through my instagram page which I continuously feed with important health tips and information.
What are the main dangers of becoming Do you feel any change in the behavior of society about this problem? obese? Obesity takes a huge toll on the body and put you at risk of serious health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis and breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma. Obesity also decreases the quality and length of life, and increases individual, national, and global healthcare costs. The good news, though, is that weight loss can help reduce some obesity-related risks. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of body weight offers meaningful health benefits to people who are obese, even if they never achieve their “ideal” weight.
Due to daily direct client interaction at work or through social media and instagram I can definitely sense an overall rise in awareness. People have become increasingly aware that their diet plays a significant role for their health. They also have become more disillusioned about the nutritional quality of the foods they are actually eating. Despite of these changes in awareness, most people’s eating habits have largely remained unchanged and the obesity crisis has worsened. We can only hope there will be a tipping point in the not so distant future.
What is the formula to determine What is your healthy message for the people of Kuwait on the occasion of obesity? Obesity is typically determined by figuring out an National and Liberation Day? individual’s body mass index (BMI) using a formula that includes his or her height and weight. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. BMI can’t distinguish between fat and muscle. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though
Even though recent research has placed Kuwait at the top of the list in terms of the prevalence of obesity and diabetes type 2, it is never too late to make a positive change. Changing your current lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle can be done at any age in life. Changing your eating habits and adding a little exercise can substantially reduce the impact of illness and chronic disease. It can alleviate the effects of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health related issues. Start Now! February, 2014
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T he Yogic Lifestyle
Loyal Readers, Namaste, all the way from Goa, India. Namaste is a gesture which means my soul acknowledges your soul. I have spent the last month at a yoga school to get certified as a yoga teacher. Even though I have been practicing yoga on and off for a few years, I wanted to experience and learn about the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga. Receiving a formal certificate was just a bonus. It is important to know that ‘Yoga’ is not a religion. It doesn’t require praying or performing rituals. Yoga is basically a lifestyle which was developed by sages in India with the ultimate goal of discovering spiritual truth. It is a conscious effort of mankind to liberate oneself from suffering and imperfections of the world. In order to do so, one brings about change in their self rather than going around trying to change the world. In today’s society many suffer from anxiety, stress, depression, frustration, failed relationships, drug abuse, violence etc which all reveal the mental instability of mankind. Yoga (including breathing and medication techniques) aims to create health, harmony and bliss for the restless mind. It is also beneficial for people Sanaa Abdul Hamid
Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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suffering from type 2 diabetes, arthritis, lower back pain, high blood pressure and cancer. Even though it doesn’t cure some conditions it drastically improves the quality of life especially for cancer patients and their family. The yogic lifestyle has a great emphasis on the food we eat. It is believed that nutrition has a direct influence on our mind, body, intelligence and soul. Therefore, in order to purify your inner self one must be mindful of what they eat. The yoga diet categorizes food in three groups: Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Sattvic food is pure food which includes a balance of fresh fruit, vegetables, cooked whole grains, milk, legumes, nuts and seeds, using a combination of both raw and cooked foods. These foods are said to be light, simple and nourishing and tend to increase physical and mental vitality. The sattvic diet allows one to experience clarity and peace of mind. Rajasic foods are prepared with excessive oil, spices and salt (e.g. deep fried, spicy food).These foods are said to dull the mind and cause diseases (e.g. hypertension). However certain herbs/spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, basil, fennel and coriander are considered therapeutic and should be included in the diet. Lastly, the tamasic food are said to lower your energy, increase toxins in the blood and cause lethargy. Stale, re-cooked, processed, greasy
6 ways to eat like a Yogi 1. When eating, fill half your stomach with food. A quarter should be left for water. The last quarter should be left empty for digestive juices to work. This has also been mentioned in the Hindu and Islamic religion. 2. Eat on time. Research suggests that eating at different times every day confuses your body and increases your appetite. This not only contributes to over eating, but can also cause you to make unhealthy food choices. 3. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season and grown locally (when possible). Local produce is fresher and tastes better than food that has been transported from thousands of miles away. This benefits you and the environment as well. 4. Do not eat when you are angry, depressed or thinking negative. This is known as emotional eating and can cause you to over eat. 5. Eat slowly and mindfully. Yogis generally eat in silence and take time to chew their food. When you eat slowly, it gives stomach time to signal the brain that you are full. This prevents you from overeating. and heavy food (e.g. white sugar, white flour, fast food, frozen food and canned food) are considered tamasic. Non-vegetarian food also falls under this food category. Yogic diet ideally also takes into account the values and philosophical teachings of yoga. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ahimsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which means nonharming, is one yogic concept that also influences dietary choices. Thus preferably non-vegetarian food is eliminated from a yogic diet.
6. Avoid foods that are deep fried, high in sugar or salt e.g. pastries, fast food, soft drinks.
Yoga takes under consideration that every individual is different. This is why there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a prescribed diet plan that every yogis stick to. Food choices reflect personal ethics and since different yogis interpret yogic values in different ways, everyone has their own idea about what a yogic diet is. A yogi explores the yogic diet and finds one that suits them the best e.g. vegan, vegetarian, ovo-lacto vegetarian In my personal opinion, even though I came across things related to nutrition that contradicted my professional education as a dietitian, I was able to spot similarities that may suit the general public who may or may not want to adopt the yogic lifestyle.
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The Fat Friend of Heart's Health Avocado is gaining popularity all over the world today. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of avocados are recognized by the modern researchers. They are good for arthritis and heart diseases.
Avocado, the Alligator Pear, is gaining more popularity in the globalized health world. Modern technology and globalization have shrunk the whole world into a small globule where you can exchange ideas and things instantly. Avocado is treated both as a fruit and as a vegetable. It is one of the most nutritious fruits that can reach any corner of the world today. No wonder that avocado is gaining more popularity in the modern world. Avocado one of the most nutritious foods Antioxidants play a very vital role in modern health. Avocado is rich in the powerful carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin as well as a vitamin E substance called tocopherol which are very essential for health. They help for a healthier cellular environment and decrease oxidative stress. It also contains ionic potassium and folate which help the body buffer acidic wastes that accumulate within the human tissue and bloodstream. One of the salient features of avocado is its fat-soluble property. The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthiest Foods enlists various types of culinary as well as health benefits of avocado. The website points out a recent research that has shown a salad of avocado or addition of avocado oil can help the absorption of two key carotenoid antioxidants, namely lycopene and beta-carotene. The site suggests that an avocado salsa is a great-tasting recipe that can help optimize your health benefits. Researchers have found that the carotenoid diversity in avocado is really amazing which is more beneficial than other fruits such as orange or red vegetables. A rich mine of anti-inflammatory properties Avocado is hailed for the anti-inflammatory properties. It is known for the benefits of avocado fats which particularly are useful in treating the health problems involving arthritis. Avocado's anti-inflammatory nutrients can be classified into five basic categories: 1) phytosterols, 2) carotenoid 48
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antioxidants, 3) other non-carotenoid antioxidants, 4) omega-3 fatty acids and poly hydroxylated fatty alcohols. These anti-inflammatory properties of avocado help prevent osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Fat content, which is deemed to be unhealthy to heart, works in a reverse way in avocadoes because of their soluble fatty acids. In this way, they actually provide protection against heart diseases. Oleic acid, the primary fatty acid in avocados, is heart-friendly.
A fat friend of heart health Fat and cholesterol are the threatening elements of heart health. The magic of avocado is its rich fat content which is soluble. Natural News confirms, based on several studies, that avocado provides the healthy kind of fat that your body needs. Avocado boosts the level of HDL, the "good cholesterol", which can help protect against the damage caused by free radicals. According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a vegetarian diet which includes HDL fats can reduce levels of LDL, the "bad cholesterol" as effectively as statin drugs.
Changes in diets, such as eating fast foods, are the main reasons for modern health problems. Why not try for healthy diets with avocado and protect your health? Try this avocado, the heart-friendly superfood of the modern healthworld.
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Believing in the beauty of his dreams Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, a passionate, well learned, and a cultured Kuwaiti psychologist who literally erased the word ‘impossible’ from his dictionary. He is on a mission to change the world’s perception of Islam and Muslims through THE 99 – an Islamic comic series that even the president Barack Obama could not resist to praise. CityPages was lucky enough to get a chance to meet the man behind the prestigious Soor Center, the Islamic comic series THE 99 and state-of-the-art Terkeez Brain Gym, for an exclusive interview to be featured in its 50th celebratory issue.
Who is Dr. Naif Al Mutawa? A father. A husband. A son. A brother. A teacher. A serial entrepreneur. A creative problem solver. A book junkie. A public speaker. A writer. A rabble-rouser.
Please tell us about your education? I hold a PhD in clinical psychology and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. I also have a Masters in Organizational Psychology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and an MBA, also from Columbia University. I earned my undergraduate degree from Tufts University where I triple majored in clinical psychology, English literature and history. I am an alumnus of Bayan Bilingual School. I am licensed to practice psychology in New York State and a member of the American Psychological Association.
We are very excited to know about your creation, THE 99. When and how did you get the idea? What was the inspiration behind it? In the summer of 2003, I had just finished business school and was in a London cab 50
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with my sister, making the annual pilgrimage from Edgware Road to Harrods. I had a PhD and three Masters’ degrees and didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. And my sister turned to me and said, “Naif, do you remember that you told me after school you’d go back to writing?” I started to ruminate about how symbols associated with my culture had been hijacked and coopted for violent messages. As we’ve witnessed throughout history, the only way to combat extremism is through arts and culture. I thought what if I can associate positive things like comic books, and theme parks and animation. Could I have an impact? Now at the end of that cab ride, I turned to my sister and I said, “What do you think of this?” And she liked the idea and, from there, it just captured my mind.
What were some of the challenges that you had to face in the process of introducing the concept? There are obstacles in the path of fulfilling every dream. We faced a number of these in both, the East and the West. It was challenging to get investors to share the vision and recognize the potential of THE 99 but we were successful in raising millions of dollars in financing. When President Obama praised THE 99’s partnership with Batman and Superman, a handful of bloggers in the US accused
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us of spreading Sharia law to America’s children. With the help of the accelerant of lies, the new "truth" of THE 99 spread like wildfire among the anti-Obama and Islamophobic blogs, none having seen so much as a frame of the animation they were vilifying. This led to the US broadcaster that had bought the series postponing its airdate indefinitely. We were finally able to get on air in the US through Netflix a year ago. I have also faced challenges in our region where I’ve been attacked for using THE 99 attributes by those that want to be the sole spokespeople for what Islam represents. It has been a long and tumultuous journey but has been rewarding beyond my imagination and I am very proud to have put a global dent on how our wonderful culture and heritage is perceived to tens of millions of people.
99 Superheroes are a lot! How long did it take you to conceptualize each one of them and what were the criteria in assigning them their names and other properties? How long did it take to complete all 99 of them? So far we’ve introduced about one-third of THE 99 superheroes. We’re still working on the characterizations of most of the rest but not all. Some are not suitable to portray as superheroes. To illustrate the thought process that went into the development of some of the characters: Baeth the Sender, the Jordanian member of THE 99, has the ability to send any inanimate objects that THE 99 need anywhere in the world. His first name is Fadi as a tribute to Fadi Ghandour, the Jordanian founder of Aramex, who is a personal mentor of mine and served on the board of THE 99 project. Batina the Hidden, the Yemeni superhero of THE 99 is based on my wife, as my wife’s family is Saudi and originates from Hadramout, Yemen. For obvious reasons, the Kuwaiti superheroes of THE 99 are called The Mubdiayn as they share the gift of creativity!
In how many languages and countries 99 is being broadcasted as of now? THE 99 has been broadcasted in over 70 countries around the world in several languages, including Arabic, English, Spanish, Urdu, Mandarin, Turkish, and Indonesian.
Who are some of your real heroes in life? My real heroes in life are my clients who come to seek my help for the issues they are struggling with and trying to overcome. We all face various “bad guys” in our lives, but when that “bad guy” is a part of yourself then it is as smart as you are, and confronting that part of you can be very challenging. Seeing people recognize their shortcomings and watching them struggle as they try to change is a privilege I have had for 20 years now. Change is difficult and recognizing that one has to change is tough enough. But actually going through with it! Now that is heroic.
Tell us about your clinical experience with the former prisoners of war in Kuwait? When I was training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, it was with survivors of torture. Being an Arabic speaker, I was assigned patients coming out of Arab prisons including Iraq and Syria. The patients I saw were people who grew up idolizing their leaders as heroes only to be tortured by those so-called heroes. It was a very demanding post and I was burning out so I decided to apply to business school and took a hiatus from hospitals for 2 years. It is really terrible what some human beings can do to others.
Tell us more about the Soor Center. How and when was it conceptualized? I am a professor at Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine teaching psychology to medical students and allied health students for the last 10 years. For the first 5 years, I was using my knowledge of psychology and perception to help Islam through THE 99. During that time I saw my mentor and partner Dr. Jaafar Behbehani try to raise the bar of psychological practice in our region. It was a tough job with lots of obstacles. In 2008, I shared with him my vision for Soor Center and together we laid the framework. Soor Center’s psychologists offer therapy and counselling for a broad range of personal health and emotional issues including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, marital issues, phobias, obsessive-compulsive behavior, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, educational problems etc. We are now the leading psychotherapy practice in the region with over 20 qualified therapists and 6 interns who are in training. Being a New York licensed clinical psychologist, I am able
to sign off on our intern’s hours – the requirement to get the license to practice in United States. Soor Center is proud of not only having clocked thousands of patient hours a year, but also to have helped 10 interns gain their credentials overseas.
Can you please tell us more about the various prestigious awards that you have received so far? I have received the Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children's Media from Tufts University, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations “ Marketplace of Ideas” Award, the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Award presented at the 2009 World Economic Forum and have been named as one of WEF's Young Global Leaders for 2011. In May 2012, I was chosen to be a Curator of the Kuwait chapter of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. I am also a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Media. As a part of the Council, I have been asked to identify breakthrough ideas and new pathways to help advance critical issues and ensure progress is made on the global agenda. I also received the Brazilian FHIQ Award; the Halal Journal Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement, a UNESCO prize for literature in service of tolerance; and the PODER Award for reconciliation. I was named by Arabian Business as one of The 500 Most Powerful Arabs in the World and by Gulf Business as one the Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs for 2012 and 2013. I’ve also been listed as one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center every year since 2009.
What according to you are the 3 keys to success? Perseverance, Humility and Never asking for permission, only forgiveness if need be.
What is Terkeez and why did you feel a need to start something like that in Kuwait? Terkeez is a brain training center that teaches, models, and practices essential learning skills, i.e. focusing, reasoning, and organization. It is targeted towards the strengthening of memory, concentration, organizational and social skills. Its sole aim is to empower the child to become an independent learner. Terkeez was essentially created to help one of my sons who was not doing well in school. He needed constant supervision as far as studying was concerned and lacked the focus and motivation required to work on his own. After some research, I learnt that neuro-feedback therapy is effective against attention and focus related issues but isn’t sufficient as other areas of the brain need to be targeted and developed simultaneously. There were no options available in Kuwait that offered a holistic approach to brain training and so, Terkeez was born.
What is your ultimate achievement in life so far? I would have to say that THE 99 and the global impact it has had has been my ultimate achievement but I turned 40 not too long ago and I believe that the best is yet to come.
What are some of your future plans and projects? At Terkeez, we’re working on the launch of a school-readiness program for four and five-year-olds that would target motor skills, hand-eye coordination, focus, language development, and social skills. We already have the first families signed up. I am presently in talks to expand Terkeez into neighboring countries. As for THE 99, the second season of the animated series is currently in production and is due to release later this year.
Your message for us at CityPages Magazine: Stand your ground and work hard for what you believe in, even if nobody else does. Defend your passion. I started THE 99 with no experience in comic books or animation or theme parks and we became one of the most talked about properties in the world and the first ever entertainment property from the GCC to global. If I can do it, any one of your readers can. I will leave you with the words I left my sons with after we saw the first episode of THE 99 together. I told them “Baba, if there is one thing I want you to learn from this experience is that anything is possible, anything at all. February, 2014
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The Collapse & Disintegration of the Ottoman Empire
For over six hundred years, it survived as one of history’s most complex and enduring empires. At its height it stretched from Europe through the Middle East to the north coast of Africa controlling the sacred cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. It was an empire remembered for its cultivation of art and architecture, the development of fair and just laws, along with a military renowned for its speed and power. Yet the Ottomans rapid decline and ultimate death led to the rise of nationalism and the creation of countries within the Ottoman territories that still exist to this day. Why did it fall? What were the reasons? This expose attempts to tackle the concrete causes that led to the Empire’s collapse and inevitable fragmentation through French and British mandates. By the late nineteenth century, the power of the Ottoman Empire was declining as a result of both internal and external factors. The internal factors included such things as economic problems and disagreement with inefficient and corrupt leaders. At the same time, the empire was systematically losing its territories. Externally, the decline of the Ottoman Empire was due to the conflicting interests of the other great global powers of the time, specifically Britain, France, and Russia. As it gradually became obvious that the Ottoman Empire was on its way toward collapsing, the great powers began to concern themselves with the idea of laying claim to the empire’s vast territories. Thus, the great powers of Europe became increasingly concerned with what came to be known as the “Eastern question.”
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The Ottomans grew economically weak, due to the economic boom of European Industrialization. Their workers lost their jobs due to cheaper products marketed by their European rivals. The Ottoman government, to save their state from this decline wanted educational, cultural and military reforms, which would increase costs to a degree that their treasury couldn't bare. So they borrowed, from the European moneylenders and eventually went severely under debt. As we can see a pattern repeating itself in a number of occasions throughout history, debt can be used as a very powerful tool in political dealing and decision-making. Europeans were going to war amongst each other and wanted as much manpower at their side as possible. The Ottomans participation in WWI proved to be the last straw that held it all together. A certain Enver Pasha, was an Ottoman military officer and a leader of the Young Turk revolution. He was the main leader of the Ottoman Empire in both Balkan Wars and World War I as well as playing a key role in getting the Ottoman Empire involved in the First World War. Furthermore, he was responsible for getting the Ottoman Empire to side with the Germans and the other “Central Powers” in the war.
Before the end of nineteenth century, the European powers had already used military force in an effort to seize some of the territories of the Ottoman Empire. A notable example occurred when Napoleon Bonaparte of France attempted to conquer Egypt and Syria, in the earlier attempts, the forces of the Ottoman Empire had managed to stand strong and protect the empire’s borders. By the late nineteenth century, however, it had become apparent that that the Ottoman Empire was rapidly losing its ability to defend itself.
When WWI began in 1914, he proposed that the Ottoman Empire should take sides with Germany. It was important for the empire to remain neutral in the war, to at least boost their survival chances as an aging and dying empire to begin with. Enver entered into a secret alliance with the German government. According to the alliance, the Turkish government promised to enter the war on the side of the central powers, if Russia entered into the conflict first. As a result of this agreement, the Ottoman Empire was dragged into the war on the side that ended up losing it. Big mistake. In turn, the already weakened Ottoman Empire had little chance of surviving after the conclusion of the war. So, World War I resulted in the end of the empire, the collapse of the state and the fragmentation of its territories.
Tsar Nicholas I of Russia declared in 1853 that the man Empire had become a “sick man.” Nicholas further claimed: “It will be a great misfortune if one of these days he slips through our hands, especially before the necessary arrangements are made.” The ambitions of the great powers were further expressed during the reign of the Ottoman sultan, Abdulhamid II. During his reign, the Ottoman Empire began to suffer a great economic decline, which was largely due to massive foreign debts. The Ottoman Empire was also weakened as a result of corruption on the part of its leaders.
And so, the aftermath of the First World War also determined how the territories of the Ottoman Empire would finally be carved up by the major European powers. For example, Sir Henry McMahon, the British Commissioner in Egypt, entered into an agreement with the Arab leader Hussein Ibn ‘Ali, in which it was stated that the Ottoman territories in the Palestine region would be given to the Arabs in return for their support in fighting against the Ottoman Empire. However, this promise was in direct conflict with other promises that were being made by other British delegates during the time.
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For example, in 1917, the British Foreign Minister Lord Arthur Balfour promised the leaders of the Zionist movement that a portion of Palestine would be set aside for the purpose of establishing a “National Home for the Jews.” In 1916, yet another conflicting promise had been made in an agreement between Britain and France. This was the Sykes-Picot agreement, in which it was decided that Britain and France would divide the Ottoman territories in the Middle East between them. Although this agreement was never enacted it nonetheless had a powerful influence on the way the Ottoman territories were divided at the end of the First World War.
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 Foreign Office, November 2nd, 1917. Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet: "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country". I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours sincerely Arthur James Balfour
So, the Ottoman Empire was being carved up in accordance with the agreements made by the European powers during the war, such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration. When the war ended, a new international organization, known as the League of Nations, was established, in which both Britain and France were dominating members. Due to their position within the League of Nations, these two European powers were able to successfully have authoritative presence in the Middle Eastern territories that had previously belonged to the Ottomans. As for the Middle Eastern territories, the new concept of the mandate was put into effect. In a mandate, a territory and its people were to be administered by a greater power, under the jurisdiction of the League of Nations. The idea behind this concept was that the people of the given territory were on their way to creating an independent nation, but they had not yet attained the ability to rule themselves. Because of this, the people needed to be assisted until they were able “to stand alone.” In agreement with the basic guidelines of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, France was given a mandate over the former Ottoman territories of Syria and Lebanon. At the same time, Britain was given a mandate over the Palestinian region. In addition, the promises of the Balfour Declaration were incorporated into the League of Nations mandate under which Britain administered Palestine. Therefore, the political and social situations of the present Middle East had their roots in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the way that the empire’s territories were eventually divided among the Great Powers. The empire was already undergoing rapid decline in the late nineteenth century, with economic and political problems, internal strife, and the loss of some of its territories. In addition, the “Great Powers” of Europe at the time were making plans on how to slice and divide up the territories of the Ottoman Empire amongst themselves. Due to the failings of the sultanate, the organization known as the Young Turks rose to high level of power. After years of struggle, the Young Turks were able to get the sultan to agree to the implementation of a constitution and parliament, in 1908. When the war ended in an Ottoman defeat, a Young Turk leader, Mustafa Kemal, was able to lead his forces in the establishment of an independent secular nation in Turkey. During the same time, the former Ottoman territories in the Middle East were divided into mandates under the control of France and Britain. These mandates then formed the basis for the political divisions that continue to exist in the Palestine region of the Middle East till this day. Modern Turkey sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and continues to embrace east and west, the old and the new and its exotic blend of cultures past and present is most visible in Istanbul. The influence of the Ottoman Empire is felt not just in Turkey, but the Middle East, the Balkans, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The Ottoman Empire remains an empire of some contradiction. It was assembled by the might of its war machine, yet remembered for its development of fair and just laws. It conquered people of many faiths, yet until its fading years it was open to the cultures and religions of the defeated. Most of all, the Ottoman Empire was enduring. From its beginning in the 14th century, to its dissolution in the early 20th. It spanned the reigns of nearly 40 sultans and accumulated one of the largest landmasses in history, and like all great empires, the Ottoman legacy continues to influence our world today. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduated with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram @a_shamsideen
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It has a been a long time since I sat with someone who inspired me to a level where I wanted to drop everything I was doing and rush off quickly to quench my thirst for whatever impassions me. Daniel Niederer is just that type of person. Brimming with enthusiasm for what he does, Daniel can inspire whoever is in front of him in mere minutes through his story of success with SEVENFRIDAY watches as well as through his contagious ‘carpe diem’ attitude toward business and life.
featuring Daniel Niederer founder of SEVENFRIDAY watches
CP was invited to sit down with him for a one on one to learn more about the newly launched SEVENFRIDAY watches in Kuwait and left with a great feeling of hope and enlightenment instilled by a man who designs very industrial looking watches no less. I asked him what Seven Friday meant, and he, almost as a given matter of fact stated that the week ought to be made up of Seven Fridays. Daniel was previously working in corporate restructuring and lived across the globe, ten years of which in Asia before leaving to found SEVENFRIDAY AG, to produce affordable, yet modern watches. Armed with a design, product development and marketing background he set out to create the watch with covetable visible watch mechanics, an industrial style which is sought out by many men although which women also love.
Not meant to be a jewelry watch, but rather a unique design that speaks for itself, his timepiece is not inspired by anything that is available in the market. The face of a SEVENFRDIAY watch is not the standard round chronograph, but a squared and one which doesn’t resemble anything readily available in the market. The materials used are industrial inspired such as chrome, rubber, clearly influenced by 56
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mechanics, and conceptualized by his team of design students who work with him in this les that two year old company. Using Swiss quality standards, the watches benefit from components sourced from around the world, ensuring high quality material and workmanship. This however does not affect the price, making it one of those beautifully designed watches that retail at reasonable cost. So far he has produced three generations of watches, and is working on perfecting the fourth. For added measure, Daniel has created a special edition watch in honor of the Gulf Run, branded with the colors of the event. Although only in operation for less than two years now, SEVENFRIDAY watches can be found all over in countries such as the US, UK, Europe, the Middle and Far East as well as in obscure places too. Daniels story of success is such an inspiring one, and contains a lesson for anyone afraid to make the move to setting up their own business, for his spirit is what I believe to be the reason behind the success of the P1, P2, and P3, with a P4 model coming out very soon as well. Log on to sevenfriday.com to found out where you can purchase one.
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ARTronauts go Live !!
K
uwait has been always known for the best diving spots in the Arabian Gulf. It has been always a water country from the beginning of time. In the early days people counted on the sea not only for food, but also the business of collecting Pearls and selling them in the market. Kuwaitis love the water they love the sea, but why is it that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see that love? Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love a verb? Our beautiful beaches have been harmed by people and ignored by the authorities. Al-Sulaibikhat beach have been contaminated with different kind of pollutants such as plastic bags, litter and sewage that have turned the nice sea breeze into stinking odors. There has been a remarkable environmental destruction because of human practices such as building ports, draining sewage, radioactive and factory wastes into the sea causing the water to mix with highly hazardous substance. These extremely dangerous substances exceeded the normal levels allowed by the world health organization, which not only polluted the water of Kuwait, but was also poisonous for both humans and animals. It lead to the death of huge amounts of fish. It also led to a serious ecological and climate change that impacted human beings.
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Still to this day we see tackling oil lakes, plastic, wastes and all type of pollution. Why aren’t authorities acting? Why should we wait? It is true that the majority of people don’t seem to care but us minority do care and we have to show that we do by our actions not only words. That’s why we Artronauts decided to make a move and spread awareness about this disaster happening along the seashores of Kuwait. If you are wondering who we are, who are Artronauts? What do they do? Well, we Artronauts are a group of art enthusiasts from diversified schools and colleges in Kuwait and outside of Kuwait comprising of a range of nationalities, with a several range of skills and a common passion. We strive to create innovative, cultural social and environmental art based on social design. We aim to bring to change in our environment, our beautiful world, through the medium of Art and design by raising awareness and our community and recognizing our social responsibility. Saying so, as artist we are going to use some items collected from the beach to create a sculpture of a flamingo. The purpose of it is to symbolize all the creatures harmed by any type of pollution that went on at Al-Sulaibikhat beach and that we need to keep our beaches clean for animals and the beautiful life of the water to come back to that strong and healthy life. Today our project has been a challenge at Al-Sulaibikhat beach with all the wind and the cool breeze, but we still managed to build the flamingo sculpture using all types of recycled materials. Everyone worked hard and very diligently. It was a great day to do this event. We had a lot of fun working together. Almost all of the materials used to create the flamingo were recycled materials. Every person in the group brought whatever seemed to be useful and we all enjoyed putting everything together. We used bottle caps, newspaper, straws, screws, pipes and a lot more materials. And it was amazing seeing others clean up the beach and just knowing there are still people that cares. They inspired us and we hope we inspired them, and our main purpose is to inspire others. We also hope that our message was clear and that people will start taking this issue seriously. Be nice to the environment. February, 2014
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Blog Name: Yahalooo
Started from: January 2013
Category: Pregnancy, Children & Parenting
Please introduce yourself and let our readers know a little bit about where you’re from and say a few words about how you got started in the online world.
We decided to start the blog to share our experiences with all new parents. We're both keen readers and are always looking for information in books or on the internet. When Mama had her first miscarriage, we started reading more about pregnancy and children. It was difficult for us to find the information we needed especially with the different points of views from our relatives so we decided to make our own 'little book' of experiences and share it with everyone to benefit from. Baba’s real name is Mohammed, he’s 31 years old and works as a teacher, Mama’s real name is Noor and she’s 28 years old and has just started working in a nursery. We have been married for 5 years now and Banoota whose real name is Alaa, will be turning 2 in March, on the 21st of March to be more specific and the answer is yes! She was born on Mother’s Day. It wasn't something planned, it just happened the way it did. We’ve actually been asked a lot whether Banoota’s real name is Banoota. Well now you know, ladies and gentlemen her real name is Alaa as we have mentioned before a couple of times yet we get asked the same question every now and then which always puts a smile on our faces. Mama is a International Journalism major and currently works in a nursery. Baba is a Social studies major and has worked for more than 7 years, the media field so the idea of making a blog wasn't strange to us. One of Mama’s hobbies is writing and she has written before in publications outside of Kuwait when she was living abroad so creating a blog made a lot of sense and here we are, one year later, both very happy with what we have managed to achieve.
What do you find most challenging about blogging?
It's a very difficult market to get into, especially with our blog since our subject is directed at a smaller portion of the market unlike food and fashion blogs that interest a wider range of people. Nevertheless, we are happy with the progress we have been making and blessed to have the number of readers that are truly benefiting from our experiences.
Is there a special meaning behind the name of your blog?
We wanted to pick something catchy for the name, something in arabic but written in the English language for our logo. We came up with a couple of ideas but "Yahalooo" is the one that stood out to us the most simply for the way it sounds and also since our blog is all about children it made sense especially the way the logo was designed which explains why we wanted three of the letter 'O' at the end.
Are you a part-time blogger or a full-time blogger?
When we first started off, Mama was working on the blog full time since she was a stay at home mother but she recently started working a few months ago hence now we are both part-time bloggers.
How much time do you spend on your blog daily and weekly?
We don't exactly have a specific regime for blogging, it just comes to us very naturally. Since we have to keep updated with what's in the market and ask about different products comparing prices from store to store sometimes we can spend upto 6 hours in a specific mall looking at different stores and products. Sometimes, we already need 60
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to purchase a product for Banoota or deal with any given situation such as travelling or teething so we take those chances to write up a blog post but on average you can probably say we spend around 2 hours daily. We have a one month policy for reviewing products which basically means, we have to use a product on a regular basis for a month before we review it so our posts take a lot of preparation to write up. As all normal people, we do get busy sometimes especially since Mama & Baba are now both working parents so we may miss a day or two here and there but without a doubt, yahalooo is always in our minds.
Why did you choose to blog about Kids?
Children is a very tricky subject because there is a lot of information to deal with. Majority of the people have had children and all have opinions on how things should be done. For example swaddling babies, some people say you should, others say you shouldn't. There are different designs of swaddle blankets in the market now and all of them claim to be medically approved by certain doctors here and there. So who is right? That's what we aim at in our blog, to answer these controversial questions and figure out the correct and latest techniques based on studies that worked with our little angel Banoota. Also, on a side note, please refer to them as children and not kids. It just sounds a lot better.
What is the biggest blogging mistake you have done?
Probably the fact that we started off solely in English which left majority of the audience clueless since we do live in an Arabic speaking country. We introduced Arabic later on but in general, Mama deals with the English and Baba deals with the Arabic.
What methods do you use to make money from your blog? We don't make any money from our blog. We have received some products to test and review or on a
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discounted price but otherwise we haven't charged anyone for any of the reviews or posts we have written.
What methods do you use to drive traffic to your blog?
Word of mouth is key, so we started talking about it to our family, relatives and friends. Then there is the social media: twitter, instagram, whatsup and e-mails. However, our main focus has been on instagram mainly because it helps us promote our work in the best way possible with visual aid which is very important in the field that we blog in.
According to you, is Instagram helping bloggers or is it replacing blogging?
Instagram in our opinion has been replacing blogs and not the bloggers. People will remain interested in the bloggers themselves and what they would like to say but lately taking into consideration the busy life we live, people are looking for something visual and easy to read. Yet, blogs themselves have not lost their importance because with the field of children details are crucial and there are elements you can't just simplify, you need to know it all. Nevertheless, Instagram has been a great tool and helped us promote our blog greatly and also provide our followers with certain pieces of important information that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a whole blog post dedicated to them.
Can you please give few blogging tips for my readers to build a better blog?
Be original and believe in what you are writing. If you blog about something you don't believe in or for the sake of blogging itself then you're most likely going to stop.
Your message for our magazine?
First of all, we'd like to thank you for giving us a chance to spread our message across to more parents who will hopefully benefit from yahalooo inshalla. We're happy to notice that more new parents have been taking an interest in caring for their children looking into the specific details as we have been trying our best to do with our precious Banoota.
اﻟﻤﺬاق اﻟﻬﻨﺪي ا ﺻﻴﻞ THE REAL INDIAN TASTE
C O M P A N Y
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www.6alabat.com
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AbdulRahman Al-Shehab Providing healthier snack options
A new entrepreneur is born every day when he acts upon an opportunity. One such entrepreneur is Abdulrahman Al-Shehab, a business visionary and a rising entrepreneur, who has a passion for creating brands. CityPages talks with Abdulrahman about his journey with popcorn business - Let’s Popcorn. Read all about the challenges he has overcome, and the successes he has earned while running a business.
Please introduce yourself to our readers:
My name is Abdulrahman Al-Shehab and I am an entrepreneur since high school. I do have a passion for creating brands with uniqueness and market value proposition and turn challenges into opportunities. In my opinion, it’s incredibly important to have an entrepreneurial influence from a young age and parents have to find such spirits in their kids and develop it. I am also a photographer specialized in Food Photography and an admirer of the aesthetic beauty of dish before the taste.
Tell us about your education? I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Marketing and I used the skills I learned and developed throughout the past years in taking my business to the next level. How did the idea of starting a pop-corn business come up?
I Love cooking, specially the healthy food. After studying the whole regional market I found out that there is an absence of real “health Culture”
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and Gourmet Popcorn business, so I consulted two of my friends and we decided to merge both of these values into one to create “Let’s Popcorn- The Gourmet Culture” as the 1st ever Kuwaiti Gourmet Popcorn company. Popcorn is a very popular snack all over the world and specially when people are enjoying themselves, but at “Let’s Popcorn” we have transformed popcorn from being just a regular snack food to a Gourmet level food with a variety of flavors that can replace your daily meals with something healthier that can be consumed at anytime of the day and by all ages. We wanted to create a Kuwaiti Brand with international standards, values and presence.
Tell us about your business plan?
As we did not have a previous business experience in the Gourmet Popcorn, we learned everything from scratch and built a detailed business plan for “Let’s Popcorn” till it reached its goals and beyond. Our plan is designed to meet our company’s vision; To be a Leader in the world providing happy moments to its friends through healthy gourmet popcorn, with excellence in product knowledge, service before & after the sale and with a consistent and ethical approach for growing business. We decided to beat the world record in number of Exclusive Gourmet Popcorn flavors that Let’s Popcorn is offering to its friends and that distinguish us from other brands.
Where did you get the technical know-how of this business from?
Since the inception of Let’s Popcorn, we did lots of researches and studies; including visiting fine farms in the states, followed by contacting the best factories in the world that produce natural flavors for well known food brands. We defined list of flavors we are looking for and worked with these factories to develop our flavors exclusively for us to complement our unique Arabian taste.
How many different flavors of popcorn are currently available and how often do you add new flavors?
At Let’s Popcorn we did not reinvent the wheel; we created a Wheel! Let’s Popcorn owns the biggest menu of gourmet popcorn in Middle East; 40+ different flavors that can meet any taste, where most of them are exclusive globally and only available at Let’s Popcorn. Popcorn can be coated with anything, but NOT everything can be a flavor, we have a Focus Group of 50 persons who go through new flavors and rate them, which at the end guides us either to introduce that flavor or not. Usually we do launch a new flavor once every 1-2 months.
What makes your popcorn unique and different in the market?
Where do you import the corn from? Is it of any special kind?
We import our corn kernels from the fine farms of United States of America and yes, these are special and rare kind of kernels called “Mushroom Kernels”; nongenetically modified and have special shape different than any other popcorn in the local market. This kind of corn prices were dramatically increased in the last 1-2 years due to increase in demand and harvest limitations, but this did not affect our prices at Let’s Popcorn and we have kept them very affordable. 66
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Let’s Popcorn is not only offering a new gourmet healthy culture values, but we also help educating all Let’s Popcorn friends and their families how it is easy to change and make a choice toward healthier lifestyle. We start with parents who have influence on their kids and families. Let’s Popcorn flavors are 100% air popped organic popcorn kernels and oil free; which maintain the maximum nutrition expected from each kernel, with a variety of flavors labeled as the biggest menu in Middle East .
What is the thought process behind introducing a new flavor? I believe that you have expanded the business outside Kuwait Do you conduct any kind of trials before introducing it to the also. Where do you have a franchise in the GCC? market? Let’s Popcorn expansion plan has just began. We recently awarded the 2013 BEST Each flavor offered by Let’s Popcorn goes through 3 stages: Invention, Tasting and then Launching. When we invent the flavor, we do tens of trials on its ingredients to make sure it is meeting all Let’s Popcorn standards, then we shortlist these trials to less than 10. These trials go to Focus Group which is starting of the Tasting stage. Based on the results of this group we decide on launching or not the planned flavor.
FRANCHISE BRAND – Middle East & North Africa AWARD by World Franchise Association. Our franchised stores in Doha- Qatar opened at the end of 2013, and we are finalizing with companies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Hopefully followed by UAE and Oman.
Recently you have added diet popcorn to your menu. Please What are some of your future plans? Sky is the limit! We want to set an example for all our Kuwaiti Small Businesses and elaborate more on this? As mentioned earlier, at Let’s Popcorn we are using 100% air-popping technology instead of using the oil-popping to prepare all our popcorn flavors which maintains the nutritional values. Let’s Popcorn is a Diet Friendly Snack from the beginning, just last week we added a new concept - “5 Days Diet Bouquet”; A diet structure that is based on Let’s Popcorn and a system that provides your daily needs of Fiber and Calories based on your activities in the morning, afternoon and evening. You can take your daily portion with you to your work place, college or even school. We do not replace your meals; we replace your Snack with something healthier than can give you longer feeling of satiety, eventually it will reduce your next main meal quantity!
show them that YES you can build a Kuwaiti Brand and turn it into an international one, provided that you have quality, consistency, a sound system and predefined goals. GCC is our first step and we are targeting Europe and Asia then USA. Every 1000 miles journey starts with a step, we took 2 already.
Which are some of your personal favorite flavors?
Oh, this is the hardest question! All our flavors were born in front of my eyes and it is very difficult for me to choose one, but when I visit our store I straightaway ask them to fill for me Cookies & Cream and Halwa Tahini (Kuwaiti Rahash).
Where are Let’s Popcorn products available to purchase in Your message for us at CityPages Magazine: Keep up the outstanding job of supporting and focusing on the Kuwaiti Small Kuwait? Let’s Popcorn products are available at our two branches which are located in Kuwait City and Al-Salmiya , in addition to our partners such as Dean & Deluca Avenues, Healthy jar in Al Salam City and at all Wawan Protein branches . For Delivery Service, we offer Let’s Popcorn friends a facility to order through our hotline 96-677-677, our website LetsPopcorn.com or Talabat.com.
Businesses. We all need you to be our window to the world. Last year, CityPages was with us when were celebrating our “FIRST YEAR OF SUCCESS” event and here you are once again standing beside us when we are going global. We always hope to see you as the #1 magazine, reasons being the quality of your articles and carefully selected writers.
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Winter Wonderland: St Moritz, Switzerland And for dinner
Gourmet restaurant: La Marmitte Corviglia, Caviar and truffles atop St. Moritz’s highest peak.
Winter in St Moritz doesn't stop at skiing and snowboarding Horse-Drawn carriage rides: What do you think of a romantic ride over the frozen lake and through the forest? You can try it in St Moritz over the backs of horses. You will admire the beautiful nature only by sitting warm in blankets and furs.
Four things you must do... Sledging: Muotlas Muragl, La Punt, Zernez Preda, three official sledge runs offer you the pleasure of sledging with some friends! Ski & Snowboard: Feel the sun on your skin and the powder under your feet the whole day long! Fantastic weather and lots of snow are waiting for you on over 350km of ski pistes! Curling: The Engadin offers for all the curlers countless ice rinks open air! The numerous curling clubs take care that the ice is in good order. Snowshoe treks: Hurry up grab your snowshoe and destination: St Moritz! It has a variety of snowshoe routes that transports you to a peaceful and serine world. Guided snowshoe tours can be bought and organized, and a snowshoe tour by full moon is also possible.
Paragliding: After experiencing St Moritz from below you can experience it from above on a paragliding or hand-gliding flights. Fly and admire a fantastic panoramic view of the Upper Engadin lake plateau. Shopping Paradise: From Chanel and Gucci to Louis Vuitton, al the prestigious names on the international fashion scene are lined up together.
Snow night on the Corvatsch...
Every Friday evening on the Corvatsch, skiers and snowboarders are in for a special treat when Switzerland’s longest illuminated piste becomes the focus of a giant party. Snow bars line the run, the scent of mulled wine fills the air, chilled sounds create a relaxed mood, and the only thing topping the atmosphere is the glittering magic of the clear star-filled sky of the Engadin. Dates: 7 February – 4 April 14: Every Friday from 7:00pm – 2:00 am
Most Luxurious Hotels...
Badrutt’s Palace, Carlton, Kulm hotel, and Kempinski Grans Hotel des Bains. Sandra Bakhamian
Art lovers: You can visit the St Moritz art gallery in which several exhibitions of particularly valuable posters are displayed every year, or visit the Segantini Museum where Giovanni Segantini’s paintings are exposed.
A 22 year old fashion illustrator, based in Beirut. She is studying travel and tourism at American University of Science and Technology. She started drawing at the age of 8 and it hasn’t stopped since. She often gets inspiration from fashion icons, films and vintage Vogue and Bazaar editorials. Her best days are those spent drawing in her office. Discover THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE in the upcoming issues, Bon voyage!
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The Power of Herbs GREEN PEEL® from Dr. med Christine Schrammek is a purely plant based method - medically inspired and dermatologically developed. The GREEN PEEL® brand offers effective, treatment methods in treating many skin disorders for every skin type and all age groups. Contrary to other peeling methods, GREEN PEEL® contains no chemical, harmful substances or synthetic peeling agents. GREEN PEEL® treatments have been awarded the 1st Place in the “Special Treatment” category four years consecutively by the BEAUTY FORUM Readers’ Choice.
1 POWERFUL METHOD - 3 TREATMENTS
Whether you need a gentle rejuvenation, active revitalization or an intensive renewal of skin, GREEN PEEL® is diversified to offer you 3 individually tailored treatments based on a thorough skin analysis. GREEN PEEL® treatments should be taken into consideration long before the skin has aged or developed skin problems.
-Increased Production of the body’s collagen and enhance elasticity. -Improvement of the skin structure and complexion, reduction of wrinkle depth and smoothing of scars. -In the case of acne and impure skin any clogged pores are cleared, preventing the formation of blemishes or blackheads. Promotes the healing and elimination of papules and pustules. Inflamed skin eruptions and underlying infections are alleviated. On the 5th Day, to conclude the peeling treatment a Beauty Finish Treatment is performed with active ingredients to nourish and vitalize your skin. Depending on the underlying skin problem follow up treatments may be necessary. GREEN PEEL® can be also performed for the other parts of the Body.
GREEN PEEL® CLASSIC Herbal Peeling NEW SKIN IN 5 DAYS!
GREEN PEEL® ENERGY - STIMULATE YOUR SKIN
The herbs are massaged onto the skin using a special technique. The regeneration process is triggered from the first day itself. You must pamper your skin with the specially formulated GREEN PEEL® Products that enhance the success of the treatment. This treatment lasts 5 days while being restricted by water; the skin first reddens, then flakes and finally peels on the 5th day.
The Energy Treatment is a highly effective curative treatment for improving circulation in pale, sun-damaged skin, smoothing thick callused skin and reducing depth of fine lines. The use of this treatment is for skin with blemishes, impurities, discoloration and for treating hyperpigmentation. The complexion is improved and the surface of the skin is harmonized. GREEN PEEL® ENERGY is not meant for intensive peeling but offers immediate results. It works ideally as a course of repeated treatments along with derma.cosmetic skin care products as home care.
The Vitality and Regeneration Kick for the Skin
GREEN PEEL® FRESH UP - ILLUMINATE YOUR SKIN The Gentle Method for more Freshness & Prevention GREEN PEEL® FRESH UP is a treatment to achieve more radiant complexion prior to an occasion. It is also an ideal preventive measure to combat premature aging and loss of elasticity in the skin. This treatment is designed to offer regeneration and vitality for tired skin. Once the herbs are massaged onto the skin, pores open and the skin is now able to absorb the ingredients of the subsequent skin care offering maximum benefits. This method stimulates and revitalizes rather than peeling the skin. New LAFEM Salon offers FREE CONSULTATION by a team of certified & trained cosmeticians. Effect of the GREEN PEEL® Herbs: -The increased circulation leads of a stimulated metabolism and purification of the skin. -The skin receives more oxygen and nutrients enhancing micro-circulation. -Loosening of the upper layer of the skin (Epidermal abrasion), stimulates to produce new skin cells causing regeneration of the epidermis.
Anisaa New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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EU P
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Makeup Foundation Cream It is the most important step to obtain a great result. We have many kind of foundation with different textures and colors. The manner or the way of application is different depending on the type of foundation. It will be chosen depending upon the skin type and the health of the skin. We spread it with fingers pulp all over the face and neck.
by:
Whatever the base harmony retained - the foundation should be used the most. The Epidermis complexion on the back of your hand, because the hand has the same complexion as your face.
MakeUP
Liquid Foundation: It is an emulsion or fluid for light and extremely transparent makeup.
How to keep your makeup stay longer and look fresh
In Layla Cosmetic, we have a fondoacipria fluid resistant. It is very good for natural and daily makeup
Your skin should be clean with a special cleanser suitable of the skin type.
We advise to use a one degree lighter than your normal carnation. because after a while of application the skin will absorb the wetness and will get a Oily and Acne Skin: We advise to use gel or foam with circular natural color movements and wash with cold water. Usually the makeup foundation is applied with the hands (fingers). It will resist against the external agents and wetness and stay for all day. Dry to combination skin: Use milk cleanser or emulsion effectuate two minutes of circular movements. Wash with cool water and then use cotton Spread the product out very gently all over the face and the neck. Respecting imbibed with a special tonic intended for all kinds of skin... wipe gently the thus the senses of normal massage but more lightly. face and neck. We do the contouring of the face with our palette of corrector contains six colors to cover the complexions and modify the shape and obtain almost Day Cream: Use a base cream which helps to moisturize the skin the ideal shape.(oval) appropriate and suitable to your skin type. We use a special brush with different sizes Oily Skin: Preferable to use gel or aqua ampoule.
Damp abundantly the sponge. Press it to take out half the water. Start by the neck, chin, lips, and their surroundings.
Dry and Aged Skin: Cream and Serum: If the skin is very dry use serum and cream to avoid any Nose, forehead, and temples. Avoid carefully the eyebrows. Brush it well after the foundation in ascending movement to remove all kind desquamation.
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of residence. Draw the eyebrows with special shadow brown and dark grey. Velvet in soft pigment adheres on the skin and looks natural. Orange Corrector: Used to cover the brownish area, dark circle around eyes, burn marks... Green Corrector; Used to cover redness Carnation Color: Light, beige.... To do the 3 dimensions of the face Right tools give you the best results..
Note that the thickness of foundation and pigment makeup gives or makes you look beautiful. The products used should be appropriate depending on the skin type, age of the client and the corrections needed to put all the features in relief. We can add some glitter according to the harmony chosen on the mobile eyelid To fix the makeup we have a special spray from Makeup Studio, fixit. Helps to maintain the makeup fresh, intact and the colors more glowing.
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Perfume Medicine Aromatherapy
In modern times perfumes, scents, and fragrances have continued to become a part of virtually everyone's lives. You can find the scents of numerous plants and flowers in so many different perfumes and colognes. Like the ancient people who used the natural aromas of plants and flowers, we too in modern times, seek the comfort or soothing effect of aromas. More recently however, aromatherapy has become highly popular in the western culture. Using natural herbs, plants and flowers, it has been found that these aromas have various effects on people, from a natural aphrodisiac to a relaxing calming effect. Listed below are several common plants and flowers used today in aromatherapy.
Peppermint, Mentha piperita It has been said that Peppermint has been known to relieve headaches. Just one drop of Peppermint in a teaspoon of cream or unscented oil (sweet almond or jojoba) rubbed gently onto your neck can actually help soothe a throbbing headache. Another way in which peppermint can help is by using its healing qualities with nausea (maybe I'll try it next time I smell patchouli!). Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis "Rosemary is for remembrance." This unique oil has said to "awaken the mind and stimulate memory". Many report that Rosemary helps to retain more information and perform well on exams. It also can be very nourishing to hair and can be added to shampoo to add nutrients to stimulate hair growth. Calendula, Calendula officinalis This is a common marigold and has bright orange, yellow, and deep brown flowers. It is grown mainly for its medicinal qualities. Therapeutically, calendula oils are known for its ability to soothe rough, dry, injured or cracked skin. We like to use it combined with the herbally infused oils of arnica and St. John's Wort. Clary Sage, Salvia sclarea This can be used for several purposes, the first of which is stress, something that millions of people experience every day. If you have high blood pressure, diffusing clary sage into the room or bath may help. It also has been known to help people with asthma or respiratory problems. Geranium, Pelargonium graveolens This can help many people feel emotionally uplifted. It is also known to reduce swelling, especially fluid retention and edema of the ankles. Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia Lavender is the oil of "balance". It provides relief for a multiple of problems including headaches, muscle aches, insomnia, skin problems, digestive disorders, and stress. It can also help to soothe a bee sting or bug bite. It is evident that the use of herbs, flowers and plants in scents varies throughout different cultures and times, but the basic purpose remains the same- to provide people with a natural way to express themselves and as in the case of modern aromatherapy, to provide natural alternatives or solutions to common problems. 74
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ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at pr@asamaforever.com. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ASAMAPerfumes
Every woman has an inner Diva and all women deserve to have a fabulous Life & Style. A Life of a Diva is about you ladies and your perfect lifestyle! Always have a positive outlook and be always outfitted for success… This month our Diva “Abeer Alabduljalil” takes you to the finest chocolate in town - CHOCO & MORE, while she is buying her chocolates for that special day...
LIFE OF A
by: Abeer AlAbduljalil Directions and Photography by: @faithalfahad
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Compounds in chocolate can increase your insulin sensitivity, which improves your body’s ability to regulate your blood sugar and can help prevent Type 2 diabetes. They also improve blood flow to the brain, which can make you smarter … or at least help you hang onto the smarts you have, as you get older. Guess what? I found the best gourmet chocolate in town. Yes, it's no other than CHOCO&MORE! It's a place where you can indulge with the delicious variety of chocolates. I hand selected my favourites and got them in a beautiful box. They have an amazing variety. I am sure you can find just the perfect one for that special occasion you have. I was curious to find out more about the store and here is what I found for you.
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CHOCO&MORE
Hi Divas! It's festive time again and as you all know that how much I love chocolates. And, the truth is, chocolate really does have some good stuff in it. Studies have found that eating chocolate can lower your blood pressure and your cholesterol, which of course is good for your heart health. But that’s not all.
LIFE OF A
by: Abeer AlAbduljalil Directions and Photography by: @faithalfahad
LIFE OF A
by: Abeer AlAbduljalil Directions and Photography by: @faithalfahad
The founders of Choco&More are the amazingly talented Athoub Alnasrallah and Ali Ashkanani. They started in 2004 as a home business and later the website was developed and launched in 2004 as a catalogue for people to pick and order. They import the chocolates only from three countries: Belgium, France and Swiss. Athoub personally customizes the chocolate molds. In August 2012 they opened the first boutique. People love to visit the boutique, just to try and taste the new chocolates and fillings. They have over 100 different kinds of chocolates. Choco&More also hosts a lot of baby receptions and weddings. To try, visit choco&more at AlGawali mall - sharq or visit their website: www.chocolates-more.com or their instagram: @chocolatesandmore February, 2014
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اﻟﻤﺬاق اﻟﻬﻨﺪي ا ﺻﻴﻞ THE REAL INDIAN TASTE
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á«©ªL ∫ƒe - 2á©£b - ¿ÉØ«c 1 QhódG ójó÷G ¿ÉØ«c 24914081 - 24914082 :¿ƒØ∏J
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Friendship Definition of friend, and understanding of the he remains good to us. A good friend doesn’t have to help us in our moments of need; he isn’t obliged word: Oxford’s definition of the word ‘Friend’ is “A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.” But is this what we mean when we say that a certain person is our friend? In my opinion, and as a definition I have to put for the sake of this topic, I shall define a friend as a person whom his company is much enjoyed, we can attend events together, and we can share our secrets with each other. A friend is also someone who we can do activities with, like attend events with, or just simply hanging out, or having a drink. And do them normally, not formally, nor with trying to appeal to this person; there should be a certain amount of intimacy between two people to be friends. Otherwise, it’d be an inauthentic friendship. And the frequency of outings doesn’t matter here, because a friend is a friend, even if he was a friend just for a day. And finally, a friend is someone who understands us. A person who respects us, and the bond between us, other wise the friendship won’t even be, because that would bring hostility into the matter. A friend is someone whom we can converse with, talk to, and tell our secrets to, and hostility will ruin that.
The difference between a good person and a good friend: Most of us might take it for granted that our friends should be good to us, and that is truly a requirement. But most of us, sadly, don’t know what's the difference between a good friend, and a good person. I will do a comparison of both: A good friend has to like us, and be good with us, whereas a good person doesn’t have to like us, but
to, but our friendship bond might be dear to him, so he will help us for the sake of that. In other words, he might help us because he is also a good person. A good friend doesn’t have to be nice to us, and that may be a part of his character, but a good person is good to all. A good friend may use us from time to time, but a good person will never. A good friend doesn’t have to give us anything, whereas a good person has to. A good person can be relied on, but not a good friend. A good person has to be good forever, but friendships are temporary; a good friend is a friend that puts his most into the friendship while it lasts.
What are the goals of friendships? As Aristotle once said: “Man is, by nature, a social animal.” We need to be social with others, and sometimes, we need really strong social connections with people, and that’s why we have friends. The goal of friendship is mostly to satisfy our inner craving of disregarding solitude, and seeking the company of others. It is an inherent feature in us to seek friendships, and by having friends, we are fulfilling this inner demand. But of course, we have to also think of it from a humanly point of view. The goal of having friendships is to enjoy ourselves and be happy. That is the major goal. A secondary goal is to have people who give importance to us, people who we can share our lives with, and people who we can chat with about our attainments and daily occurrences. Sometimes, friends are people who we do things with. If two people or more had several mutual goals, they start developing friendships, and they work together. Working or doing something with a friend feels better than doing it with strangers, and that is the biggest reason friendships are made, and it is the most spread cause for friendships. The uttermost goal of a friend is the dent he makes on us, or how he refines us. We change constantly, and our friends are present during our changes, so they influence us and sometimes guide our changes. We change after befriending people, and the potency of these changes is most of the time is the measure of the strength of the relationship.
The dominant ideas and beliefs of friendships: Perhaps, the biggest misconception of friendship is that most people
think that friends are supposed to help us. The truth is that everyone is supposed to help us — a friend is just a person close by. A friend, in the end, as any other person, is not obliged to get us out of a situation, because it remains our problem that we fell into this mistake, and it is our responsibility to fix the problem. A friend who helps at times like these isn’t required to help, but if he does, he becomes a good person. Another misconception of friendship is that we think that friends should keep this relationship forever, and it shouldn’t change. But neither of those are true. Friends have the choice to both remain our friends, and not change. Because: 1) In the end, we all change, and the relationship changes accordingly. To expect a person not to change is very rude. And 2) We all have to go on our ways, sometimes. Friends should come and leave as they wish, no matter how many memories you had, and no matter how many secrets you shared. To expect a friend to stay as a friend forever is to decide his fate, and that is unquestionably bad. A lot of people use friendship as a token of gratitude or affection. And that is hurtful and bad. You shouldn’t thank someone by being his friend; that’s avoiding formal gratitude. And if friendships were based on affection, an end result or a thing is in the end expected from the friendship. It would be as they say: friends with benefits, but the benefit is in the most cases one-sided. In both situations, the friendship would waste the time of both parties, and the end results are terrible.
Advice on friendship: Based on my experience throughout the years, I have discovered that 80% of friends are abusers. They might not know that they abuse others, but they do.That's why you should choose a moral person who knows a lot, or is experienced, so you could learn from him. And in all cases, improve yourself constantly to help your friends improve as well. Do not abuse the friendship, because you want to set the example. Choose people who you can be very intimate with, and avoid weak relationships. Know that chatting with someone doesn’t make you his friend, so you are free to chat with anyone, but only go to the next level with a person you trust. And most importantly, do not be selfish. Your friends are humans, like you, and they have their goals and their own lives. It’s not fair to make the purpose of your friendship for your own gain. Think of your friends before thinking of yourself, and that will make you a very good friend. I hope you all become very good friends from today onward, and blessed be.
Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar
Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories.
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By: Oussama T. Hussein Having finished his studies in computer science in mid 90s, he discovered that he also has a great passion for diamonds and jewelry. Osama decided to go to America where he studied gemology in one of the highly recognized university in terms of gemology GIA. He obtained 8 diplomas throughout his gemology study itinerary and he was lucky enough to immediately work for a pioneer of jewelry in the Middle-East, Mr. Robert Mouawad in Saudi Arabia. His career at Mouawad lasted for around 5 years during which he learned that passion and ambition are the only ways to succeed in the world of jewelry. He moved after that to Qatar and then to Dubai where he had the chance to work in one of the biggest companies of jewelry and watches --Swatch Group International. Osama was appointed as the Regional Brand Manager for MENA and India region of a unique brand called Leon Hatot, an exclusive diamond brand that made a lot of success. He moved to Kuwait a couple of years ago, where he was once again lucky to work with Kallista Holding Company which is in fact one of the biggest Joailliers in Kuwait and practically amongst few jewelers that have their own factory and make their own designs. He is the brand manager at Kallista Holding and takes care of developing existing products and new products as well in addition to his managerial role that is to maintain the great image of the company in all ways and to get its customers better services. The jewelry and diamond field is a very sophisticated yet exigent and demanding, it necessitates a lot of hard work and ambition and great skills to keep update with everything going around you and to give your customers the perfect product that will just make them feel special and unique.
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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE IS Amethyst Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for February? The following old poem provides the answer! And this page provides some information about the meaning of the February gem stone, the color, symbolism and significance of this lovely birth stone: February Birthstone poem - the Amethyst "The February born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If they, the amethyst will wear."
February Birthstone - Properties of the Amethyst For those who were born in the month of February the Amethyst is the traditional birthstone. The February birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Amethyst is associated - stability, peace, balance, courage, inner strength, sincerity and a calm disposition. The healing properties of the February birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the withdrawal symptoms of any sort of addiction, headaches, insomnia, arthritis, pain relief, circulatory system issues and general healing. The Amethyst is also referred to as the "sobriety stone" as it was once believed to prevent drunkenness and used to treat alcoholism and other types of addictions.
Zodiac Sign The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The February birthstone of the Amethyst is considered to be the birth stone of Aquarius (the Water Bearer) and relate to those born between January 21 - February 19. The Zodiac sign of Aquarius also responds to Garnet and Jasper.
Tropical zodiac Sign
Dates
Stone
Where are Amethysts found?
Aquarius
21 January – 19 February
Garnet
The popular February Birth stone of the Amethyst is found in the following countries: Brazil, Uruguay and Zambia
Pisces
20 February – 21 March
Amethyst
Aries
22 March – 20 April
Heliotrope
Taurus
21 April – 21 May
Sapphire
The Color of the Amethyst
Gemini
22 May – 21 June
Agate
The traditional colors associated with the Amethyst is a pale lilac to violet to red-violet color through to a deep rich purple color. A popular gem used in jewelry. The meaning of colors through the ages represented many aspects of life. Social, religious, biblical and Christian symbolism were all reflected in the color purple. The original symbolic meaning of the color purple was for penitence and mourning. However, it became symbolic with wealth and power and strongly associated with Royalty as the dyes used for purple materials were extremely expensive to produce.
Cancer
21 June – 22 July
Emerald
Leo
23 July – 22 August
Virgo
23 August – 22 September
Carnelian
Libra
23 September – 23 October
Chrysolite
Scorpio
24 October – 21 November
Beryl
Sagittarius
22 November – 21 December
Topaz
Capricorn
22 December – 21 January
Ruby
Onyx
February, 2014
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Diet Care Launches a new
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Those who have to stress daily about preparing the food they eat due to health restrictions or simple dietary requirements can now rest easy and check this one daunting task off their list for Diet Care have really outdone themselves with their new menu for 2014.
Diet care has clinics, shops and points of sale throughout Kuwait where people can go into the clinics for assessment and maintain their lifestyle by purchasing the food at various co-ops making it easier than ever to maintain a nutritional lifestyle.
As we know the Diet Care concept is the pioneering concept in the Middle East market since it was launched in 1990. The company which was founded in Kuwait.
CP was invited to try out their new menu for the year and in all honesty the team was very impressed. The newer dishes were absolutely incredible; in no way could anyone be able to tell they were eating dietetically engineered
citypageskuwait.com
GOES
TASTING
unbelievably “Diet” menu
food. The older dishes that already used to exist on their menus were remastered even further, leading to a brand new menu featuring a myriad of options to choose from, covering all forms of requirements and last but not least guaranteeing great flavour. The feast included three soups, various entrees and salads, main courses, and sandwiches. First we tried the Chicken w/Pasta & Mushroom, Pumpkin Parmesan and Herb Seafood soups, which were all hearty, delicious and
most of all very filling. All were fantastic, and if you are a soup lover these particular recipes will hit home. The entrees were exceptional, we had so many to choose from such as the Caesar Salad, Mixed Lettuce with Dates, Strawberry w/Mint, Beetroot Mutabbal w/roasted bread and Potato Parsley Tahina Salad, all which guarantee in no way tasted like “diet” food. February, 2014
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The sandwiches were a great hit, especially the Grilled Vegetable w/ Sesame on Focaccia and Brown Steak wrap w/ Mushroom which we all agreed were both better than the other, if that’s even possible. Main courses ranged from hamburgers to vegetarian lasagna to the incredibly tender Chicken Malai tikka, as well the surprisingly tasty take on the Kuwaiti meat Jereesh, and this is to name just a few. The grand finale being dessert was the biggest pleasant surprise of all, featuring chocolate molten bites, apple crumbles, rocky road squares and even good old fashioned baklava. Our Editor in Chief went mad for the pumpkin roll while our colleague in crime couldn’t put down the Um Ali.
All in all and in unanimous agreement, we all decided that Diet Care should change their name, for as far as we were concerned we couldn’t tell the difference. The quality, the taste and the ingredients was all superb. Anyone wanting to switch over to a healthy yet hearty eating plan must consider the Diet Care option. The chefs responsible for the new menu have put much heart and soul into the preparation of what is the best “diet” food in Kuwait hands down. Log on to thedietcare.com to start your eating plan today.
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Fame in the Adriatic “When he is either a true friend or a downright enemy.” Chapter Twelve I hear Caterina’s voice as she raps on our front door. “Maria! Maria! Open up! Let us in!” Motionless mother blinks. Mesmerized by my confession, she offers nothing in reply. I hurry to Caterina. I unlock the door and admit my best friend and her three brothers. Rotund Niccolo enters first. He is twenty-nine, with a full beard, wearing a forest green cloak over his cotton nightgown. He is followed by the short and bearded Cecco, who, at twenty-four is only a couple of inches taller than Caterina, much shorter than the seventeenyear-old twins. Like Giordano, Cecco comes in without a cloak. They both stroll in thin, translucent gowns. Ricardo arrives moments later in black pants and a golden chemise, combing his fingers through his hair to prevent it from sticking out at awkward angles. “What’s going on?” Niccolo asks with an authoritative tone. “The Pelligrinos just left with the Cretan. They said you were involved?” Everyone looks at me. Mother slowly descends on our green couch, burying her face in the palms of her hands. I tell them everything, starting from Galen and Giuseppe to Luciano and the laudanum. They remain stunned throughout, neither interfering nor screaming. Only Ricardo’s face is visibly altered, scrunching out expressions of betrayal and disgust. Ricardo storms out of the house in anger when I reach the end of my story—after I mention that Luciano had kissed me. Niccolo forbids Giordano from running after him, saying he might need him in the house in the coming hours. Cecco surprises me by calling out Elana’s name. He searches for her when she doesn’t respond. At the mention of the slave girl, Mother raises her head, her eyes beaming concern. Caterina comes to my side, wrapping her arms around me, placing her head on my shoulders. “Have you seen Elana?” Cecco asks. I shake my head. “Are you sure she was in her bedroom when you snuck out at night?” I hadn’t checked up on Elana. I had heard my mother snoring before grabbing two apples from the pantry and leaving the house. “Maria, the dress behind the trees…was it yellow?” I bite my lower lip. Only then do I comprehend what Cecco is driving at. Mother cries out hysterically. I tell him “I don’t know,” barely managing to get the words out. It was dark. I couldn’t see colors very well in the distance. I’m not even sure it was a dress and not a nightgown flapping with the wind. Elana’s ominous disappearance triggers a memory of an incident before heading to the Pellegrinos’ house for dinner. She had tricked me into thinking she’d left my room, only to reappear the moment I pulled out my 86
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runaway basket. Could she have recognized my design? Did she follow me to snitch? If so, why isn’t she here now denouncing me? Did she flee when she saw the wild mare? Slave laws are very strict all over Europe. If I could be penalized merely for standing aside as the wild mare escaped, Elana would be executed on the spot for the same offence. Her life, after all, was valueless. “Denounce him.” Mother’s eyes flash with fear. “Denounce him Maria, say it never happened.” Never happened? What? The kiss? The stabbing? The slave’s escape? The witnesses? Oh God the witnesses! It isn’t only the silhouette behind the trees that saw me with Luciano in the early hours of the morning. Men and women, all the way from the Well of Knowledge to our house, are aware of it as well. Denounce what exactly? And how is that going to solve anything? How is that going to give him back his health? His eye? His deep, blue, penetrating eye? Mother joins me on the ground. She holds my shoulders and shakes me, pleading, “I only want what’s best for you!” I think of the fourteen rejections I accumulated during the past year without my knowledge, the way she sprung up Uncle Ziani on me at Church last night, and the way in which she invited herself over at the Pellegrinos’ to suggest my union with a man she knew nothing about. “Save yourself and lie about everything.” The Mocenigo family stays out of it though; their expressions tell me to pardon mother’s words as the cause of a panic attack. “Say nothing happened, Maria.” I feel so bad for her, even worse than I do for myself, so I envelop her in a bear hug. “Shh,” I cajole, “it will be alright, you’ll see.” I pray that the physicians fix Luciano so he could call on me, and we could leave Corfu together, filling our days with madness and difference, for neither of us belongs here. I hadn’t known how I felt about him until he kissed me. I think my body had known it all along but my brain wasn’t aware of it. I hug my mother, whispering comforting words. Mother cries out all her tears until none are left. When she settles down, I kiss her forehead, and together with Caterina, we help her to her room and lay her down on her bed. I sit at her feet, resting my head against the side of the mattress, Caterina sits on a chair. Then I close my eyes. * I dose on and off for ten hours. My slumber alternates between thick dreams and thin ones where the slightest disturbance in mother’s bedroom awakens me. When the clock strikes four in the afternoon, Giordano, who is now dressed in pants and a grey chemise, gently knocks on the door. He tiptoes inside and tells Caterina, who has also changed into a purple and pink dress, and whose hair is now up in a bun with perfectly curled strands at her ears and above her neck, that he will be heading to the theater. Alfonso paid for their tickets the previous night and is sure to be waiting for them. He thinks having Alfonso among us would be helpful.
When he leaves, I massage my sore neck. “How are you feeling?” Caterina asks. I merely shrug. There’s nothing left for us to do now but wait for news. We make the boys some food and find Caterina’s parents in the living room. I wake up mother when food is ready, kissing her forehead. She leans on my arm when I take her to the bathroom and help her into something more appropriate for company. I change as well and comb my hair, tying my mane in a purple ribbon, which matches the color of my dress. I fold my father’s filthy clothes, trying not to focus on Luciano’s smell, which emanates from the fabric. When I fix her plate, she chews without passion. Two hours later, Giordano returns, his facial muscles stiff. “What happened?” Caterina asks. “Where’s Alfonso?” Caterina’s family is aware of her passion for the noblemen, so even though everyone frowns at her liberality, no one criticizes it in public. Giordano shakes his head. “Is he hurt? Tell me!” “He is not hurt, sister.” “Then what is it?” Giordani lowers his head when he answers, “He’s engaged.” “What?” We all cry out in shock. A loud banging on our front door does not give us the chance to demand clarification. I think at first it is Ricardo, who returned after hearing Alfonso’s news, but I am mistaken. The rough sound of Benitses’ constables rake us with fear. “To preserve the peace of my lord the Doge, open the door or I shall tear it down!” Niccolo does. Four constables in blue uniforms with purple leggings and swords hanging at their hips force themselves into our house. Two move in and out of rooms, turning over chests and peering underneath beds and tables. The other two point their swords in our directions, blocking the exit. When the two who searched the house join the stationary constables at the door, they shake their heads. “Not here,” one of them says. “Who here is Maria Botticelli?” I take a step forward. The guards leap on me in an instant. One twists my arms around my back so the other can lock them in a metal chain. The other two use their bodies to obstruct the Mocenigos from coming closer to me. “Maria Botticelli you are under arrest for your aggression upon a member of the aristocracy.” “What? No! I never hurt Luciano!” The constable doesn’t care. He pulls me out of the house and drags me toward a black carriage, attached to four healthy looking horses. “You have also been accused of conspiring with your girl slave to free the Pellegrinos’ possession who disturbed the peace of our lord the Dodge yesterday morning, and who escaped Corfu on a ship at dawn. For both offences you have been charged with hanging, effective immediately upon your arrival at the City’s prison.” “It’s not true! I never conspired with Elana! I never hurt Luciano!” The constable grabs the back of my head and shoves me into the carriage. “The accusation is wrong! Ask Luciano when he wakes up!” I plead. The lead constable says, before slamming the door shut and riding with his men to Corfu’s jail, “It’s actually Signor Luciano who accuses you.” Nada Faris
Nada Faris is the author of Before Young Adult Fiction, a collection of award-winning short stories, poems and articles that is available at That Al-Salasil (Avenues Mall), Jareer Bookshop, and Kuwait Bookshop (Al-Muthanna Complex). For more of her work, please visit her website: www.nadafaris.com.
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FEBRUARY Movie Releases THE LEGO MOVIE
Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Director: George Guillermo del Toro Director: Clooney
Starring: Chris Pratt, Channing Tatum, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson
Starring: George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Cate Blanchett, Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Daniel Craig
NON-STOP
ENDLESS LOVE
VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Director:Shana JamesFeste Wan Director:
Director: Mark S. Waters
Starring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Nate Parker, Anson Mount
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde, Dayo Okeniyi, Robert Patrick, Anna Enger, Sharon Conley
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Danila Kozlovskiy, Lucy Fry, Sarah Hyland, Olga Kurylenko, Joely Richardson
Genres: Family, Adventure, Comedy
Genres: Thriller, Action, War
Genres: Thriller, Action
Genres: Drama, Romance
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Synopsis: The original 3D computer
Synopsis: Based on the true story of
Synopsis: An air marshall must prevent a
Synopsis: Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella
Synopsis: Rose Hathaway (Deutch) is a
animated story follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. Chris Pratt stars as the voice of Emmet. Will Ferrell stars as the voice of his primary adversary, President Business, an erudite, anal-retentive CEO who has a hard time balancing world domination with micromanaging his own life; while Liam Neeson voices the president’s powerful henchman, known as Bad Cop, who will stop at nothing to catch Emmet.
ROBOCOP
the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action-thriller focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys - seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 - possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
grave threat on an international flight.
Liam Neeson stars in Non-Stop, a suspense thriller played out at 40,000 feet in the air. During a transatlantic flight from New York City to London, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Neeson) receives a series of cryptic text messages demanding that he instruct the airline to transfer $150 million into an offshore account. Until he secures the money, a passenger on his flight will be killed every 20 minutes.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Wilde star in the story of a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart.
WINTER'S TALE
Dhampir: half human/vampire, guardians of the Moroi, peaceful, mortal vampires living discretely within our world. Her legacy is to protect the Moroi from bloodthirsty, immortal Vampires, the Strigoi. This is her story. Vampire Academy tells the legend of Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry), two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal, peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (halfvampire/half-human guardians). Rose, a rebellious Guardian-in-training and her best friend, Lissa - a royal vampire Princess - have been on the run when they are captured and returned to St.Vladamirs Academy, the very place where they believe their lives may be in most jeopardy.
POMPEII
Director: Jose Padilha
Director: Steve Pink
Director: Rob Meltzer
Director: Akiva Goldsman
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Marc Abraham, Jackie Earle Haley, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish
Starring: Michael Ealy, Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Joy Bryant, Adam Rodriguez, Bryan Callen
Starring: Adam Brody, Rob Huebel, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jessica Brown Findlay, Will Smith, Colin Farrell, William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly
Starring: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Jared Harris, Kiefer Sutherland, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Lucas
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Genres: Romance, Comedy
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Drama, Adaptation
Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical
Synopsis: In RoboCop, the year is 2028
Synopsis: A modern reimagining of the
Synopsis: This comedy follows a group
Synopsis: Set in a mythic New York City
Synopsis: Set in 79 A.D., Pompeii tells the
classic romantic comedy, this contemporary
of unsuspecting office workers who find
epic story of Milo, a slave turned invincible
version closely follows new love for two
themselves stranded on a desert island when
couples as they journey from the bar to the
a corporate retreat led by unhinged former
and spanning more than a century, Winter's Tale is a story of miracles, crossed destinies, and the age-old battle between good and evil.
bedroom and are eventually put to the test
Marine Storm Rothchild goes horribly wrong.
daughter of a wealthy merchant who has
in the real world.
Now Chris and his co-workers must battle
Set in 1916 and present-day Manhattan, Winter's Tale follows the story of Peter Lake (Colin Farrell). Peter Lake is a thief who falls in love with Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay), a dying girl who occupies one of the houses he breaks into. Lake is saved from the insane gangster Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe) and his gang of thugs by Athansor, a mysterious white horse who becomes his guardian angel.
and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
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nature -- and each other -- to survive!
gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.
Losing A Loved One
N
obody will ever understand the pain you feel when losing a loved one. I buried my father at the age of 23 and ever since then, my heart has always been in pieces. I think, a part of me has been buried with him. I never expected to lose my father at such a young age, I always thought he would be alive for a very long time. I always thought I would wake up to the sound of his voice in the living room and his warm manly hugs. Oh and his jokes, he had such a great sense of humor. Now all I have left is memories, nothing else. But I am scared, I am scared that day-by-day my memories will fade away and what if I start to forget the little details about him. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been 2 months since he has passed away and I still ache for him to come back. The last time I ever saw him was on the Sunday morning before he went to work, as always he was his jolly self but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak to him and now I regret it so much, I wish I told him I loved him one last time. So if I could teach you one thing right now, I would teach you to always cherish every minute that you have and always tell your loved ones how you feel as you may never get the chance to again. I remember the phone call, the heartbreaking phone call. Everything starts to become a blur after that, the whole room spins and you feel your heart being ripped out of your chest. And you cry, you cry every day and every night, some days are easier than other days, but the pain is always there. And when you look through the photos- that is when you feel like your heart is dropping, I hate that feeling. You look at his smiling face and for a second you forget that he is gone because you are looking right at him, but then reality kicks in and you are reminded that he is no longer alive. You want to hold the photo and never let it go, because it is the only thing you have left of him, the photos and the memories. You wonder if you will ever see him again. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I see him looking
back at me and I find comfort in knowing that I look like him, knowing that he is a part of me. But, I am not here to tell you my sad story. I am here to tell you that if your father is still alive right now, I want you to go tell him how much you love him, so put down this magazine and give him a hug. Tell everyone in your life how much you love them, because it is important. I tell my mother everyday that I love her and I make sure that I cheer her up. Because it is hard on her as well, she has lost her husband, the love of her life and as her son, I will always make sure that I am there for her, she needs me and I need to be strong for her. Life is beautiful, but it can be cruel at times and it can leave us with a broken heart. But it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end there. Life still goes on. Some days you will want to curl up in your bed and never leave, your whole body is stiff and your heart is torn. You will miss the person you have lost every day and you will feel empty inside. But, I have now learnt that you truly never lose someone. Because they will always have a place in our hearts and I know my father is always with me, so everything will be okay. And he would want us to be happy. I love you, Daddy. Nadia AlHassan
Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
February, 2014
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TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven 1
Dark Horse
2
Drunk In Love Beyonce & Jay-Z
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Sweater Weather
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The Man
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Wake Me Up!
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Unconditionally
Burn
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Love More
Team
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Story Of My Life
Demons
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Mine Would Be You
Royals
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Bound 2
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Best Day Of My Life
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Hold On We're Going Home
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Pompeii
Timber
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Talk Dirty
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Pitbull & Ke$ha
4
Jason Derulo & 2 Chainz
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Counting Stars
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6
Let Her Go
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OneRepublic Passenger
Say Something
7
A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
8
Pharrell Williams
9
Eminem & Rihanna
10
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Katy Perry
Happy
The Monster
Can't Remember To Forget You Shakira & Rihanna
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Neighbourhood
Aloe Blacc
Ellie Goulding Lorde
Imagine Dragons Lorde
Kanye West American Authors
Drake
Bastille
Avicii
Katy Perry
Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj
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It Won't Stop
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Hey Brother
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Whatever She's Got
Sevyn Streeter Avicii
David Nail
Marry Me
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Jason Derulo
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Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert
Wrecking Ball
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Idina Menzel
Turn Down For What
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Zedd & Hayley Williams
Love More
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When She Says Baby
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Young Girls
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Walking On Air
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Adore You
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One Direction Blake Shelton Miley Cyrus
DJ Snake & Lil Jon
Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj Bruno Mars
Miley Cyrus
We Were Us Let It Go
Stay The Night
Jason Aldean Katy Perry
Invisible
Hunter Hayes
Phillip Hoffman Phillip Seymour Hoffman ( 1947 - 2014 ) RIP.
You will be Missed!
A Tribute to Phillip Seymour Hoffman by Ahmed Ragum Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
O
ne Of the best Hollywood actors passed away on February 2nd this year and his name was Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman was 46 years old. He was one of the finest of his generation, Hoffman has appeared in some of the best movies of the previous twenty years. He was an American actor and director. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 2005 biographical film Capote, was nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor and also received three Tony Award nominations for his work in theater.
The Master He portrayed the leader of a mysterious belief known as The Cause , It was his final Oscar nomination and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win but earned 17 other awards for his performance
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire The Hunger Games : Catching fire was his last movie to star in but Philip & he has wrapped his role in The Hunger Games : Mockingjay PART 1 and had seven days Hoffman began his acting career in 1991, and the following year he began to appear in films. He gained recognition for his supporting work in a series of notable films, of filming left on PART 2 and won't be recast in the movie , anyway, the movie was including Scent of a Woman (1992), Twister (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), The Big a hit and have grossed as the highest grossing movie of 2013 Lebowski (1998), Patch Adams (1998), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Almost Famous (2000), Red Dragon (2002), 25th Hour (2002), Punch- Hoffman was an accomplished theater actor and director. He joined the LAByrinth Drunk Love (2002) and Cold Mountain (2003). Theater Company in 1995, and directed and performed in numerous stage productions. His performances in three Broadway plays led to three Tony Award Here are some highlights of his movies: nominations: two for Best Leading Actor, in True West (2000) and Death of a Scent Of A Woman Salesman (2012), and one for Best Featured Actor in Long Day's Journey into Night A supporting role as rich kid put Hoffman onscreen alongside the Mafia "king" Al (2003). In his front-page obituary, The New York Times referred to Hoffman as Pacino. Although his role in the movie is small, but helped him to establish a name "perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation. in Hollywood Capote Hoffman had earned his achievement and success as an actor and as a person in the His performance in this movie as the writer "Truman Capote" earned Him the Best Hollywood and surely will be missed! Actor "Oscar" that is well deserved Mission Impossible 3 Hoffman as a villain opposite Tom Cruise was really entertaining and have entertained audiences all over the world Doubt Playing opposite Meryl Streep Hoffman was more than up to the challenge & he gained another Oscar nomination in the movie industry
Ahmad Al-Ragum
Ahmad is a 28 year old Kuwaiti working in marketing field. He is in love with movies, traveling and football. Follow AlRgum on Instagram and Twitter: @ALRAGUM
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FEBRUARY Book Releases Hope you add some of these to your 2014 collection.
A Week in Winter
Maeve Binchy
When Chicky Starr decides to take an old, decaying mansion set high on the cliffs overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea, everyone thinks she is crazy. Helped by Rigger, a bad boy turned good, and her niece, Orla, Chicky is finally ready to welcome the first guests to Stone House’s big warm kitchen, log fires, and understated elegant bedrooms.
For the Benefit of Those Who See
Seventh Son Orson Scott Card
From the author of ENDER’S GAME, comes an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.
Apple Tree Yard Louise Doughty
Dispatches from the World of the Blind
Rosemary Mahoney
In the tradition of Oliver Sacks's THE ISLAND OF THE COLORBLIND, Rosemary Mahoney tells the story of Braille Without Borders, the first school for the blind in Tibet, and of Sabriye Tenberken, the remarkable blind woman who founded the school. Fascinated and impressed by what she learned from the blind children of Tibet, Mahoney was moved to investigate further the cultural history of blindness. Having read FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO SEE, you will never see the world in quite the same way again.
The Invention of Wings
Sue Monk Kidd
Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. On her 11th birthday, Sarah Grimke is given ownership of Handful. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next 35 years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies, and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.
God's Whispers to a Woman's Heart: A Devotional
Suspenseful, erotically charged and masterfully paced, Louise Doughty’s APPLE TREE YARD is an intelligent psychological thriller about desire and its consequences by a writer of phenomenal gifts.
Soy Sauce for Beginners
Kirstin Chen
Gretchen Lin, adrift at the age of thirty, leaves her floundering marriage in San Francisco to move back to her childhood home in Singapore and immediately finds herself face-to-face with the twin headaches she’s avoided her entire adult life: her mother’s drinking problem and the machinations of her father’s artisanal soy sauce business.
Autobiography of Us Aria Beth Sloss
Cindi McMenamin
Every moment of every day, God is at your side, ready to speak to your heart. He knows exactly how you feel and longs to help --- whether you are in need of wisdom, encouragement, or comfort. In GOD'S WHISPERS TO A WOMAN'S HEART, author Cindi McMenamin shares what it means to experience the presence of God at all times, in all places. As you read of His many promises and assurances to you in the Bible, you'll come to realize just how much He loves you. 92
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In 1960s California, Rebecca Madden and her friend Alex dream of lives beyond their mothers' narrow expectations. Their struggle to define themselves against the backdrop of an American cultural revolution unites them early on, until a single act of betrayal changes everything. Decades later, Rebecca’s haunting meditation on the past reveals the truth about that night, the years that followed, and the friendship that shaped her.
BOOK CLUB
The Kiss struck at full speed, crushed under the busâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tremendous weight. And a long journey begins, toward healing, toward hope, toward dreams of an infinite future.... Isabelle Forrester is the wife of a prominent Parisian banker who has long since shut her out of his heart. For lonely years, Isabelle has lived a life of isolation, pouring her passions into caring for her desperately ill son, Teddy, and into making their Paris home as happy as possible for her teenage daughter, Sophie.
February is here and Kuwait is celebrating its independence and its liberation day and in the book section we are celebrating life by this yet amazing story by great author Danielle Steel called The Kiss (2001), which is her 53rd bestselling novel. She is the top bestselling author alive and the fourth bestselling author of all times; with over eight hundred million copies of her novels sold. You will never be disappointed by one of her books. She wrote famous titles such as Heart Beat (1991), Malice (1996), Sisters (2007) and many more. The story of the kiss started on a warm June evening, when a red double-decker bus, full of passengers, sped down a London street. A few blocks away, a man and a woman climbed into a limousine, reveling in a magical evening of dancing and the company of each other. As their driver pulled into an intersection, the couple shares their first, searching kiss. For a moment, engraved in time, all stands still until, in a flash of metal and glass, their limousine is
Isabelle allows herself one secret pleasure: a long-distance friendship by telephone with an American man, a Washington power broker who travels in the highest circles of politics and who, like Isabelle, is trapped in an empty marriage. To Bill Robinson, Isabelle is a godsend, a woman of extraordinary beauty and intellectual curiosity, a kindred spirit who touches him across the miles with her warmth and gentle understanding. Their friendship is a gift, a lifeline that sustains them both through the heartache of marriages they cannot leave and will not betray. Agreeing to meet for a few precious, innocent days in London, Isabelle and Bill find their friendship changing. Then, in the sudden crash of steel against steel, they are thrust onto a new path, a path troubled with pain but also with future possibilities. In a novel that is as fascinating as it is compassionate, Danielle Steel weaves a story of courage in the face of unimaginable loss. With the grace of a master storyteller, she explores the strength it takes to conquer our greatest fears, showing us how the toughest choices can yield the most unexpected rewards ... and how the longest, most winding journeys can begin with a single kiss.
Next Month...
In March, I will review one of my favorite books Emily by Jilly Cooper. It is a story of love and loss and taking a leap of faith in what you want and what you believe in.
Nada Soliman
nada.soliman@citypageskuwait.com
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
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Escaping the Invasion As we celebrate Kuwait’s National and Liberation days this month, CityPages introduces a debut author-- Huda Al-Medlej. Huda is a talented young woman with a desire and motivation to do something for her beloved country Kuwait wrote a book “Escaping the Invasion”. This is a real untold story of a one family's agony during a brutal invasion of Kuwait by its neighboring country Iraq. CityPages talks to her about what motivated her to become a writer. Read her interview and get inspired about some of her views in life and work. Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Huda Al-Medlej. I am a mother and a Diplomat's wife, posted in New York for 14 years and now living in Madrid, Spain.
Tell us about your education? I have a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Kuwait University, and a Masters of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages) from NYU, USA.
Why did you decide to become a writer? I was motivated to write this book for my children and the children of the world so that they could learn what had happened to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in August 2nd 1990.
Tell us something about your book “Escaping the Invasion? This is a real untold story of a one family's agony during a brutal invasion of a small country in the Middle East called Kuwait. That invasion by a neighboring country, Iraq caused a shake up to not only the Kuwaiti people, but also to the whole world. The story tells what happened to this family through the eyes of a devastating mother, who was about to lose her child during a fierce escape through the Arabian Desert in the mid of the hottest month of the year.
What was the inspiration behind writing this book? I felt that there is a missing connection between us and 94
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the world who hadn’t heard about the real struggle of Kuwaitis.
How would you categorize your book in literary terms?
than this or are any in the pipeline? Not yet, promoting the book is consuming my time but the ideas are storming in my mind for the next one.
It's a memoir of my escape through the desert in the hottest month of summer, running away from the Iraqi invaders.
You have four kids so how do you spare time for writing?
What style of writing did you choose for the writing of this book?
I am a NYU graduate as a life and organizational coach, life is all about organizing and prioritizing your time and I think I was successful in juggling my time as a Diplomat's wife, a mother, a student, and a writer.
I chose a language that can fit all ages; young adults and all other ages so that I can be able to send my message to all the people of the world.
What is your message for the people who want to write?
Are you delivering any message through Be concise and know your target audience. your book or is it based on true stories? My message to the world is that no one can deprive you from what you adore and love your country.
How is the response from readers? I was truly thrilled by my readers' responses and comments. You can check the book's review on amazon.com. And the book was rated 4,5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads website.
What is your message to the people on the occasion of National and Liberation day? We have to remember those who gave their lives for this country so that we can enjoy the freedom.
Your message for us at CityPages Magazine: To whom you would like to dedicate this book? First of all I want to thank you for this opportunity to I dedicated this book to my children and to all the children of the world.
Have you written any other books other
reach out to our friends of other nationalities in Kuwait who strived with us to enjoy our beloved country Kuwait.
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The best camera The camera has always been the main topic of all discussions and debates in the photographic communities, gatherings and social circles. The question is, which is the best? Film or Digital SLR, DSLR, or a Four thirds. Why a Canon not a Pentax or an Olympus? and when you think the discussion is reaching an ending, the lens war begins, why a Nikon lens not a Sigma or Tamron. As the dispute continues on what is the best camera and lens maker in the market, the main objective behind all the bickering remains unaddressed. As this may come to a shock to you the truth is that its never the type or make of the camera. "THE BEST CAMERA IN THE MARKET IS THE ONE WITH YOUâ&#x20AC;?! It's always about that moment that you are exposed to at that time and setting. Be it the phone camera or that small pocket size point and shoot or that professional grade camera that never leaves your side. For the next and upcoming issues with the CityPages, I will be providing you small tips and tricks to help you to take better shots and make you fall in love with Photography.
by: Faith AlFahad 96
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Mise en Scene:
Filling Your Frame
Mise en Scene, which means "telling a story" and refers to the design aspects of production, is a complicated idea to understand. This is a French term which has been used in video production for many years. It's difficult to explain because it has several different meanings. Throughout this article, you will learn about what Mise en Scene is and how you can use it to make the most out of your video. This article explains how you can fill the frame. This is important because it makes the video look so interesting. If you concentrate on Mise en Scene, then you will find a way of making your video look much more professional. It's worth taking the time to find out about because it will make your videos look much better. To understand Mise en Scene, you will need to get to grips with a number of different elements and concepts. One of the most important is the position of the camera and filling the frame Step 1: Understanding Mise en Scene The first thing that you need to do is understand what Mise en Scene exactly means. Unfortunately, this is a little complicated because there are many different components which make up the theory. The phrase is translated as Miza Sen. It means "setting the scene" and is very important. There are many aspects including color, framing the scene and the lighting. Montage is something that the editor has control of, whereas Mise en Scene is controlled by the director. Step 2: Considering the Space When trying to fill the frame effectively, you will need to consider the space in the picture. Everything in your frame will connect together to create a unique shape and space. Everything should work together in your frame to create a sense of depth and perspective. Different things can be done with the space to create a slightly different look. Step 3: Considering the Camera Position Something else that you will need to think about is the position of the camera. As a filmmaker, it is possible to position the camera pretty much anywhere you want. These different angles will create an unique way to fill the frame and add interest to your film. Normal angles might be used most of the time, however, angle shots can also add something extra to your film.
Step 4: Framing Once you have considered all of these things, you will then need to decide how to fill the frame. Decide how your image will fill the frame and be positioned. The screen is almost always a rectangular shape. Older films had a 4:3 aspect ratio, whereas most modern films are wide screen 16:9 aspect ratios. Sometimes the films have a square aspect ratio of 1:1. Cinema films will normally have an aspect ratio, known as anamorphic, which is 2.39:1. Choose how the actors are located in the frame; normally they are centered in the frame, although this is up to you. Getting the layout and framing perfect makes it much easier to make your video look more professional. Abdulaziz AlKhamis
Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals.
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Does Her Best To Brighten Up Everyone’s Day! Nazaneen is a Sky News Weather Presenter, sharing duties with fellow weather forecaster Isobel Lang on the channel’s daily breakfast show, Sunrise with Eamonn Holmes. Ghaffar grew up in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she attended St James’ Primary School and Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School. After completing her A-levels she studied for a BA (hons) degree in Broadcasting at the Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in Chislehurst. Nazaneen joined Sky News from BBC South East Today. Previously, she presented the weather for ITV West, following training at the Met Office. She was interested in news and weather from a very young age and used to practice presenting news and forecasts to her parents by reading Ceefax out loud to her parents from the TV screen. Nazaneen, who was once dragged up on stage by Robbie Williams to sing with him, is also passionate about fashion. She even has a cat named after the designer MIU MIU. She also loves food, music and quizzes. Please introduce yourself to our readers: Hello and Salam, I’m Nazaneen Ghaffar (also known as Naz) and I’m the Weather Presenter on Sky News’ breakfast programme, Sunrise. Your name is very middle-eastern. Where are you from originally? My parents are both Iranian, although my father spent most of his childhood growing up in Iraq. I was born in England and have never been to either Iran or Iraq, but can speak Iranian, and a little Arabic as well. Tell us about your education? Education was very important in the Ghaffar household when we were growing up. Our parents would happily buy us new exercise books rather than the latest computer game! I went to a girls’ grammar school in my home-town in Kent. From there I went to university and did a degree in Broadcasting and Journalism. During my time at university I took it upon myself to also gain as much work experience in the industry as possible. Once I graduated I started working as a runner for about three months. I then got a job working behind the scenes at ITV News in the west of England and it wasn’t long before I managed to convince the boss to let me do some weather presenting. Soon after I went for training with the Metrological Office and after a year and a half, I got a job with the BBC in the South-East as their weather presenter. Just over three years ago my dream came true when Sky News got in touch and asked me to work for them. 98
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What inspired or lead you to your job as a weather presenter with Sky News? I was always interested in the news from a young age. As a child I would turn down the volume on the television and read the subtitles for my Father while he was watching the news and weather, so I guess my fascination with current affairs stemmed from there. I was particularly curious about the weather. I found it so interesting that we have no control over it, and yet it controls our lives everyday. Where did you get your training for weather forecasting? My training for weather forecasting was undertaken at the Met Office. What do you love most about your work? I love the fact that in the UK we have such varied weather – it makes my job continuously challenging. I also love the team I work with at Sky News, and I think that is important in any job. We all get on so well. What are some of the challenges that you face with your work? The most challenging thing in my job is when it snows. Not only is it hard to predict when and where it will fall (as there are so many specific factors that need to be achieved for it to snow) but it also makes it very challenging for me to travel to work. I’m not a good driver in the snow! As well as this, I love the challenge of presenting the weather outside of the studio. For example, I have broadcasted at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Wedding and the Queen’s Jubilee. Apparently the Queen watches Sky News – so that puts a lot of pressure on me to get the weather right! What social media tools do you use for your work? I mainly use twitter for my job. You can find me @SkyNewsNaz where I tweet a daily weather forecast and I interact with my followers a lot. In fact my followers are great – they are so helpful when the weather turns really bad, letting me know the latest in their area as well as sending me some incredible photos. Which Smartphone weather app is your favorite? At the moment I really like the Met Office app. It has some fantastic features that are very useful for me when I am presenting the weather out of the studio, such at the latest satellite and radar imagery. What is your favorite food? Iranian of course (I don’t want to upset my Mother!) What are your hobbies? I love going to the gym, I try to go 3-4 times a week. What according to you are the 3 keys to success? Imagine, believe, achieve. Imagine your dream/goal, believe in yourself that you are capable of doing it, then go out there and achieve it! Best career advice you’ve ever been given? I think our motto at Sky is something that applies to any career, ‘’Believe In Better’’. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I hope the sun shines on all your successes in life. 100
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Cool New Gadgets To Add To Your Wishlist Feast your eyes on the art of Rube Goldberg, the new LEGO movie and more great stuff from this month.
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Singtrix
Hungry Fan
ThinkGeek Teatube
Developed by the creators of Guitar Hero, the Singtrix karaoke machine transforms any voice into auto-tuned perfection. It has 350 effects and can even create fivepart harmonies from a single voice—for the times when “Bohemian Rhapsody” seems like a good idea.
Not all stadium food is created equal. This iOS app has the complete vendor menus from more than 60 sports arenas tagged to location. You’ll never end up with crappy fare again.
The perfect accessory for your beaker—um, mug.
Jawbone UP24
Arduino TRE
Pebble Steel
The new UP24 activity tracker now connects with other smart devices over Bluetooth, so you can set up tasks based on movements. For example, when the band registers that you’ve woken up, it could signal lightbulbs to turn on or a coffeepot to start brewing.
Powered by Texas Instruments’ 1GHz Sitara processor, the latest board is 100 times more powerful than its predecessor. The upgrade makes it possible to run advanced Linux- powered applications, such as high-speed communications.
Nobody would have ever accused a smart watch of being stylish, until now: slimmer and smaller with a Gorilla Glass screen and a more traditional horological design—brushed stainless and black matte steel with optional leather strap—the Pebble Steel offers the same weeklong battery life and waterproof capability as its pioneering, Kickstarter-funded predecessor, as well as access to the Pebble App Store. Launching late January, the store lets you directly download wrist-ready apps such as Google Maps, Yelp, and Foursquare.
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Light & Motion GoBe The GoBe flashlight has six swappable heads—each suited to a particular situation. There’s a spotlight for a bike, red focus for night vision, and even a blue light for scuba diving.
The LEGO Movie In the LEGO universe, there’s a word no one utters: glue. So when an evil CEO (Will Ferrell) threatens to glue all the bricks together, an average guy (Chris Pratt) must join a wizard (Morgan Freeman) and Batman (Will Arnett) to save the world. Out February 7.
The Art of Rube Goldberg Efficiency? Where’s the fun in that? Compiled by Goldberg’s granddaughter, this collection of overly complex machines also contains hundreds of his photos, letters, and cartoons—a third of them published for the first time.
Bosse Tools Ergono¬mic Snow Shovel
Polaris Sportsman WV850 H.O. ATV
A second, rotating handle provides better leverage, taking stress off the wrists and back.
Meet the first consumer ATV with airless tires. The non-pneumatic tires will never go flat, even when shot with bullets (they were developed for the military, naturally).
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املوجودة بجهاز األندرويد Google Settings1-اضغط على
لتتبع املوبايل املفقود : 1-الذهاب الى أيقونة االعدادات .
7ميكنك مسح البيانات التي تريدها وقفل اجلهازوعرض رساله تنبيه صوتي
Android Device Manager 2ثم اضغط على 2ثم اضغط على خيار ( البريد ،االسماء ،التقومي ) " "Find My Iphoneباالضافة الى اخلطوات السابقة ،اعلنت شركة أبل عن طرحها لتطبيق 3قم بتمكني جميع اخليارات املوجودة للسماح ICLOUD3-اختر اضافة حساب ثم اضغط علىبالتحكم باجلهاز واعطاءه الصالحية مبسح البيانات 4ادخل اسم حسابك ورقمك السري حلساب ليكون جهازك قيد الرصد وامكانية العثور عليهالتي تريد بازالتها . اآليتونز. بسهولة في حالة ضياعه ،ومن مميزات التطبيق وقم بتسجيل الدخلول�www.google.com/an Find my iphone5الرجوع الى أيقونة االعدادت مرة بأنه يرصد لك موقع اجلهاز على اخلريطة وطبعا ً droid/devicemanager4ثم ادخل على موقعالتحكم به من خالل مسح محتوياته وقفله برقم اخرى لتفعيل اخلدمة ،وسوف تظهر لك على نفس حسابك املسجل في جهازك . سري ،واصدار رسالة ملدة دقيقتني ملعرفة مكانه. وقم بتفعيلها. 5ستظهر لك اخليارات التي تستطيع التحكم بهاعن بعد مثالً قفل اجلهاز ،اصدار رنني ملدة خمس 6-بعد ذلك ميكنك العثور على اجلهاز من خالل مع تطور التكنولوجيا أصبحت حياتنا كلها دخول املوقع مرتبطة كليا ً بجهاز النقال سواء أمور شخصية أو دقائق ،مسح البيانات وحتديث اجلهاز. أما بالنسبة جلهاز اآليفون الذي يعمل بنظام http://www.apple.com/icloud/find-my-iphone.أمور مرتبطة بالعمل ،فهو ال يفارقنا أبدا ً وأمتنى أن تشغيل األبستور ،ميكنك عمل اخلطوات التالية html ال يفارقكم أيضا ان شاء اهلل . citypageskuwait.com
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Resolving shopping and styling dilemmas Reham AlHabib, a fascinating and fashionable young woman, is making waves with her new concept - R Personal Shopper boutique. Her boutique is the talk of the town these days. This unique concept offers not only high end luxury brands but also a Personal Shopping Experience, by providing a professional service tailor made to meet your individual needs. CityPages had the pleasure to chitchat with Reham AlHabib recently! Hear what she has to say about her career and her boutique: @thelittlewardrobebyr 106
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@rpersonalshopper
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Please introduce readers:
yourself
to
our
I am the owner of R Personal Shopper boutique that has recently opened in Shuwaikh Market. I am also a wife and a mother of two - Khaled and Lulwa.
Tell us about your education? I have graduated from Dundee University with Bachelor of Science. I was always a good student taking straight A’s and received a scholarship to complete my studies abroad. I have a full time job that satisfies my zest for Science.
How was your journey to get into the fashion industry? I had a passion for fashion from a very young age. Makeup, hair, and lifestyle had always grabbed my attention. Since Social Media is very popular in Kuwait, I decided to test the Market through Instagram first and just within 4 months I was able to sign a contract with Shuwaikh Market and owned a Boutique.
How did the idea of starting R PERSONAL SHOPPER boutique come up? I started as a personal shopper and as I got involved more with my customers, I started to learn what are they looking for and what fulfills their requirements. Ladies in this part of the world have great taste and high expectations and it’s not an easy job to make them happy about a product. I am a perfectionist and I would never offer a brand or a quality that does not satisfy me.
How did you come up with the name – R PERSONAL SHOPPER? The letter R comes from my first name Reham, which means rain drops.
What makes the boutique different and special? What makes us unique is the fact that we are the only boutique in town that offers a personal shopping service which is new to the Arab world, or you can say it was limited to Royal families and celebrities. But at my boutique, we work around our customer's budget and needs. Here at R Personal Shopper we go above and beyond to provide the best products with unique styling and beautiful atmosphere. We strive to exceed the customer's expectations and hope they fall in love with our products at first sight. Our main goal is to provide lifestyle brands that both mother and daughter can enjoy under one roof.
from the Linton Tweeds. Mills in the UK are used to create this fabulous, sophisticated and prestigious line for Dolly girls. Linton Tweeds is also the supplier of the house of Chanel which makes it extra special and exclusive. Each item will see lots of wearing and becomes a keepsake in an instant to treasure for years. Additionally, they design perfect shoes for your girls with that DOLLY look we all crave. All of these items are exclusive and handmade in Spain, crafted from the softest leathers, suede and other luxury fabrics. Our boutique also carries No Added Sugar; a very casual Chic English brand providing quality and very comfortable products that injects adventure in to that little person’s wardrobe. Joyfolie is another new brand that will be introduced to the boutique. It has unique designs with a lot of hand-made details, beautiful textures, as well as unique and thoughtful packaging. For ladies, collection of the talented designer Lara Khoury is available exclusively at our boutique. Lara Khoury’s style is sincere, bold, moving and minimalist. It involves a young and experimental trend, continuously concerned with detail, and carrying a passion for innovation and freedom. Other brands that we offer are: Vivien Sheriff from UK, Bansri from India, Kenneth Jay Lain from USA and Stefano De Lellis from Italy.
Who are some of your personal favorite What are some of the brands and designer clothes available at your designers? boutique? How do you decide as what to My personal favorite designers are, Roksanda Ilincic, display at your boutique and where do Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella Jean. you get your pieces from? We stock high end brands for kids Like Le Petit What do you love about your work? Tom from Netherlands; this fabulous collection is handmade in Italy, materials like pure silk, Italian satin printed with drawings of famous items from the Dolly collection and beautiful real Chanel Tweeds coming
I love everything about what I do, starting from selecting the brands I display in my boutique to dealing with my customers and decorating my boutique. The boutique is very special in every aspect, it is industrial
with a twist of classic and I have selected rare vintage furniture pieces from France with the help of my interior designer Cynthia Zahaar.
What are some of the challenges that you face? Everything is challenging but I guess the biggest challenge is that I have chosen the location in a comparatively new area in Kuwait called Shuwaikh Market. I fell in love with the market on first sight; it is cozy, a different concept to Kuwait and I believe it will be a hub for many selective customers.
Can you describe your boutique in 3 words? Exquisite, unique and stylish.
What are some of items you believe every woman should have in her closet? Comfortable sneakers.
How would you describe your personal style? My personal style changes continuously. I might be very classic one day and edgy on the other but always feminine and modern. I may have clothes that are the same as other people, but I make them totally my own.
What are some of your future plans? I am a dreamer; I have many plans like collaborating with other designers, and maybe opening up another boutique elsewhere in the Gulf Region.
Your message for us at CityPages Magazine: Thank you for having me, I hope my interview inspires your readers and fill them with joy and happiness. February, 2014
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Cruise and Couture
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s I painted on my burgundy red lips, the lipstick color of the season, and layering on my winter whites; the trend of the season, which graced the runways of fall winter fashion weeks of world capitals, I couldn’t help but think about the cruise and couture looks of 2013/2014. Although each designer was diverse and obviously carried the personal feel of their brand, there was one common theme: detail, detail, detail. Detail in terms of use of color, use of material, and of course the overall theme of the collection. I found myself not being able to decide which designer was my favorite. Before I begin to rant on about my fashion obsession, I consider the month of February a month of fashion transitioning. It’s when cruise lines are released, and when models strut couture on the runway. It takes you from luscious winter looks to bright and light spring/summer collections. Cool cruise and couture: the triple C’s. Let’s start with the double C first though, Chanel. Chanel’s cruise 2013-2014 collection had an androgynous feel to it, which is something I absolutely love. It was also very black, white, and navy with some minimal accents to it, layering, and of course Chanel’s signature jackets and pearl additions. Another favorite designer of mine is Alexander Wang. Wang’s cruise collection was also very clean and straight cut with his billowy pants and grey cardigans, but with some feminine accents to it, like the pleated leather skirt and his use of pink throughout the collection. One common factor between all the cruise lines of 2013/2014 is the minimal use of color, as well as the simple cuts. When it comes to couture, I don’t even know where to begin. All the detail and thought put into the spring summer haute couture 2014 was beautiful. As usual, haute couture entails fine materials, prints, and an impeccable attention to detail. I don’t want to sound bias but I am referring back to our double C’s, Chanel. Chanel’s haute couture was work out clothing gone glamorous! The fanny packs, trainers, and boxy cuts made it all the more fabulous. And the metallic pastel colors added such a sweet accent to the collection. Not to mention the knee and elbow guards! I love fashion with a bit of humor. Definitely one to remember. Another designer that caught my eye was Eli Saab. The beautiful colors, the A- line cuts, and the gorgeous floral prints was the epitome of female glamour—major wow factor. A designer with a similar theme but totally different detail was Maison Martin Margiela. Maison Martin definitely had floral incorporated into the couture collection, but on models faces. The designer’s signature facemasks are a little bit too much for me, but I applaud him for being different and daring. I guess the floral masks made the looks seem less… intimidating. Cool cruise and couture, our triple C’s this year were all so different yet the same. Some were better than others in my opinion, but each collection emphasized the designer’s vision, and it definitely showed!
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By: TalahStyles Cruise:
Alexander Wang
Chanel
Elie Saab
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
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1. Alexander McQueen tux jacket 210k.d 2. Christian Louboutin doc holder 300k.d 3. Alexander McQueen blazer 490k.d 4. Burberry shirt 90k.d 5. Dolce and Gabbana blazer 445k.d 6.Givenchy blazer 225k.d 7. Tod's suede driving shoes 100k.d 8. Pierre Hardy trainers 135k.d Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion February, 2014
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COACH LAUNCHES SPRING 2014 GLOBAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN Cast Profiles:
Liu Wen Originally from Beijing, Wen lives in New York City parttime, where she enjoys Coney Island and finding great places in the city to escape. The 25-year-old model was first exposed to New York City through the movie King Kong, and she has been drawn to the allure of the Big Apple ever since. Karlie Kloss From St. Louis, but calls New York City home, this 21-year-old originally studied ballet before embarking on a career in modeling. Kloss lives in the West Village with her dog Joe, who is also featured in the campaign. Freja Beha Erichson A native of Denmark, the 26-year-old now resides in New York City. Will Chalker This 33-year-old model lives in London, but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay away from New York City and its awe-inspiring skyline. The former construction worker loves visiting Cooper Classic Cars on Perry Street, and enjoys that there is always something new to discover on every corner of New York City.
Photographed by world-renowned fashion photographer Craig McDean and styled by famed stylist Karl Templer, the new campaign drills deeper into the personality of the brand, conveying its sophistication and polish with bolder, more spirited looks. Campaign components include digital, print, in-store, out-of-home and events. The campaign was developed and creatively directed by integrated branding agency Laird + Partners. This is the third season that Coach has worked with Laird + Partners. 114
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TORY BURCH LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE ROBINSON ALLIGATOR COLLECTION
PILOT MONTRE D’AÉRONEF TYPE 20 GMT 1903 IN THE WAKE OF THE AVIATION PIONEERS Since its founding in 1865, the Manufacture Zenith has been part of all the dreams and daring endeavours that transform utopian dreams into reality. Among the human adventures that have punctuated its history, there is one particular conquest that the brand accompanied right from its beginnings in the early 20th century: that of the air. Driven by the same enterprising spirit as these pioneers who gave life to Icarus’ dream of flight, Zenith pays tribute to the Wright brothers through a watch issued in a 1,903-piece limited edition: the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 GMT 1903. February, 2014
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SWAROVSKI ADDS SPARKLE TO ANY STYLE
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Go Gold: an exclusive capsule collection designed to celebrate the Olympic Games
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"ماماز وباباز" تطلق تشكيلتها اجلديدة من مالبس األطفال ّ 2014 والرضع ملوسم ربيع وصيف
BABYGAP INTRODUCES LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION INSPIRED BY PADDINGTON BEAR™ Exclusive babyGap Collection celebrates the beloved Bear from “Darkest Peru”
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IRINA SHAYK JOINS PATRICK DEMPSEY IN SACOOR BROTHERS’ NEW CAMPAIGN
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Louis Vuitton Spring /summer 2014 Marc Jacobs dedicated his final collection for Louis Vuitton to the women who inspire him. In the same spirit, the Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaign is devoted to a series of portraits of the designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s muses.
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PRIVÉ SPRING/SUMMER 2014
NOMADE
MENSWEAR - Spring / Summer 2014
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LEXUS IS DREAMING BIG AGAIN Lexus just officially unveiled this sultry-looking two-door at the North American International Auto Show. The 2015 RC F performance coupe is a V8-powered sports machine designed to rival products like the brandnew BMW M4 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. This car features a ton of interesting design details from that massive grille up front, to its heavily sculpted sides to the stacked quad tailpipes at the rear. And those outlets really help the car’s engine breathe freely. And that is the biggest news about the RC F performance coupe. This thing is powered by a 5.0-liter V8. Yes, an honest to goodness V8, and this is at a time when it seems like everyone else running to downsized, turbocharged four-cylinder powerplants. Way to go, Lexus!
This beast of an engine should put out more than 450 hp and at least 383 lb-ft of torque. Those goods are routed exclusively to the RC F’s rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. As for acceleration, the company claims it should blast from a standstill to 60 miles an hour faster than today’s IS F, which does the deed in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The RC F ought to be quicker because it’s got A LOT more power. However, a number of items do distinguish this cockpit from the one in its stable-mate. The steering wheel, pedal covers and seats are different from what you’d find in an IS, as is the instrument cluster. The drivercustomizable gauges are similar, with a unique moving center section a la the LFA supercar, but they’ve been custom designed specifically for the RC F. Lexus says this car will drive like a proper sports machine. To deliver on that promise it features an 122
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available torque vectoring differential that can shuffle power distribution from one rear wheel to the other to help the car rotate through corners. It’s got three driver-selectable modes: standard, slalom and track. But more important than this is mass. Engineers have targeted a curb weight under 4,000 pounds. Now for some bad news. The 2015 Lexus RC F performance coupe probably won’t be available until around December, which is basically an entire year away. Understandably, pricing has not been announced at this time but you can bet it won’t come cheap. Fortunately for Lexus this car’s got the looks and performance numbers to justify a mighty big sticker price.
automobiles
Mohamed Al-Sharrah
Crazy about car racing and tuned sport cars, a photographer and loves traveling. Follow Mohamed on twitter @alsharrah E-mail alsharrah@me.com February, 2014
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At the Grove Expo at AlHamra Tower
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flat White DISCOVER the rich, intense flavours of our Mocha Italia blend, Carefully combined with velvety smooth milk.
At the Secret Pon-Pon Event at Marina Mall
At the Opening of Kuwait Yacht Show 2014
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At the NesPresso Art Exhibition with Ahmed AlRashid
At the Awarding Ceremony for GulfRun 2014 Winners
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At the Kuwait Automotive Expo 2014
At the LandMark Group's Art Olympiad 7 - Awarding Ceremony
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At HORECA Kuwait 2014
At the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Meeting (EMR) for of the International Student Association (IFMSA). Hosted by The Kuwait Medical Student Association (KuMSA)
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Fun Starts with Nuzha! Let us arrange these amazing services for you!
Sea Trips
Kid's Camp
City Tours
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Hotels Booking
Tel. 25755825/35
Mobile: 97158539 @nuzhatours
E-mail: info@nuzhatours.com @NuzhaTours February, 2014
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مشاركة مميزة لطالبات بوكسهل في معرض Reuse - Avenues كان املعرض.شاركت طالبات كلية بوكسهل قسم الديكور والتصميم الداخلي واجلرافيكي في معرض إلعادة التدويرفي مجمع االفنيوز من تنظيم شركةen.v وهي منظمة رائدة مخصصة لنشر التوعية في ما يتعلق بحماية البيئة في العالم العربي بالتعاون معZain Telecom. كانت املعروضات مجموعة من القطع الفنية التي فازت في "مسابقة الفنون املعاد تدويرها" بني اجلامعات والكليات اخلاصة خللق أفضل بعد إختيار مجموعة من األعمال الفنية من كل جامعة عرضت هذه األعمال في. املواد املعاد تدويرها/ األعمال املصنوعة بالكامل من اخلردة مجمع الفنيوز ملدة ثالثة أيام وكان إختيار الفائز عبر التصويت لألفضل من خالل الInstagram. ومن أبرز هذه األعمال هن القطعة األولى "الساعة" التي صممتها الطالبة،مجموعة من أعمال طالبات بوكسهل كانوا من املؤهلني للفوز أما القطعة الثالثة "مصباح" من، منوذج معماري" من قبل زينب إبراهيم بو عباس- والقطعة الثانية "بركة عائمة،خلود خليفة الدملاني تصميم الطالبة شوق جعفر حيدر. كان هدف املعرض نشر التوعية حلماية البيئة بإستخدام إبداعات فنية للفئة الشابة من اجملتمع بإستعمال مواد تعاد تدويرها لصنع لوحة وقد كانت كلية بوكسهل من أول الكليات املشاركة علما ً بأن لديها قسم مخصصص للفنون التطبيقية يضم. أو قطعة فنية مميزة شارك في املعرض عدد من الطالبات وقد شكلت مشاركة الكلية أكثر من. تخصص التصميم اجلرافيكي والديكور والتصميم الداخلي ثالثني باملئة من املعروضات. الذي قام بجولة حول املعرض ملشاهدة أعمال املشاركني وقد عبر عن إعجابه الشديد بتصاميم،وقد عبر الدكتور علي عريفة رئيس الكلية طالبات كلية بوكسهل الكويت التي أكدت في مضمونها على أهمية إعادة التدوير في احلفاظ على املوارد لألجيال الالحقة ومدى تأثيرها على البيئة وعلى التنمية املستدامة.
Sbyke, the Hybrid Bike-Scooter Arrives at Fantasy World Fantasy World, Kuwait’s first renowned toy store and the ultimate destination for kids, is known for introducing some of the hottest and exciting toys in the market. This season, Fantasy World is calling out to all outdoor sports fans as it brings to Kuwait for the first time, the next step in the evolution of scooters, popularly known as the Sbyke! Developed by racing celebrities in the US and inspired by the BMX, this revolutionary product exclusive to Fantasy World and is a competition level scooter that blends in elements of bicycles, skateboards and scooters into a new category of rear-steer vehicles which offers nothing less than fun and adventure for the outdoors. Commenting on Fantasy World’s latest addition to its toy range, Mr. Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “Fantasy World is pleased to have exclusively rolled out the hybrid bike-scooter in its stores. Sbyke makes it enjoyable not only for kids but for the whole family as well as it can be used for transportation, exercise or solely for fun. Also, the vehicles’ unique design feature helps kids learn to ride and develop balance and competitive skills. Very addictive as it is very portable, easy to control and perfect for use in countless places making it an ideal choice for all ages”.
The secret Rendez-Vous. PS. I Love You. For Valentine’s Day, Jaeger-LeCoultre dresses its Rendez-Vous watch in a new patent leather strap with a secret in the shape of a dedicated inside pocket serving to hold a message. What will it be? The time of a romantic rendezvous? An intimate secret? An impassioned declaration of love? Each woman will discover a personalised hand-written message from the one who has chosen the new Valentine’s Day strap specifically for her. Within the Rendez-Vous watch blossoms the beauty of authentic horology, that which transcends and tames time. It epitomises the charm of the most beautiful creations, those that stage a rendezvous between technical sophistication and aesthetic elegance, uniting them in a disarmingly natural manner. Its femininity is conveyed through every detail of its graceful silhouette. The perfectly matched case and dial provide the perfect backdrop for the mechanical movement. The automatic calibre entirely developed, crafted and assembled in the Jaeger-LeCoultre workshops features a day/night indicator appearing amid a guilloché décor reflecting the finest Haute Horlogerie traditions. Time serenely takes its place, bathed in the glow of the diamond-set bezel that illuminates each passing moment. The new limited edition red strap with a secret will be available at Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques around the world for Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2014.
Nikon Ushers in New Era of Wireless Connectivity in DSLRs Nikon Middle East FZE today highlighted its commitment to wireless connectivity in Digital SLR cameras, on the back of a hugely successful 2013, which has seen the company achieve pole position in market share in the Middle East and Africa region. Takashi Yoshida, Managing Director Nikon MEA, said: “Nikon has been growing steadily in region, with business doubling in the past three years. From August 2013 onwards, we have achieved No. 1 market share in value of digital cameras , which include both DSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras. We’re very proud of reaching this milestone, and look forward to keeping up the momentum in 2014.” According to Narendra Menon, Regional Head Sales and Marketing, Nikon MEA, retailers are increasingly concentrating on the DSLR segment as an area of high growth. “The popularity of DSLRs is increasing on the back of their affordability, compact size and superiorquality pictures when compared for point-and-shoot cameras,” he explains, “In addition to the cameras, retailers also view lenses and other accessories as fast-growing sections with rising demand.” The boom in DSLR demand has contributed to Nikon’s rapid growth, and the company is capitalizing on this interest through their Nikon School program. The school provides free classes and workshops to help people enhance their photography skills, with sessions emphasizing the advantage of capturing high-quality images and exploring one’s capability to make art out of light. February, 2014
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دار الشفاء كلينيك ومركز دار الشفاء لألسنان يقدمون خدماتهم للقطاعات احلكومية وبهذه املناسبة قدم فريق دار الشفاء كلينيك ومركز،أعلن دار الشفاء كلينيك اليوم البداية الرسمية ملسيرة التعاون مع القطاعات احلكومية وقياس ضغط الدم إلى جانب، منها حتليل بنية اجلسم،دار الشفاء لألسنان لزوار وعاملي التراخيص الطبية مجموعة واسعة من الفحوصات املشورة املتخصصة وفقا لنتائج هذه الفحوصات واإلختبارات. هذا وأصبح بإمكان مرتادي القطاعات احلكومية والعاملني بها تلقي خدمات صحية مجانية تشمل فحص نسبة السكر في الدم وفحص مؤشر كتلة اجلسمBMI ، هذا باإلضافة إلى تقدمي معلومات.إضافة إلى إجراء أشعه موضعية لألسنان وتعريفهم طرق العالج املناسبة لكل حالة إلى جانب مجموعة من النصائح املتعلقة بالنمط الغذائي،تثقيفية واستشارات حول أمراض مختلفة وكيفية الوقاية منها ومكافحتها الواجب اتباعه واملقدمه من اختصاصيني التغذية في دار الشفاء كلينك وأطباء األسنان ذوي اخلبرة والكفاءة في مركز دار الشفاء لألسنان. "نحن فخورون بأن نكون اجلهه الوحيدة في: مدير تطوير األعمال واالستراتيجيات في دار الشفاء، قالت الدكتورة غادة ولويل،وفي هذا الصدد الكويت التي تبادر بهذا التعاون بتوفير العديد من اخلدمات الطبية إلى اجلهات احلكومية وذلك من أجل توفير أفضل خدمة ممكنة للمرضى في الكويت." خطونا خطوه جديدة،" واليوم. لتحقيق أفضل النتائج، "إننا سوف ندعم دائما ً الكويت احلبيبة ومجتمعها بكل وسيلة ممكنة: ولويل.وأضافت د إلى األمام ببدء التعاون الصحي بني دار الشفاء كلينيك ووزارة الصحة في الكويت. ويوفرون خدمات، "يعد دار الشفاء كلينيك ومركز دار الشفاء لألسنان أحد ابرز مزودي الرعاية الصحية في الكويت: ولويل. قالت د،عالوة على ذلك ونأمل أن يكون هذا التعاون مقدمة ملزيد من الشراكات املثمرة في املستقبل."طبية متكاملة للمرضى. مرزوق البدر مدير إدارة التراخيص الطبية عن سعادته البالغة باخلطوه اإليجابية التى خطتها دار الشفاء كلينيك لتقدمي خدمات.ومن جانبه عبر د مشيرا ً إلى أنها تعتبر بداية موفقه للتعاون املشترك بني القطاع اخلاص والقطاعات احلكومية اخملتلفة ومتمنيا ً أن،الرعاية الصحية للمجتمع تعطي مبادره دار الشفاء كلينيك الدفعه القوية جلميع القطاعات الطبية اخلاصة لتحذو حذوها في خدمة اجملتمع. The essence of the watchmaker's art – classic, elegant, contemporary Swiss quality and fine watchmaking are terms that perfectly describe the five new contemporary models in the Masterpiece Tradition line, a development of the long-established Masterpiece collection. As watches for the 21st century, they present a classic modernity emphasized by a truly dynamic style. At the same time, they respect the elegant harmony that characterizes Swiss watchmaking. Their combination of expertise and aesthetic design reflects the values that Maurice Lacroix represents. The five models are offered in different versions, including some in a limited edition. Masterpiece Tradition 5 Aiguilles Following the style of the Masterpiece Tradition, the hours, minutes and seconds are indicated by classic hands complemented by a calendar display. However, this model has one different feature: the day and date are not shown digitally in a window set into the dial but by an analog display involving two central hands with a distinctive design. This unusual feature has given the watch its name: the Masterpiece Tradition 5 Hands. Great care has been taken with the decoration of the automatic movement. Traditional circular graining together with Côtes de Genève give it a sparkling brilliance that will delight all watch lovers. The classic Côtes de Genève on the gold-plated oscillating weight can be seen shimmering through the sapphire case back. The model is available with several different dials and external parts, sometimes in a limited edition.
Jeep® Wrangler: Legendary Capability And Improved Ergonomics The engineering team behind the Jeep® Wrangler - the most capable and recognised vehicle in the world - are constantly looking for ways to make the Wrangler even more enjoyable and comfortable on a daily basis from the inside out while continuing to improve its off-road ability. The introduction of the all-new powerful yet fuel efficient award-winning Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission in 2012 means that Jeep Wrangler offers dramatically improved on-road performance combined with even more off-road prowess. “Now, with new features added to the interior, the latest Wrangler adds improved comfort to its long list of benefits,” said Jack Rodencal, Managing Director of Fiat Chrysler Middle East. “The result is an untouched level of capability off-road, combined with on-road dynamics, fuel efficiency and interior comfort that make Jeep Wrangler the perfect vehicle for fun daily driving, weekend trail-running or extreme off-roading.” “Available in 2 and 4 door models and boasting an untouchable combination of efficient design, open-air freedom, significant towing capability, improved real-world drivability, and unique 4x4 systems that deliver unmatched off-road prowess, Jeep Wrangler maintains its position as the benchmark off-road vehicle and offers consumers the ultimate vehicle for any driving adventure.”
Emirates and Mauritius launch activities to promote the destination across the Middle East Emirates, a global connector of people and places, and the Mauritius tourism authorities are holding a series of road show events across the Middle East region to promote tourism to the Indian Ocean paradise. The events, organised by the airline and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), will promote Mauritius’ many attractions in the key Middle East markets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2 February and 10th February 2014. Starting in Riyadh on 2 February, the road show activities will then move to Jeddah (3 February), Doha (5 February), Kuwait (6 February) Abu Dhabi (9 February), culminating in Dubai on 10th February. The road show follows the recent deployment of an Emirates A380 to Mauritius, enabling tourists to travel to the idyllic destination on the airline’s flagship aircraft. The Mauritian delegation for the road show will be led by Hon. Michael Sik Yuen, Minister of Tourism and Leisure and Dr. Karl Mootoosamy, Director of the MTPA. Senior Emirates’ representatives will join the activities. Mauritian resorts and tourist operators such as Sun Resorts, Beachcomber Hotels, Veranda Leisure Hotels, St Régis Hotel, Attitude, Constance Hotels and Resorts, Le Preskil, Alyzée Resort, Mautourco, Luxe Voyages and SouthGate Voyages will also participate in the roadshow. “Mauritius, a dream destination for travellers, is without any doubt a pearl in the Indian Ocean, said Hon. Michael Sik Yuen, Minister of Tourism and Leisure for Mauritius. “Choosing Mauritius as a holiday destination is an enriching experience, especially for travellers in quest of authenticity and a high quality product. Travellers will be mesmerised by the peacefulness, hospitality, safety and unique and personalised service that are provided by the local people,” Mr Sik Yuen added. 136
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Join us and enjoy with your friends & families Tuesday & Wednesday February 11th & 12th 2014 From 9:00 am till 3:00 pm BHCK Campus Abo Haleifa Tel: 25458569 / 568 Media Sponsor
: BL - 30 : BL - 100 : C - 0, M - 70, Y - 100, K - 0 TO : C - 0, M - 15, Y - 80, K - 0
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Pinky by Tissot Valentine’s Day Tissot has the perfect gift for you to impress this Valentine’s Day. Women always expect a lot from men on that holiday in particular. Get it right this year and everything will be easier. You can’t go wrong with the Pinky by Tissot. It is beautifully feminine with its curved case and fine features, with the mother-of-pearl and diamonds on the dial adding further sophistication and elegance to the piece. The bright red leather strap is where it gets its undeniable style from. It has everything a woman could ask for and most importantly, it offers time which is what they really want. A loving message This watch will be more than just a watch in her eyes but something that she will cherish and hold dear for time to come. The messages of love, passion and sophistication will come across and not be forgotten. With this creation, Tissot wishes you a happy Valentine’s Day. Features • Swiss made • Quartz movement • Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal • 316L Stainless steel case • Mother-of-pearl dial with 3 Top Wesselton diamonds • Leather bracelet with standard buckle • Water resistance up to a pressure of 3 bar (30 m / 100 ft)
Marina Hotel Kuwait participates in HORECA Kuwait 2014 Marina Hotel Kuwait recently participated in the Horeca Kuwait 2014 exhibition for Hospitality and Food for third consecutive year. The culinary competition, which was organized for chefs, attracted a large number of participants from across the leading hotels in Kuwait, food and beverage sector, as well as food companies that participated in the exhibition. The three day event saw the participation of five chefs from Marina Hotel Kuwait who attended the different categories with great interest and enthusiasm. The participating chef’s were Chef Wael Alkhlif –Executive Sous Chef, Chef Niroshan Sanjeewa Makawita Liyanage –Junior Sous Chef, Chef Dinidu Kumara Silva Murukkuwadura –Chef De Partie, Chef Joseph Kashoo- Chef De Partie and Edirimunige Jagath Kumara De Silva –Commi 1. The Chef’s won 3 gold medals in mezza and sushi categories and 2 silver medals in the food basket competition. Mr. Nabil Hammoud, General Manager of Marina Hotel Kuwait said, - “We consider HORECA to be an important event and a platform for business opportunities. This is the third consecutive year for the hotel to participate in this exhibition, in which it is considered the ideal setting for us to showcase our chef’s talents who continue to take part in such competitions with pleasure. We pride ourselves on the skills of our professional chefs.”
Top 9mm is obscured by frame
Say it
Say it with Chocolate or Strawberry!
WITH CHOCOLATE & STRAWBERRY
It’s that time of year once again; when everyone has the perfect opportunity to let the special people in their lives know how deeply they care about them. The Body Shop offers an array of beautiful pre-made gifts from the best selling products; or the flexibility of getting the products packaged in-store by the experts, choosing from The Body Shop luxurious wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags and boxes. The sweet and fruity Strawberry range is totally irresistible. It smells like juicy, just-picked strawberries and is the perfect gift. The collection has body butter, shower gel, body lotion, home fragrance oil, body mist, eau de toilette, lip gloss, beautifying oil and soap, everything one would need to complete a beauty
As well, the decadently Chocolate range is pure indulgence. The secret lies in lashings of shea and cocoa butter and 11 other feel good Community Fair Trade ingredients. Providing 24 hour hydration is the Chocomania body butter and also available in the range are shower cream, eau de toilette, body mist, body scrub, beautifying oil, soap and lip butter.
© 2012 The Body Shop International Plc. All rights reserved Absolutely no reproduction without the permission of the owners ® Registered trademark of The Body Shop International Plc. INVLTTF021
routine.
INJAZ- Kuwait Concludes Innovation Camp Workshop Sponsored by NAS INJAZ-Kuwait announced the successful conclusion of the National Service Aviation's (NAS) sponsorship of the INJAZ Innovation Camp (I-Camp) workshop, which was recently held at the Agility Logistics premises. The workshop witnessed more than 36 students, who attended from the Kuwait International English School. The INJAZ- Kuwait I-Camp is a six hour workshop that aims at training students on how to think critically and analytically, to solve a business problem as a team, in a professional working environment. The workshop was commenced with a skills training session, followed by the group exercise where teams were headed by business executives, volunteering from different companies. Seven employees from NAS also volunteered to participate in the workshop by providing guiding students as they worked towards finding the most appropriate solution to the business challenge. Rana Al-Nibari, CEO of INJAZ-Kuwait said: "I would like to thank NAS for their support and for believing in the added value INJAZKuwait's programs bring to participating students. INJAZ aims at equipping youth with the knowledge and mind set required to enter the work field prepared to take on more than just the theoretical responsibilities they are taught throughout their educational years. The hands-on experience allows students to broaden their understandings of what the work field really entails." The exercise was concluded with each team of students presenting their theoretical business solution to an eminent panel of three judges that included Abdessatar Khalifa, Manager - Hala Kuwait, Omar Saleh Al Bassam, Global HR Director and Tarek Abdulatif AlMawrdi, Sales Manager Travel & Tourism. The judging panel carefully evaluated each solution based on the teams' level of innovation. Omar Al Bassam said, "Today's Kuwaiti youth are our future leaders. It's our duty as business professionals to invest time and effort in nurturing youth. INJAZ have been a pioneer in this field for many years and we acknowledge their efforts and thank them. "INJAZ Kuwait will continue to present students with programs that will grant them with practical training experience, and the opportunity to apply the theories and knowledge attained throughout their education.
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Dalal AlDughaishem
with
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website: www.saycheeez.net email: info@saycheeez.net Twitter & flicker & instagram: @saycheeez_photo phone number (only whats app ): 55062262
Dalal is a profession photographer specializing in Kids and Babies Photography. Contact us if you wish to feature your Kids brand in CityPages magazine.
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Math—Using a tangram; spatial relationship
An Ancient Chinese Puzzle
Ancient Chinese Puzzle
I was bragging about how good I am at solving things when a This friendisofanmine gave Chinese me an ancient Chinese called aThe objective is to ancient puzzle calledpuzzle TANGRAM. tangram. object pieces is to arrange all fit seven pieces so they square. fit insideYou a perfect arrange The all seven so they inside a perfect can either square. I thought like to try it, I have put the of pieces youand need here. cut these piecesyou outmight or trace them onsoanother sheet paper cut them You can either cut these pieces out. out or trace on another sheet of paper and So, get them going! cut them out. So get going!
#3 #4 #1
#2
#6
#5
Fit all the pieces inside this square.
Jumbled Words 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
HMY CIRH DKEC EKWE FTI ECHW GDAL UONN EHN NAWT DHIS HASC
= = = = = = = = = = = =
#7
ANSWERS: 1.HIM, 2.RICH, 3.DECK, 4. WEEK, 5.FIT, 6.CHEW, 7.GLAD, 8.NOUN, 9.HEN, 10.WANT, 11.DISH, 12.CASH
. here.. TakeThe The Tangram t tangram pieces have oftenChallenge been used to create other shape e m m aTANGRAM Takebeen the tangram you arrange the The piecespuzzles, have too. often used challenge! to createCan other shapeallpuzzles H o Jtoo. Take the TANGRAM pieces so they form Can the shape an animalall suchthe as apieces bird or an Challenge! youofarrange so they object such as a boat? (You must use all the pieces.)
form the shape of an animal such as a bird or an object such as a boat? (You must use all the pieces.) © 1998 Knowledge Adventure, Inc. All rights reserved. JumpStart 5th Grade is a trademark, and Knowledge Adventure name and 28
logo are registered trademarks of Knowledge Adventure, Inc.
•Research suggests that Children tend to grow faster in spring season as compared to any other time of the year !
Make Words
•Food is either cooled or warmed to a suitable temperature in the mouth !
How many 3 or more letter words can you make with the letters in the word below. Each letter may be only used once.
•Do you know that your Toe-prints are also unique, just like your finger prints !And imagine even your tongue print is unique!
C
P N
R S E E T
A
Example: CAR,... Send us your answers by email to: cpkids@citypageskuwait.com along with your name and contact number
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Interesting Human Body Facts
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•You know ,you have no sense of smell when you're sleeping! •You know ,you can see your nose all the time but somehow your brain always ignores it! •We all blink after every few seconds, but do we know the purpose of blinking ! Blinking helps to wash tears over our eyeballs.That keeps them clean and moist. •An average person has over 1,460 dreams a year which is about 4 dreams every night!
•The human body has enough iron in it to make 3 inches long nail.
50 CELEBRATING
Your
ISSUES
Your
Spread Love... Spread CityPages! February, 2014
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Horoscopes The groundwork for the month is laid in February's first days as the overwhelming energies of Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto are hard at work. You and others are convinced that your way is the only way, and you fight for your convictions. Venus has just turned direct, and it's possible there are financial rewards at stake. Take advantage of this short, powerful time because progress could be stalled as of February 6. There could be a decision made with the Leo Full Moon on February 14, the only lunation of the month. Mercury turns direct on February 28, so that day could bring resolution to any unanswered questions.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
People might be troublesome and some plans could fall through in the first few days. Keep a sharp eye on finances and avoid arguments if you can. Everything will be all right. Life gets easier and smoother again by February 4. Dreams run rampant at the February 14 Full Moon and a stimulating new love might find you. Remember to be good to yourself and don't get overexcited. Enjoy the fresh energy and have fun with this. By February 18 the emotional atmosphere changes yet again and you risk heartbreak if you're overly involved. What a roller-coaster ride for your heart!
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
People may be difficult to help the first week, so ration your efforts accordingly. Some anticipated fun might be interfered with, too. If so, don't be disappointed. Change plans a little and maybe go where people appreciate you more. The February 14 Full Moon shines brightly on all those delicious little things in life. Cherish some peace and quiet, too. A few days later, too much wishful thinking could get in the way of progress. It might even be other people's fantasies and not yours that slow things down for you. By February 20 or so these obstacles should drift back into the mist.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Be out and about the first week of the month, sometimes even happily playing the fool. You know how far to take things. The novelty will have faded by February 3 or February 4, and it will be back to normal daily life. It's an especially fiery and powerful Full Moon for you on February 14, when each and every friend sees you as their special valentine. Enjoy the popularity and spread the joy. The last two weeks could be busy at work, with people wanting solutions and guidance. You'll have surprisingly good answers, but there might be some jealousy or competition.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
You could attract any number of the wrong sorts of people as February begins, but that peculiar attraction should wear off after a few days. You aren't doing anything differently, so don't blame yourself. The February 14 Full Moon impacts your sense of responsibility to others, and this could draw someone who recognizes your problem-solving skills and is willing to pay for your help. There's a degree of altruism as well as sheer professionalism at play here. Don't hesitate to describe your aspirations. February 17 and February 18 could be socially challenging, but you can spot common ground and point it out to reestablish peace.
GEMINI
LIBRA
AQUARIUS
(May 21 - June 20)
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
The work scene looks good, but the social scene looks turbulent. Stay calm and out of any crossfire for the first few days, and look forward to the days after February 5. The February 14 Full Moon zaps both home and office, making it harder to set priorities. You can still maintain that air of cool competence and get more done than you ever imagined. Handling difficult people will get easier for you in the last week, not because the people get easier but because you get more skillful and diplomatic. Listen, learn, and then adapt. That's all you need.
A crazy lover wannabe isn't really stalking you, but it might feel that way as the month begins. This will go away completely after February 5 or so, but it's still good to travel with a buddy. This Full Moon on February 14 lets you see who your true friends are and how they really love just being with you. Relish the camaraderie. You might look at a lover (or other partner) around February 17 or February 18 and wonder whatever were you thinking when you paired up. It's always good to reexamine a relationship, but feelings now might just be hollow self-doubt. Relax.
As the month opens, your sense of fun could encourage extravagance or some needless risk with money. By February 4 this danger should be over, but the memories of foolishness may linger. It's a special Full Moon for you on February 14, when love is so thick in the air you can almost taste it. Don't overcommit, but you also don't have to run and hide. February 18 and February 19 could be stressful, and it won't be possible to keep it all secret. Just be forthright and honest and don't assume all the blame. It will all be fine again a few days later.
CANCER
SCORPIO
PISCES
(June 21 - July 22)
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
It could briefly be crazy times at work, but nothing you haven't seen before. A partner or two might also make these first few days of the month more exciting than you'd like. It will all clear up after February 5 or February 6, however, so stay calm and keep smiling. That bright Full Moon on February 14 highlights good times with your favorite friends at your favorite places. It also energizes your fondest dreams and fantasies. From February 18 until the end of the month you could see some extra luck regarding money, but it won't be effortless. Decide how hard you're willing to work. citypageskuwait.com
Don't let other people's problems sideswipe you in the first week of the month. It might be tempting to overreact and chase after too many good times, but resist that, too. Things will settle down after February 4 or so. This February 14 Full Moon is for you and whatever partner you have at the moment. Be the royal couple and share secret wishes and a fantasy or two. You deserve to decompress. From February 18 until February 20 you might feel a bit like a scapegoat. If people pay more attention to you, know that some of it is well intentioned.
(April 20 - May 20)
Friends from afar may send you unpleasant news as February opens, but it's nothing to rock your world. Friends and lovers near at hand are here for you. By February 5 it will all be old news anyway. The Full Moon on February 14 could make you wildly popular and surround you with casual friends. Keep the mood light with cool, casual fun nothing heavy. February 18 and February 20 are more emotionally demanding, which could be a good thing if you're trying to connect deeply with a new special someone. Frivolous feelings won't be much help now. Respect and listen to your heart.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Being introspective will work to your advantage, especially in the first two or three days of the month, but you could feel bottled up. Without picking any fights, you can find ways to decompress and be good to your blood pressure. If things get tense at home, smile and remember that you're the lucky one. The February 14 Full Moon shines on your career and your fondest wishes at home. Be dignified and be treated like royalty. Your emotions may get raw and the world feel more threatening as February 18 approaches. Stay calm. By February 20 these feelings will pass.
Be careful whose advice you take, if any, in the first few days of the month. Wild ideas and questionable suggestions abound, especially about money. This confusion should quiet down by February 3 or February 4. The Full Moon on February 14 could distract you from taking adequate care of yourself. You can be loving and giving, but you don't have to sacrifice everything and martyr yourself for any cause. The world needs you too much. If your free spirit or reckless desires get you into hot water on February 18, just remember just how darn charming and sincere you can be.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER?
1. What famous sauce is manufactured by McIlhenny & Co? 2. What year was the first motor race held that was classed as Formula 1? 3. In the wild west, how was Henry McCarty better known? 4. How many stories did each of the World trade Towers Have? 5. What is the name of the cafe in Coronation Street?
Test Your Vocabulary It is indestructible, imperishable wealth, subject only to the________ of value that economic changes bring about. 1. detonations 2. mutations 3. anachronisms 4. dualisms Mutation comes from the Latin word mutationemmeaning "a changing." You might recognize this root in related words like mutate, mutable, and mutant. We often think of mutations as changes in an animal's genetic structure, but there are other kinds of mutations. For example, if an architect designs an awardwinning building, her later designs that are similar might be called mutations of that one.
General Knowledge Quiz
6. According to the BBC how many rooms are there in Buckingham Palace?
A mutation is a genetic change that causes new and different characteristics, like the mutation on the dog's DNA that makes its tail shorter than its ancestors' tails.
7. What is the busiest single-runway airport in the world?
ANSWER: 2. Mutation is a noun that means a change or alteration in form or
qualities.
8. By number of films made which country has the largest film industry? 9. Who lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics? 10. On what day of the year is St Georges day held?
Cool Maths Puzzle Can you solve the maths puzzle by replacing the question mark with the correct number ?
1
5
6
3
4
?
1
2
12. The scientific unit LUMEN is used in the measurement of what?
9
1
2
3
13. Which Apollo moon mission was the first to carry a lunar rover vehicle?
1
1
6
7
11. What is the highest break that can be achieved in a game of snooker?
14. Who wrote Twilight series of novels? ANSWERS :(8)
15. What is the capital of India? 16. Who wrote the poem 'The Owl and the Pussycat'? 17. Which country had a secret police force known as the Tonton Macoute? 18. In which city is the European Parliament based?
JUMBLED WORDS Y e L C C C A R T K P I t t s y
19. Gala, Jonagold and Pink Lady are varieties of which fruit? C Y S T O L
ANSWERS: 1. Tabasco, 2. 1950, 3. Billy The Kid, 4. 110, 5. Roy's Rolls, 6. 775, 7. London Gatwick, 8. India, 9. Muhammad Ali, 10. 23rd April, 11. 155 (potting a free ball and then a black, followed by 15 reds, 15 blacks & all the colours), 12. Light, 13. Apollo 15, 14. Stephenie Meyer, 15. New Delhi, 16. Edward Lear, 17. Haiti, 18. Strasbourg, 19. Apple, 20. Kidney
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C R O c h s ANSWERS:CYCLE, TRACK, TYPIST, COSTLY, SCORCH
20. Which organ of the body is affected by Bright's Disease?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻔﻨﻄﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
151
February, 2014