Dazzle February 14 Issue 78

A KS 5 SR

Life, Style, and Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 14

Issue 78

SAG Awards

Outstanding Performance

e Special

Valentine Special

Saudi Women 2014

Valentine Special

Valentine Special

Vogue Valentine Valentine Special

Valentine Special

National Media Award 2014 Valentine Special

Valent

ISSN 1751-9195 Valentine Special

Coming Soon...

KSA’s Ultimate Fashion Guide Now In Its Second Year...

Nations Of Fashion And Style

Book Now! For more information, contact us on: T: +966 (0) 2 6687528 - F: + 966 (0) 2 6687529 M: +966 (0) 598387367 - E: fashionation@muzemediallc.com W: www. muzemediallc.com - A: P.O. Box 5536, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia

February is upon us, and the intricate web of love comes into focus. I call it a web because, more than anything, love is complicated in its simplicity. It poses as a simple four-letter word, yet it carries the weight of at least ten different emotions, and at the least, the same number of facets. And, since the beginning of time, the search for true love and its meaning has baffled multitudes, and was the cause for many a demise and achievement alike.

So in an attempt to simplify all that is complicated about love, I wanted to tell you what I have always believed is the meaning of love, and the secret to its success. For me, it lies in the order of the words I Love You. First comes the ‘I’, which means that your primary focus should be on yourself because only then would you be a secure, confident, and positive partner; then comes ‘Love’, which means that your second focus should be on the love - cherishing it, respecting it, enjoying it; then finally comes ‘You’, which means that your third focus should be on your partner because if you properly satisfy the first two priorities, the third one, your loved one, will just fall into place, and you would have a healthy, loving relationship. Only in poetry and in books is it written You, I Love, which implies that you prioritise him first, then yourself, and then the love itself.

To me, this is the type of scenario that calls for a dramatic relationship only suited for novels, yet, many of us live by. So, this Valentine, pamper yourself first, then devise the most heartfelt evening that both of you love, and finally, give your spouse your undivided attention.

And, at Dazzle, we attempted to make things even simpler for you by taking care of your V-Day outfit in Vogue Valentine (p. 36), giving you the 4 Secrets For Bliss Seekers (p. 16), and featuring a romantic getaway in Breathtaking Brunei (p. 56) alongside all our other essential life tools.

So, go on, indulge…

afa

Reham Abul-W azz

e.com le-magazin

dazzle@d

4

FEBRUARY 2014

mail

Contact us on your favourite social network...

Find us on Twitter: Last month on Facebook:

Twitter.com/DazzleMagazine

Find us on LinkedIn:

Facebook.com/Dazzle.Magazine

Linkedin.com/in/DazzleMagazine Linkedin.com/company/Dazzle-Magazine

Dazzle 32, KSA ddah 214 Je , 6 3 5 5 O.Box ai UAE gazine, P. 170, Dub .Box 213 azzle Ma Saudi: D le magazine, P.O e.com n azz -magazi Dubai: D @dazzle le zz a d : Email

:

us Write to

6

FEBRUARY 2014

Digital

Dazzle www.Issuu.com/DazzleMagazine www.Issuu.com/MuzeMediallc

Register Now, To Get Your Complementary Subscription.

For more information please contact us on: T: +966 (0) 2 6687528 F: + 966 (0) 2 6687529 - M: +966 (0) 598387367 - E: dazzle@dazzle-magazine.com W: www. dazzle-magazine.com - A: P.O. Box 5536, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia

Grosvenor Court, Albert Road, Ramsey, IM8 1JA Isle of Man, Great Britain

Contents FEBRUARY 2014

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reham Abul-Wafa OPERATING DIRECTOR Ghadeer Zainy DEPUTY EDITOR Tamer G Hassan SUB-EDITOR Hafsa Mahfooz BEAUTY EDITOR Sonja Svensek HEALTH EDITOR Nisrine Kreidieh PR DIRECTOR Dania Al Safadi CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ahmad Galal

PRODUCTION CMYK Designs PHOTOGRAPHY Étre Photogénique DISTRIBUTION Wataniya Distribution ltd For Inquiries & Advertising KSA: P.O.Box 5536, Jeddah 21432 M: +966 (0) 598387367 T: +966 (0) 2 6687528 F: +966 (0) 2 6687529 dazzle@dazzle-magazine.com Copyright Notice

All materials contained within are protected by international copyright, trademark, and/ or other applicable law and no part may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the publisher, with the exception of quotations in reviews where the source is acknowledged.

© 2014 Muze Media LLC. All rights reserved.

Spectacular 10 New Artist Spotlight: Jon Pardi

Charm

16 4 Secrets For Bliss Seekers 18 Fighting Procrastination

Sparkle

32 Hairy Solutions 34 Ask Sonja 36 Vogue Valentine

Bedazzled

Brilliant

20 You, Him And His Ex 22 Which F.R.I.E.N.D Are You?

52 Talking SMB Tech 54 Awe-Inspiring Bedrooms 56 Breathtaking Brunei

Inspire

Amaze

24 Invest In Hire Assess 26 The EM Crisis

Glow

28 Are You Semi-Somniac?

30 Ask Nisrine

60 Thai In Thirty

Dazztrology 62 Skye Thomas

Last Word 64 The Beauty Of Love

Cover

12 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance

16 20 28 36 Disclaimer Notice

Opinions, estimates and projections herein constitute the current judgement of the author and they do not reflect the opinions of the publisher, Muze Media LLC. Muze Media LLC accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage resulting from errors, inaccuracies or omissions or any loss or damages sustained by anyone as a result of information or advice utilized in any manner.

Spectacular Celeb

New Artist Spotlight:

Jon Pardi

By Bob Doerschuk

10

FEBRUARY 2014

Apparently his experiences left Pardi unscarred.

While there are no tears-in-mybeer blues here, that’s not to say he avoids introspective material. But, even on the down-tempo ‘Love Hangs Around’ (written by Pardi, Treat Summar, and Odie Blackmon), you sense that it’s just a matter of time before the lyric’s two long-distance

lovers enjoy a happy reunion.

Similarly, the rockin’ numbers have dimension.

You’ll hear hardly a mention of trucks or cut-off jeans; instead, actual stories inhabit his down-home grooves. The title cut (Pardi, Bart Butler, and Davy Ulbrich), as well as ‘Up All Night’ (Pardi, Butler, and Brett Beavers), showcase his fondness for melodies built on tight, repetitive motifs. The guy just sounds like he’s having a ball, and with his amiable drawl he’s inviting us all to join him.

Article & Image: © 2013 CMA Close Up News Service/Country Music Association, Inc.

A lot of Pardi’s energy stems from days on the road and long nights on stages throughout his home state of California. He was already absorbing the spirit of realworld Country when he performed ‘Friends in Low Places’ at age seven for his father’s

thirtieth birthday party. His first songs came at twelve, his first band debuted two years later. The move to Nashville followed two restless years at Butte Junior College.

© Russ Harrington/Country Music Association

Saloon pianos clink, guitars crunch, and fiddles, well, they fiddle throughout ‘Write You a Song’, Jon Pardi’s debut album on Capitol Records Nashville.

And it fits together into a package that practically dares you not to get up and dance.

In His Own Words Musical Hero “There are so many, I don’t know where to start. Elvis was pretty awesome, though.”

Album On Your Playlist “Bakersfield by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin.”

Dream Duet Partner “Willie Nelson. Willie just takes a song up to a whole new level.”

Pet Peeve “People who eat really loud.”

Title Of Your Autobiography “Life of the Pardi.”

Find out more about Jon Pardi at www.JonPardi.com and follow him on Twitter: @JonPardi.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

11

Spectacular

SAG Awards Outstanding Performance

Cover Celebs

The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA is one of the awards season’s premier events. It honoured outstanding performances from 2013 in five film categories and eight TV categories, including the distinctive ensemble awards. The awards were handed out at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition on January 18, 2014, to:

Matthew McConaughey Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role (Dallas Buyers Club)

12

FEBRUARY 2014

The cast of American Hustle Outstanding Performance

By A Cast In A Motion Picture

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty

Motion Pictures Category

© Theo Wargo/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Jared Leto Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role (Dallas Buyers Club)

Television Category

Lupita Nyong’o Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role (12 Years A Slave)

The cast of Breaking Bad Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

© Theo Wargo/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Cate Blanchett Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role (Blue Jasmine)

www.dazzle-magazine.com

13

Spectacular

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Cover Celebs

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

The cast of Modern Family Outstanding Performance

By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

Bryan Cranston Outstanding Performance

By A Male Actor In A Drama Series (Breaking Bad)

14

FEBRUARY 2014

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Ty Burrell Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series (Modern Family)

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

© Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series (Veep)

© Theo Wargo/WireImage/Image.net/Getty Images

Actress Helen Mirren Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries (Phil Spector)

Michael Douglas Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries (Behind The Candelabra)

Connect With The SAG Awards Information: www.sagawards.org/about/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/sagawardsofficialpage/ Twitter: @sagawards or www.twitter.com/sagawards Google +: www.google.com/+SAGawards Instagram: @sagawards Tumblr: www.sagawards.tumblr.com Blog: blog.sagawards.org SAG Awards official hashtag: #SAGawards SAG Awards Nominations official hashtag: #SAGawardsNoms

www.dazzle-magazine.com

15

Charm

Mind & Soul

4

Secrets For Bliss Seekers

We all wish to live happily ever after, but achieving eternal bliss comes from within. Find out how you can grab happiness and hold on to it forever…

Happiness is an emotion in which a person expresses feelings of joy, contentment and satisfaction. For all of us, this emotion constantly presents itself in varying degrees; we could be overflowing with joy one day and feel completely deprived of it the next day. And because we’re well aware of the highs of happiness, its absence creates a void in us and we crave to go back to the blissful state. But, what you must understand is that life isn’t a bed of roses and things will not always go your way, so learn to deal with your lows today and work on creating a happier tomorrow: 1. Accept Your Mistakes The biggest misconception we hold is that people will dislike us if we make mistakes, so we constantly try to hide or deny our slipups. But, what people actually dislike are the excuses and blame games used to cover up mistakes. The mark of a moral humanbeing is his ability to accept blunders

16

FEBRUARY 2014

and take responsibility for the same. If you can say, “Yes it was my fault,” people will appreciate your honesty and help you deal with the problem. But, you should learn to forgive yourself first and this is perhaps the biggest hurdle because mistakes are tough on self-esteem.

Understand that it’s okay to mess up at times and it’s never too late to apologise. Learning to own up to your blunders will put you at peace with yourself and happiness will be yours.

2. Be In Control Usually, when we face tough situations, we let our emotions and feelings take over and feel absolutely powerless.

Even though it’s not in our power to control certain events, we can always manage our reactions to them. Keep in mind that only you can decide whether to choose harmony or turmoil. If you can hold positive thoughts and feelings in a stressful environment, nothing can stop you from being happy. Learn

to take things lightly and try stretching your troubles to such hilarious limits that you end up laughing. It’s also helpful to take some time out and indulge in activities that calm you down. You can go for walks, listen to music, talk to friends, or meditate.

3. Have Faith Think about it, nature constantly gives us hope for a better tomorrow, so why give up and despair?

We all face obstacles and troubles, but the unhappy choice is to let them stop us. When troubles come your way, the best thing you can do is ask God to give you strength and hope for a brighter tomorrow. When things don’t go as planned, think where the new direction might be leading you.

For all you know, an unfortunate event may actually prove to be advantageous. Keep in mind that you don’t have to put an end to all your problems in one day. The key is to take troubles one step at a time and eventually eradicate them.

4. Deal With Criticism Rumi, a Sufi poet, once wrote, “Criticism polishes my mirror.” When people criticise you, or your actions, take it in stride and learn from it. Don’t think that they’re trying to make you feel worthless because they’re genuinely trying to help you out and make you a better person. When criticized by people you

trust, think of yourself as an athlete getting direction and support from a coach who wants to see you perform better. You should never let criticism shake your confidence, but always think of it as a way to help you reach a higher level of performance.

But, be careful of people who love finding fault with everyone as they will only

scratch your mirror, not polish it.

The only thing that is truly worth fighting for is happiness, so bring back the bright, hopeful sun in your life and do away with misery, once and for all.

Make a conscious effort to change your outlook towards life and learn to channel negativity in a positive direction.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

17

Charm

Personality

Fighting Procrastination Are you guilty of avoiding important tasks and pushing them to the next day? Well, its time to wake up from lala land and deal with procrastination today, not tomorrow…

Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a job which needs to be accomplished. This complex psychological behaviour often leads to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt among people.

Experts believe that it affects everyone to some degree; with some it can be a minor problem, but with others it can cause stress and anxiety.

The Procrastination Research Group conducted an online survey by asking, “To what extent is procrastination having a negative impact on your happiness?” The majority, 46%, of people chose ‘quite a bit’, and 18% claimed ‘extreme negative effect’. This just goes to prove that we need to fight the problem of procrastination for our emotional wellbeing.

Joseph Ferrari, PhD, Associate Professor Of Psychology at Chicago’s DePaul University and co-editor of the book ‘Procrastination and Task Avoidance’ says, “Telling a chronic procrastinator to ‘just do it’ is like telling a clinically depressed person to cheer up.” As the name suggests, chronic procrastinators are people who constantly delay important tasks and lag behind in their accomplishments.

They avoid revealing too much information about their abilities,

18

FEBRUARY 2014

do not act on their intentions, and prefer doing simple tasks.

These characteristics stem from low self-esteem, noncompetitiveness, self-deception, perfectionism, and lack of selfconfidence.

Surprisingly, people who’re overly confident about completing tasks on a tight deadline are also guilty of procrastination. These people often overlook the importance of time management and justify their lag by claiming that they work well under pressure.

Lulled by a false sense of achievement, they reinforce this behaviour time and time again, failing to understand that this is damaging their potential.

So how can you get out of this vicious cycle? According to Dr. William J. Knaus, psychologist and author of the book ‘Break the Procrastination Habit…

Now!’, “Procrastinators have to change their mindset and mentality in order to break this disruptive habit. All they need is a positive outlook towards doing work.”

Think Want-To, Not HaveTo: The biggest reason for procrastinating is thinking that you absolutely have to do a task. This could be something domestic, like doing house chores, or work related.

Whatever the task may be, thinking like this makes you feel that you’re being forced to do it, so you’ll automatically want to put it off. You use procrastination as a defence mechanism to stay away from the pain, only to feel a greater sense of pain when you fail to finish the task on time.

What you need to understand is that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.

You have the freedom to make your own choices and no one can force you to do anything.

If you’re unhappy with the way you’ve been doing something, mix it up a little and make it interesting; this will make you want to work on it. Dr. Knaus explained the purpose behind this exercise by saying, “Procrastination becomes less likely on tasks that you openly and freely choose to undertake.”

Break It Up: Rawan from Jeddah says, “Every time I gather the courage to clean up my storeroom, I think about what a huge mess it is and I put it off to the next day. There’s just so much to do!” Thinking that a tedious task has to be completed in one day often leads to its postponement. If we start a task without clearly envisioning the steps to be undertaken, we tend to get overwhelmed by its complexity and seek the easy way out.

What you should do is start little by little and gradually finish the task, instead of thinking that the entire task must be completed at once. In Rawan’s case, she doesn’t have to clean up the storeroom in one day; she can devote ten minutes of her time everyday and slowly work towards finishing it. This way the task won’t seem like a burden and productive progress can be made.

To Err Is Your Birth Right: A common procrastinator trait is perfectionism. People are often scared of starting a task because they fear it won’t be perfect. But, expecting such unrealistic results is just going to cause more stress. The fear of not doing your best drives you to put off a task to the last moment.

As the deadline approaches, there isn’t enough time to do the job perfectly, so you console yourself by thinking that you could’ve been perfect if you

had more time. Remember that you’re only human and it’s okay to make mistakes. You don’t have to be hard on yourself and expect a perfect score every single time. You should understand that an imperfect job completed on time is more meaningful than a delayed ‘perfect’ job.

Make Time For Everything: Marwa from Dammam says, “I once had to submit a 500-page report for which I was given only a week’s time. Even though I had very little time, I didn’t want to start right away because I wanted to spend all my free time with family and friends.” Many people have a mental block that undertaking a project will deprive them of fun and relaxation. This drives them to delay tasks to the very last moment, which of course results in a less-thanaverage output. The solution to this problem is to schedule your work around the fun activities.

Ferrari agrees, “Decide in advance how much time you want to spend on entertainment and devote the rest to work.

If you treat your working time as a scarce resource, you’re likely to be more motivated and productive.”

Keep Fighting: Procrastination is caused by associating a task with pain or unpleasantness.

What you should do is try to reduce this unpleasantness by making the task more bearable and enjoyable. If you find yourself working on a tedious task that requires a lot of concentration, remember to take small breaks and reward yourself for the work you’ve already completed.

This will keep the positive momentum going and you’ll start appreciating the task more. After all, who knows what tomorrow may bring, so finish off what you have to do today and give it your very best.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

19

Bedazzled Relationships

You, Him And His Ex As much as you’d like to believe otherwise, your man’s ex-flame is not your worst enemy. Sonja Svensek shares her insight on relationship dynamics when the ex comes into the picture…

So you’ve finally found your prince charming. He’s the man you’ve dreamt about all your life and things couldn’t get any better. But then, you discover the not-so-super ex girlfriend.

She may be a distant part of his past, but she was still a part of it. And even though you know nothing about her (apart from the fact that she dated your prince charming once upon a time), for some reason, you can’t stop that nagging feeling inside you. In your head, you’ve created a picture of her; a prettier, sweeter, hotter, and more fashionable picture, that is.

Dealing with an ex is a part of the relationship cycle; you meet someone new, who inevitably met someone new before you.

And this is when you start to

20

FEBRUARY 2014

ponder: What did she have that you might not? Why, how, when, and where did all this happen? Why is he still in touch with her? And, shock-horror, what if he still loved her more than he loves you?

Insecurity and possessiveness are natural emotions you feel towards someone you love deeply as you want to be their best in everything. However, if this issue starts to haunt you to the point where your daily mission becomes to investigate her on Facebook, or you constantly get the urge to hack his email, you’re headed for disaster. These are all red flags that you should heed as this is clearly taking it too far.

If you want to avoid turning into a psychopath, you need to understand why you’re

so affected by her and work towards fixing it. This will take time and a lot of patience, but when you finally achieve it, love will be yours forever.

Figure It Out First of all, ask yourself why he’s with you. Before you say: I don’t know, ask him! Find out why he’s happy with you and what made him fall for you. Ask yourself why you’re with him.

What you’ll find is that just like you, he also has his reasons for being with you. The point is that this is about you and him; you need to build your self-esteem and not give this “other woman” any power over your relationship. Raha from Jeddah decided to rise above the ex issue; she comments, “I’ve come to terms with the fact that my man still occasionally

speaks to his ex girlfriends, but I know he only loves me.

I believe in him and trust him with all my heart.”

She adds, “I consider myself to be average looking. And for some reason, I always imagined my boyfriend’s ex to be extremely gorgeous. But when I saw her, she looked nothing like I’d imagined. For the first time, I was actually glad someone fell short of my expectations!” Unless the ex is actually Angelina Jolie, you have no reason to harass your man with countless queries.

But in all seriousness, do you truly think she is as interesting, beautiful, and everything else you’ve made her out to be in your mind? Keep in mind that everything you fear about her is directly linked to your own insecurities. Just because you’re not tall enough or thin enough doesn’t mean that she is. Even if she does look good, understand that your man doesn’t look at her the way he used to before. You’re the love of his life now, not her.

You have to figure out, in the most genuine and realistic way, what your biggest fear is.

Not being able to control your fears of insecurity, jealousy, or abandonment will lead to confusion, arguments, tears, and eventually drive you apart.

This is because you let a third person, who didn’t exist in your relationship, take full control over your happiness and future.

There’s nothing attractive about a whining, possessive, and insecure girlfriend. Mariam from Lebanon learned this the hard way. She couldn’t control her possessive behaviour, which cost her her relationship. She says, “I constantly bombarded Omar with questions about his past love because I was convinced that he still liked her.

Finally, it got to a point where

he couldn’t take it anymore, so he left me. And guess what?

He didn’t get back with her. I feel so stupid for throwing it all away.”

Even though everyone says, and statistics will prove, that it’s difficult for ex partners to remain friends, an amicable friendship could still very well be happening and you shouldn’t fret about it. Think about what he has to do to assure you that you’re the one. Do you want him to cut all contact with her? Should he treat her badly for your satisfaction? If you think these tactics are fair, what kind of an image are you giving out? By asking for such unreasonable acts of love, you’ll force him to pick sides, which is never a good idea. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be correct if he humiliates you in her presence, makes you feel inadequate, or puts you in a competition situation with her. Immature as it sounds, this could lead to dangerous consequences. So if you smell a rotten man, who’s playing both sides of the fence, let him hit the road.

Fight It Out If you can deal with the insecurities, you’ll be able to devote more time and energy to your relationship, instead of dwelling on what-ifs. The best thing is to talk to him and voice your concerns. If you feel something isn’t right about how he is with his ex, tell him. If it makes you feel better, ask him all there is you want to know about her. Finding out the truth will put your demon thoughts to rest, but once you’ve had the entire conversation, drop it! Raha agreed and added, “When I asked my boyfriend about his previous relationship, my heart was pounding, but I acted like I was fine with it.

I did this because I wanted

him to tell me the truth without worrying about how it made me feel. Now I don’t feel the need to ask about her anymore.”

After the talk, agree on a strategy to change your relationship for the better. For example, let him keep you in the loop if he’s in touch with her. If you think meeting her will help ease the tension, go ahead and do it. For all you know, you and the ex can end up becoming best of chums.

The important thing is don’t try to act tough by pretending like his ex or anything he does doesn’t affect you. Instead, be honest and keep showing him how much you care - you’re not the only one who needs reassurance, he does too. So be more open, make him feel loved so he can love you back.

Every once in awhile, you should discuss the relationship with him to see how far you both have come. This is important because it takes two to make a relationship work, so grow together instead of growing apart. Raha concurs, “I’ve always been very expressive and I make it a point to talk to my boyfriend about our relationship. Talking about our problems has definitely made us respect each other more.”

So once and for all, contribute to the dream relationship you seek and don’t try to analyze it too much. You always get what you give, so empathize with your man and act maturely because you never know when your actions could come back to haunt you. And by now, you’ve probably figured out that communication is key. You should learn to be more open and encourage him to do the same. Who knows? He might be insecure about the hunk you once dated.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

21

Bedazzled Friendships

Which D .

N .

E .

I .

R .

F You? e r A

Monica, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler are names we’ve all grown up with. But if you had to link your personality to one of these characters, which one would it be? Take this quiz and find out...

If you were stranded on a deserted island, the first thing you would do is…

A. Sing a song about the beauty of the island B. Scavenge the island for undiscovered territory C. Look for food D. Run around screaming SOS! E. Set up a shelter F. Kick back and enjoy the holiday What was high school like for you?

A. I never got done with it B. I was the Science Guru and all the geeks worshipped me (I wish) C. I can’t remember because I slept through most of it D. I was the most popular person in school E. I was the popular crowd’s notso-popular sidekick F. I was the Science Guru’s best friend, but I still sucked at science What was your favourite subject in high-school?

A. Music and drama B. Math, science, history, geography, humanities, etc C. I was too busy sleeping, remember?

D. Physical Education E. Home Science F. I still haven’t figured it out What are you most proud of?

A. My ability to connect with nature B. My immense knowledge

22

FEBRUARY 2014

C. My butt D. My designer clothes E. My perfectionism F. Nothing at all If a genie granted you three wishes, your first wish would be…

A. To see a world filled with love and peace B. To make my marriage work C. To become rich, famous, and happening D. To find the man of my dreams E. To make everyone as considerate as I am F. To change my embarrassing name Which of these TV shows do you enjoy watching the most?

A. American Idol B. Discovery’s Blogs C. Baywatch D. General Hospital E. Hell’s Kitchen F. Saturday Night Live What’s your dream vacation spot?

A. Somewhere in the wilderness of Africa, amidst the tribal members B. Any convention centre is a good vacation spot C. Disney World D. A serene, romantic and artistic place where I can fall in love E. A place with minimal traffic and pollution F. A place filled with exotic beaches and laid back locals

You would rather earn your living by…

A. Singing and then singing more B. Working as a tour guide C. Volunteering to be a human experiment for potentially lethal products D. Who needs to earn when you have the option of marrying rich men E. Giving motivational lectures F. Faking a qualification and pulling it off till I get caught How would you describe your personal style?

A. A mystical cross between a bohemian and gypsy look B. Plain and simple, but with an occasional fashion faux pas C. I’ll wear anything as long as it looks good D. I swear by DKNY and Ralph Lauren E. I make all my clothes and they look amazing F. I couldn’t care less about my personal style What are your thoughts on babies?

A. Babies are the best thing when they are not yours B. My babies are my pride and joy C. I’m not fond of them D. Babies are the best shopping companions E. I love babies and I can’t wait to raise some of my own F. Babies are good fun, but only when they’re sleeping

You A.R.E… Based on your answers, find out which option you’ve ticked the most and read on…

Mostly A’s: Phoebe

Congratulations nut job, you’re Phoebe Buffet! Phoebe, who happens to be the good twin, is deeply connected with her innerself and believes she has psychic powers. Her other talents include singing (horribly, that is) and giving rather painful massages.

She is also the sweetest and most innocent character on the show, which makes it impossible for anyone to dislike her fullof-life and sometimes baffling personality.

Mostly B’s: Ross

Ross is the super smart doctor with a terrible marriage track record. And even though he’s the most qualified of the lot, he also happens to be the most immature. But the fact that he’s so immature is his charm because everything he does is cute and thoughtful. He is also very passionate about his work, which you probably know is all about dinosaurs! All in all, he’s sensitive, caring, understanding and extremely determined.

Mostly C’s: Joey

Joey is dumb, cute and absolutely clueless! His life revolves around food, food and more food and he’s extremely proud of his dating accomplishments. We’ve all come to love him for his unintelligent antics and childlike behaviour, but he’s also an amazing friend. He’s the guy you would turn to if you’re having a bad day because he has a natural talent of putting a smile on anyone’s face. If you ask us, no group of friends is complete without a Joey!

Mostly D’s: Rachel

Rachel is the beautiful blonde

with amazing style and class. She loves to shop and dress in the most expensive designer clothes.

She’s also a true romantic at heart and loves everything that life has to offer. You can never have a dull moment with Rachel around, because she’ll gossip till she can gossip no more! But it’s her sophisticated, down-to-earth and mature approach towards life that truly makes her a gem of a friend.

Mostly E’s: Monica

Monica has always done everything by the book. Her perfectionist nature always pushes her to do her best in everything, be it cleaning, cooking or even getting married. She’s the kind of person who’ll always be

five minutes early to a meeting just to get accustomed to the new setting. She’s also the person who’ll slap you if you don’t clean your mess up! With that said, Monica is most definitely the selfproclaimed mother hen of the group.

Mostly F’s: Chandler

Chandler is the calm, composed and carefree man with no hang-ups in life. He’s also very sarcastic by nature and getting a straight answer out of him is next to impossible. But the most amazing thing about him is his commitment towards love and making his friends happy. He will go out of his way to make sure his friends are comfortable and safe; a true friend indeed!

www.dazzle-magazine.com

23

Inspire

Careers

Invest In Hire Assess The quality of the workforce can make or break an organization. Choosing competent employees that complement a company’s objectives and goals is the need of the hour, says Louise Kursmark…

Good hiring leads to organizational success because people are the ones who devise and implement strategy, generate revenue, produce products, serve customers, and manage operations. As a hiring manager, you improve your chances of hiring the right person by assessing them thoroughly. Assessments come in as many flavours as ice-cream, and can be used to evaluate a wide array of traits, skills, and performance factors. These tools won’t give you instant answers, but when administered and interpreted appropriately, they provide critical information to support your findings, validate your choices, and help you decide between comparable candidates.

Susan Guarneri, HR Assessments expert, says, “Assessment agencies

24

FEBRUARY 2014

are one way to go about it.

However, you have to keep in mind that these agencies are not magic wands.” Her firm, Career Assessment Goddess, works with employers to pinpoint the precise objective of using an assessment tool. The employer has to understand what they are trying to assess Are they trying to improve employee performance; speed-up the hiring process; or reduce problematic employees?

The number of assessments

available is staggering. As part of her ‘Master the Maze of Career Assessments’ 15-module tele-seminar, she provides a spreadsheet detailing more than 80 assessments, and guides students through the process of researching, evaluating, and selecting the right tool. But she cautions, “Unfortunately, they’re not tidily packaged for you to choose from; you must do your homework.”

The benefits of appropriately selected assessment tools include cost reductions, streamlined hiring

processes, talent identification, and the ability to hire the right person to meet the organization’s needs and culture.

Talent Identification - At Winegardner & Hammons, a hotel management company, candidates undergo a customized leadership assessment administered

by The Gallup Organization before meeting with company executives. Dave Gordon, Winegardner & Hammons HR VP, considers it worth the hundreds of dollars it costs per candidate. “When we bring people in, we know they have what we’re looking for,” he explains. The company works with Gallup to find people who possess the desired leadership traits most of its managers already possess. Thus, its findings are a strong predictor of future success because they identify and select the right

workforce.

Inexpensive Tests - While some are extensive and costly to administer, others are quick, simple, and cheap. Helene Cotter of HirePower Associates often recommends a 20-minute integrity test for frontline people.

When it comes to healthcare organizations, she finds that an assessment that costs less than $20 per candidate helps in identifying red flags by examining risk factors in the areas of integrity, substance abuse, reliability, and work ethic.

Known as the StepOneSurveyII, this test is available through Profiles International.

On the other side of the coin is the candidate being assessed.

When interviewing for the role of senior training manager for a $30 billion industrial manufacturer in Chicago, one candidate found the experience somewhat challenging but believes it’s worthwhile. He explains, “The opportunity to learn something about yourself is always valuable. I took the Gallup Leadership Assessment and I was looking forward to the results. Then when I got them, it gave me added insight during my job search, and then on the job.”

Assessments are complex tools that can add substantial value to a company’s hiring process.

Although they are neither a quick fix nor a one-size-fitsall solution, when expertly selected and processed, they can provide a company with the right workforce, and return its investment in research, implementation, and administration.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

25

Column

The EM Crisis

The EM crisis is the third and final phase of this crisis, says Steen Jakobsen, Saxo Bank’s CIO & Chief Economist…

The negative start to this year came as a surprise to most investors as we came into the new year with the usual expectations of a stock market ending 2013 up 10-15% and a Europe and US in continued recovery, but January soon became all about a potential EM crisis that ended up hurting even developed markets return in this year’s first month. The question now is how real is the threat of an EM crisis?

I think it’s for real - the world is in a global rebalancing act where the by-product is lower growth globally, deflation in the developed market, and much weaker EM currencies as the FX weapon is seen as the only real option for economies desperate to maintain export growth. This creates a capital flow away from EM and equities as the investors rediscover the safe haven of bonds.

stronger FX. Similarly, when you buy EM equity, 70% of your return is from FX revaluations. Now, these EM countries are all seeking lower/ weaker currencies, which means for an investor the incentive to buy and finance EM has disappeared. Why buy an EM portfolio when the 100% in bonds and 70% in equity have been declared as “not happening” by government and central banks concerned about their current account and growth? In other words, the short-term policy of devaluing your currencies to create increased competition has destroyed the very reason we as investors buy EM. A viscous cycle has started.

This is exactly why this EM crisis is not going away. If the goal is to get inflow to EM, then the government needs to stop weakening their currencies and seek reform and stable currencies. Instead, we get There is a big cyclical and structural a “race to the bottom” between slow-down in the world right now: these export machines. The overall Asia, which almost on its own carried problem is that we can’t all run export the global economy through the surplus at the same time, someone crisis from 2008 to 2012, is now needs to import. The EM countries slowing down proactively. China, move from agricultural economies 36% of world growth in 2012, seeks to export machines, having an edge to reduce its shadow economy, from low wages and capacity; as fight corruption, and recapitalize the these economies grow they get a banks to secure a soft landing as the big middle class that wants better, credit expansion slows down. Rest more expensive products, often of the Asia, 24% of world’s growth, imported. This moves the trade has current account deficits to fight. balance into deficit, and after some During 2013 many of these countries, years the current account follows specifically the Fragile Five (South through with an ever increasing need Africa, India, Indonesia, Turkey, for accessing foreign investors to and Brazil) saw their currencies fall fill the gap between the increased dramatically as their financing needs consumption in EM and the export. moved into big deficits making them The problem is that what would more dependent on foreign investors help these economies are reforms and global monetary policy. The and a program to reduce export BRIC countries as a whole moved dependence. However, this will from surplus of 5% to GDP pre-crisis be long coming as many of these to barely breaking even, and inside countries have elections in 2014. An BRIC, China is the only exception election year means no new reforms, with surplus. and a policy designed to maximize voters’ expectations, which often What’s important to know about means subsidized energy and food EM investment is this: When you in the EM countries; not something buy an EM bond portfolio like ELMI, that improves imbalances.

100% of your return comes from 26

FEBRUARY 2014

Nadim Najjar

Inspire

Finally, we need to embrace this EM crisis; it’s the final phase of this crisis/rebalancing. It shows on one hand that EM countries are less competitive and need to rebalance their economies, but on the other hand it also means someone else is benefitting (current account data is zero globally). This “someone” is the US and Europe: The US primarily through very low energy costs compared to the rest of the world (Shale gas have made natural gas ½ the price of European natural gas), and Europe through low wage demand and deflation depressing prices. The world is simply more balanced than before the crisis, so when the real recovery comes it will be from a point of exit that is balanced, less leveraged, and more transparent, and that is excellent news for the next decade after this crisis ends. This final phase of the crisis comes after the US housing and bank crisis (2008/2010), then the European debt crisis (2010/2012).

Asia carried the world on its shoulder so far in this crisis; as the world slowed down, Asia continued to keep very high investment ratios.

Investment, which had big European and US content, meaning Europe and US had slowing domestic economies, but foreign demand through export orders to Asia. Now these same investment levels needs to adjust downward to the lower growth of Asia - the price is that we all slow down and face lower inflation. The EM countries need time to rebalance and to get to a point where the mandate for real change is established. The early sign of FX manipulation means we are closer, but not yet there.

Getting to know your EM and its currencies where we end in 2014 in terms of return on our portfolios could very well be more dependent on where USD/TRY, USD/IDR, USD/ INR, and USD/MXN than on what Yellen and FOMC does. To me that’s a good thing.

Glow

Health

Are You Semi-Somniac?

Does the alarm force you out of bed bleary-eyed and anything but refreshed? Do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, often longing to use your keyboard as a pillow during the day? If so, then you could be suffering from semi-somnia, says Dazzle’s Nisrine Kreidieh…

Semi-somnia is a recent epidemic, and a new term coined by leading sleep expert Dr. Neil Stanley. Basically, it’s persistent, low-grade exhaustion and chronic tiredness during the day due to lack of or poor-quality sleep at night. Recent census in the UK showed that 30 million Brits are suffering from semisomnia today.

“Around 75% of the population admits to waking up exhausted every day,” says Dr. Stanley, Former Director of Sleep Studies at the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit at Surrey University. But, this symptom is being discounted since the majority of us share a 24-hour hectic lifestyle. He blames the explosion of semi-somnia on a society that doesn’t sleep, which makes it increasingly hard for people to turn-off, coupled with our general disregard for the value of a proper night’s rest.

“We live in a tired society, where we have come to accept being tired as the norm,” confirms Dr. Stanley. “As a result of living in a culture with competing demands on our time, our minds are always racing, wired up about all what went wrong during our overwhelming day, and depriving us of a good night’s sleep.”

28

FEBRUARY 2014

The days when people could claim feeling good and refreshed are incredibly rare, and the importance of sleep is completely underestimated, despite the fact that it’s vital for good emotional and physical health. Semi-somnia sufferers, who don’t know that it even exists until now, may take more than half an hour to fall asleep, and wake up frequently during the night on most nights. This leads to irritability, a lowered immune system, and depression. In the long term, it puts sufferers at risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Luckily enough, there is a remedy, which isn’t dependent on doctors or drugs: Prepare: Prepare yourself for sleep, the same way you would warm-up before you exercise. Soak your body in a hot bath and listen to soothing music to relax physically and mentally. Turn off your computer, blackberry, or even your mobile a couple of hours before you go to bed.

Routine: Create a routine that suits you. Go to bed every night at the same time to develop a habit; that way your body would feel the urge to start winding-down at that time. Also, avoid watching TV in your bedroom unless it’s your pre-bed ritual; many people sleep with the TV on,

tuned in to something they’ve seen before like a sitcom.

Don’t Eat: Eat three or four hours prior to bedtime, and avoid exercising directly before sleeping either. Contrary to what many people believe, exercise doesn’t exhaust you, it actually boosts up your energy. We recommend yoga before sleeping or a relaxing massage.

Avoid Alerters: Completely avoid alerters such as coffee and energy drinks at night; switch to warm milk or herbal teas instead. Lavender has been proven as an effective remedy to aid sleep; drink it in a tea, spray your room with lavender essence, or add some lavender oil to your bath. Hot camomile, anise, and fennel teas also help you relax, which facilitates sleep.

Understand: Admit that sleep is not a luxury or a sign of weakness. If you’re not a doctor or a soldier, give up your macho pride and don’t slave yourself working late into the night.

Don’t Discuss: Don’t take your problems to the bedroom. Discussing financial issues in bed with your spouse is not a good idea. “Negative thoughts and worries are peaceful sleep’s enemies,” stresses Dr. Stanley.

Unconventional Sleep Fixes Try these interesting sleeping techniques: Sleep with your head facing north and your feet facing south. This aligns your body with the magnetic field of the planet, bringing your own energy into harmony with the Earth.

Wiggle your toes. According to Reflexology, your feet are a kind of master control panel for the rest of your body. They’re called Meridians, which are connected to every organ and part of your body. Lie on your back and wiggle the toes on both your feet at the same time up and down 12 times. This will relax your entire body, inside and out.

Feng Shui Your Sleep Dr. Maoshing Ni says that using Feng Shui helps you sleep better‌ The principle of Feng Shui is based on the ancient Taoist concept of energetic polarity. Yin and Yang are the terms for describing the energy states in the universe, which are both opposite and complementary. If you want to lead a long and healthy life, you would do well to strike a balance between the two polarities.

Yin embodies negative electri-

cal charge and contractive energy, and its directions are north - the negative pole, and west, where the sun sets.

Yang is characterized by positive electrical charge and expansive energy states, and its directions are south - considered the positive pole, and east, where the sun rises.

Activities in our lives fit into different Yin or Yang categories. Relaxing activities

such as sleeping, reading, and bathing are Yin activities.

Energetic activities such as exercise, cooking, engaging in hobbies, and studying are Yang. This means that your bedroom and bathroom should be located in the Northern and Western areas of your house, and your office, kitchen, living room, and dining room are best in Southern and Eastern locations.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

29

Ask Nisrine Glow

Health

I keep hearing and reading contradicting opinions about the importance of taking multi-vitamin tablets - some say they’re important and others say you should get the vitamins from a natural source; what’s more accurate?

Bahira, Riyadh How often do you eat a cup of sautéed spinach? How about three servings of fatty fish, like salmon, per week? Probably not very often, but those are examples of foods and portions that are packed with the recommended amounts of essential nutrients. Research shows that most people aren’t making the nutrition grade and, therefore, can lack important vitamins and minerals like folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K, and even vitamin C. “Even if you follow a healthy diet, a busy lifestyle can make it difficult to obtain the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals from food alone,” says Elizabeth Somer, a leading registered dietician and author of several books, including ‘The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals’.

Ask Nisrine

Data on dietary intake from the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used the USDA’s Healthy Eating Index to compare what people say they eat to recommended dietary guidelines, found that children and adults scored 56 points out of a possible 100 (equivalent to an “F” grade), while seniors fared only slightly better at 65 points (equivalent to a “D” grade).

The American Heart Association agreed with those findings in its 2013 report on heart disease and stroke, concluding that poor diet and lack of exercise are two of the main factors contributing to the high prevalence of heart disease in the U.S. One easy way to maintain good nutrition is to enhance your diet with supplements. However, the frequency of new studies combined with the staggering number of supplements available makes it increasingly confusing to know what’s right. Somer puts nutrition news in context, provides the facts for common misconceptions, and offers realistic tips to meet daily nutrition needs:

Email Nisrine Kreidieh at: nisrine@dazzlemagazine.com or by post to the Dazzle KSA office.

Misconception 3: Multivitamins are a waste of money.

Multivitamins are a relatively inexpensive tool to achieve proper nutrition. “No reputable health expert will argue that supplements can or should replace a good diet and a healthy lifestyle,” says Somer. “However, multivitamins and nutritional supplements are one factor in a pattern of living that is known to maintain overall well-being. Think of multivitamins as an insurance policy for optimal nutrition they’re meant to supplement, not replace, a healthy diet.”

For more nutrition information, visit www.vitaminsinmotion.com.

30

FEBRUARY 2014

Answer Source: Brandpoint.com.

Misconception 2: Multivitamins have no health benefits.

Although recent studies report that vitamin and mineral supplements don’t lower one’s risk of heart disease or cancer, these supplements are still proven to be beneficial to one’s health. “If a study found that people who drank water had no lower risk for dementia, would you stop drinking water?” asks Somer. “Of course not, because water, like essential vitamins and minerals, is crucial to health and there is no controversy over its importance for human nutrition.”

Ask Nisrine

Misconception 1: It’s realistic to obtain all essential nutrients from food.

Even experienced nutritionists have a hard time designing a diet that provides all the essential nutrients for one day and busy people often struggle to follow a highly regimented diet. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but the best approach is to focus on eating nutrient-rich foods as much as possible - like dark leafy greens (good source of lutein for eye health), colourful fruits, whole grains, healthy proteins and fats (such as salmon, which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA), and fill gaps in nutrition with a daily multivitamin. “Another supplement I always recommend is fish oil, or a vegetarian source from algae, because DHA and EPA benefit eye, heart, and brain health,” says Somer.

Sparkle Hair

Having another bad hair day?

Don’t know what products to use?

Well fret no more because Sonja Svensek shares her insights on some of the most annoying hair issues‌

Hairy Solutions 32

FEBRUARY 2014

Problem: You’re trying to grow your hair, but your hairdresser advises you to get a trim every eight weeks.

Solution: You can avoid trimming your hair that often by conditioning it properly and using products that provide protection against heat and damage. But, what you should know is that some people grow hair slightly faster than others, so don’t panic and make sure you always keep your hair in the best condition possible. This means you have to cut down on that blow dryer and straightening iron!

Problem: Your hair is very short and it doesn’t look as stylish as when you first cut it.

Solution: Short hair is still very fashionable. In fact, pixie cuts and punk glam spikes are still a huge hit. For a fashionable look, try not to cake your hair in lots of styling products and stick to using only hair wax or a bit of volumizing moose. And instead of always keeping your hair parted to one side or flattened, try a different parting (which instantly gives a new look), or go

for a messy style. Your choices are unlimited, so feel free to experiment.

Problem: You have thick, bushy afro hair that is out of control and you hate tying it back all the time.

Solution: Even though it might look thick and coarse, afro hair is actually very delicate and fragile. You really need to look after your hair, that’s why you should use a good shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. Don’t ever rub wet hair; you should dry-squeeze the excess water out or simply keep it wrapped in a towel.

It’s also a good idea to use a softening serum and allow it to dry naturally. Blow-drying is an absolute no-no in this case, so don’t even think about it. Finish off with an anti-frizz spray as a final shield against frizz.

Problem: You love ponytails, but you want them to look funky.

Solution: Ponytails are like comfy sandals because they’re quick and convenient. However, just like sandals, ponytails

don’t have to be boring. The magic lies in giving your hair lots of oomph. When your hair is damp, spritz your roots with a volumizing spray and gently blow-dry it with your head down.

Then, put a few big curlers at the crown and blast until completely dry. Your roots will now be va-va-vooming with volume, allowing you to achieve an edgier look. If your hair is very fine, tease it with a comb first and then tie it back loosely.

Problem: It takes you hours to dry your hair.

Solution: Isn’t it a nightmare when you have to spend hours on blow-drying your hair? Sadly, most of us just keep trying out all the latest hair dryers that claim to be faster and stronger than the others, but my advice is to ditch the dryer altogether. After towel drying, add a straightening lotion like Garnier Fructus Smoothing Cream and then twist your hair to form a turban. If your hair is very short, comb it to the side and keep it like that. Let it dry naturally and you will end up with smoother, healthier hair with less frizz and damage.

Hair Cheat Tips Here are some quick tips to glam your hair up: If you want your hair to look lively at a night event, tie a tight ponytail during the day and remove it just before the party. Your roots will lift instantly, giving your hair amazing bounce.

Serum is one of the most important hair products a lady can own. If you’ve run out of it and you’re stuck in a rut, use a face moisturizer as a substitute. Just rub a small amount to add shine and control frizz.

If your hair is a little greasy and you don’t have time to wash it, spray a mist of hairspray to absorb the grease.

5 Hair

Must-Haves

Every woman needs the following tools for maintaining healthy, stylish hair: 1. A good hair-dryer with different heat and speed levels 2. A wide-toothed comb 3. Hairspray 4. Heat and UV protective spray 5. Smoothing lotion

www.dazzle-magazine.com

33

Ask Sonja

Sparkle Beauty

What’s the best way to care for my hair and hairstyle this winter?

Jackie, Riyadh

Holiday festivities may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can slack on hair care. Starting each day with a great ‘do can help you face winter challenges looking your best.

Mark Townsend, Dove celebrity stylist, offers these tips to help you create fabulous hair styles that last day and night:

Ask Sonja

Moisturized hair is the foundation for every style.

During the cold winter months, hair tends to become dry, dull, and limp. Moisturizing your hair is crucial to getting any beautiful style. “I am a firm believer that using the right shampoo and conditioner to start your beauty routine is overlooked by many women,” says Townsend whose clients include many of today’s leading Hollywood stars.

Townsend recommends you start your hair care routine with a product like Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, which, in just one wash, delivers hair up to five times smoother than if you used a non-conditioning shampoo, leaving beautifully moisturized hair that is not weighed down.

Confused about makeup? Having a problem making the most of your features? What products to use?

Ask Sonja to solve your problems!

34

FEBRUARY 2014

Answer source: Brandpoint.com.

Applying these three simple tips to your hair routine will ensure you look your absolute best while not taking away from your valuable time.

Ask Sonja

Always keep things fresh.

“Every season is busy and women are constantly running around, quickly going from day to night leaving little to no time for beauty touch-ups,” says Townsend. “One timesaver that I recommend is for women to always have Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo in their bag; it’s the perfect way to give hair a pick-me-up.” This dry shampoo, with its weightless formula, uses starch to absorb dirt and oil ensuring hair is left feeling refreshed and just washed. The dry shampoo gets to work instantly, cleansing and making the hair perfect for the use of styling products.

sonja@dazzle-magazine.com

Make your hair sparkle.

Adding a sparkly headband to your hairstyle - whether you have short or long hair, wear it up or down - is an easy and affordable way to dress up your look. “I love when women become a little more daring during winter,” Townsend says.

“One way they do this is by trying new hair accessories.”

Adding a sparkly hairpin, barrette, or headband can complement a range of styles, dressing up even the most traditional looks. Using a hairpin or barrette is a perfect way to add extra glamour to your hairstyle without having to work too hard. If you want to soften the look, loosen a few hair pieces around the forehead.

36

FEBRUARY 2014

Images: Courtesy and copyright of their respective brands.

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Look your best this New Year with the latest looks hot off the catwalks‌

New Year Flair

Sparkle Catwalk

www.dazzle-magazine.com

37

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

38

FEBRUARY 2014

Tory Burch Fall 2013 www.dazzle-magazine.com

39

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

40

FEBRUARY 2014

www.dazzle-magazine.com

41

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

42

FEBRUARY 2014

Dsquared2 F/W 2013/14 www.dazzle-magazine.com

43

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

44

FEBRUARY 2014

www.dazzle-magazine.com

45

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

46

FEBRUARY 2014

Eugene Lin’s F/W 2013/14 www.dazzle-magazine.com

47

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

48

FEBRUARY 2014

www.dazzle-magazine.com

49

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

CH Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013/14

Sparkle Catwalk

50

FEBRUARY 2014

Versace F/W 2013/14 www.dazzle-magazine.com

51

Brilliant

Technology

Talking SMB Tech

Article: Brandpoint.com. Images: Courtesy and copyright of their respective brands.

Top apps help keep small-business owners efficient and on the go‌

52

FEBRUARY 2014

With all the buzz surrounding business use of cloud computing, you might think the concept of conducting business anywhere - on the road, in the board room, on a soccer field, or in the gym - was a new one. But, smallbusiness owners (SBOs) have been working on the go for decades. The arrival of mobile apps has just made things a little easier for them.

“A decade ago, an entrepreneur might have worked through her son’s Little League game with a laptop balanced on her knees and then downloaded her completed work when she got back to the office,” says Michael Alter, President and CEO of SurePayroll, Inc., a Paychex company. “Now, she can complete tasks such as running payroll or cutting pay checks on the spot, wherever she is, using the right mobile app and her smartphone.”

If you’re a small-business owner looking to make your mobile devices even more useful for business, consider these types of apps that can help: Payroll/Paycheck Apps SurePayroll users can download a payroll app for either their Apple or Android devices. The app allows SBOs to pay employees; track earnings, deductions, work hours, vacation, sick and personal time; set a check date; view payroll summary reports; access

employee contact information; and run payroll with a single click. Taxes are paid and filed automatically. The Mobile Paycheck app allows employees to securely view current and past pay-checks online from their Apple devices.

Visit www.surepayroll. com/product/payroll/ mobile-payroll.asp to learn more.

Inventory Tracking Apps Business moves quickly, and often, so does your inventory. A variety of apps can help you keep track of both products sold and materials needed.

Can’t keep a particular item in stock? An inventory tracker like SOS Inventory that integrates with QuickBooks can send you a mobile alert when supplies are running low so you can reorder before you run out and avoid disappointing customers eager to buy the product.

Cash Flow Trackers A variety of applications - some free, some feebased with subscriptions to popular accounting software - can help you manage your cash flow on the go. Apps like QuickBooks juggle receivables, accounts payable, bank balances, credit card ledgers, and more to help give users the most up-to-date snapshot of their business’s cash flow status at a moment’s notice.

Office Apps These apps make it possible to do from your mobile device whatever

you do on your desktop, including word processing, spread sheets, and presentations. Designed to help boost productivity, office apps range in price from free to nominal fee to pricey. How much you pay will depend on how much you need your app to do. A good one to try is Google’s QuickOffice that’s available for both iOS and Android.

Voice Software Whether you need to give dictation while you’re driving, dial a number without touching your phone, or open a file while your hands are otherwise occupied, voice recognition apps like Vlingo can do that for you.

Invoicing Apps Say you take a 30-minute phone call with a client while watching your daughter’s soccer game.

If you forget to record the call, that’s billable time you’ve overlooked and money lost. Invoicing apps like Invotrak can help by allowing you to enter and track billable hours from your mobile device. You can also track expenses and create invoices for your work. Some of these apps even allow you to send invoices digitally and generate reports on how much time a project has consumed.

“Thanks to apps like these, it’s easier than ever for small-business owners to balance their work and personal lives,” Alter notes.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

53

Brilliant Interiors

Awe-Inspiring Bedrooms This month, we’ve picked out lovely bedroom décor styles from some of the best hotels in the Middle East. So get inspired and give your bedroom the life it deserves…

While the rest of the house bustles with activity, the bedroom always remains serene and distant. We share a beautiful bond with this special room because this

is where we dream, laugh, cry, act goofy, and share our most intimate moments.

But, unfortunately, most of us don’t pay much attention to it when it comes to décor.

This is because we get too caught up in beautifying our other public spaces. However, this is truly your space, so don’t neglect it and give it a personality of its own.

Mellow Setting

Danat Resort in Jabal Dhanna, UAE, incorporated a subtle, contemporary look in its bedrooms.

Shades of orange, gold, and brown are mixed and matched throughout the room to give it a uniform and sophisticated appeal. A mix of modern and traditional furniture is used in the midst of soft light lamps. This compliments the ambience and exudes a feeling of class and luxury. White and yellow flowers placed all across the room add a sense of surprise to this understated setting. Overall, this bedroom is cosy, chic, and brimming with beauty.

The Colour Palette

At Rosewood Hotel, Jeddah, KSA, the bedrooms are lively, extravagant, and extremely well coordinated. One very eye-catching aspect is the decorative bed canopy that sets the tone of the room. The blue and yellow streaks on the canopy are incorporated throughout the room in the form of wall patterns, borders and furniture. It’s also interesting to see that every sofa in the room is of a different shade and each shade perfectly compliments the overall theme. Finally, abstract vases add a hint of glamour and mystery to this essentially festive room.

54

FEBRUARY 2014

Simply Elegant

The executive bedroom at Al Raha Beach Resort, Abu Dhabi, UAE, is pristine, homely, and straightforward. The main purpose of this room is to provide comfort of the highest degree, but it also creates a look that is inviting, refreshing, and relatable. There is an unmistakable synergy between the brown walls, orange flooring, and essentially conservative furniture. A daring, cherry-red couch and an equally audacious work chair add a bit of spunk to this well-balanced setting. And to top it off, the room is accessorised with modern bedside headrests and lamps.

Neat Patterns

Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai, UAE, leaves no stone unturned in creating rooms that are innovative, utility driven, and state-of-the-art. Noticeable and uniquely shaped patterns on the furniture, walls, and ceiling, coupled with abstract paintings are the essential theme of this luxurious room. What makes this setting stand out is its attention to detail: understated fixtures are brought to life by adding light, artefacts, and hints of black panels all over. Even though the overall appearance of the room is very slick, there is an obvious familiarity about the ambience, giving it a modest and domestic feel.

A Class Apart

At the Four Seasons Hotel in Alexandria, Egypt, the bedrooms beam with light and vitality. An array of yellow shades dominates this full-of-life setting, giving it remarkable zest and energy. The use of classic, traditional furniture not only accentuates the beauty of the ambience, but it also adds sophistication and poise. Old, English-inspired paintings and lamps perfectly blend with the floor’s mosaic artwork. But, to avoid a very loud look, the bedding is kept plain and simple, while the rest of the room dolls itself up in the extravagant décor.

All in all, this room recreates a lost era and is the perfect retreat from the madness of today’s world.

Each of these styles has its own charm. Some rooms are heavily accessorised with furniture and fittings, while some are more focused on the utility

aspect. Pick a décor style according to your needs and expectations. If you’re looking for utility, go for a simple look. And if you want to spice up your bedroom,

go wild on lamps, curtains, and other decorative ornaments. At the end of the day, it’s your room, so dress it up the way you’re most comfortable.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

55

Brilliant Travel

Breathtaking Brunei Located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, Sultanate of Brunei is the world’s oldest reigning monarchy beaming with cultural heritage and spectacular landmarks‌ The official language in Brunei is Malay, but English, Madarin, and several Chinese dialects are widely spoken by the locals so you will have no trouble communicating.

Brunei is divided into four districts and each one is unique and special, filled with a wide variety of sights to see and exotic places to visit. Beautiful white sand beaches, lush tropical rain forests and traditional land-

56

FEBRUARY 2014

marks make Brunei a hot tourist destination.

The capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, is the economic hub of the country that houses some of its most revered landmarks.

One such landmark is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddein Mosque, an absolutely stunning piece of architecture built with the most exquisite materials imported from all over the world. Bander Ser

Begawan is a perfect blend of modernity and tradition.

The city is bustling with activity but at the same time, there is a calm serenity that makes it what it is - unforgettable.

Brunei has some fun filled recreational parks that provide entertainment for the entire family. Be sure to visit Jerudong Park Playground, a state-of-the-art amusement park which caters for

s Travel Tip rency The official Brunei cur . is the Bruniean Dollar

are Most shopping malls m. open from 10am to 10p in The wet season starts till ts las and ber Septem e you January, so make sur ly. plan your trip according fe; Brunei has no nightli g so don’t bother packin s! your clubbing clothe

www.dazzle-magazine.com

57

Brilliant Travel

all ages. This amusement park was once the playground of royalty alone. Now open to all, the treatment there is nothing less than royal! Tasek Recreational Park is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. With a natural waterfall, a lush garden and a beautiful lake, this park almost feels like heaven.

Since Brunei is so rich in culture and heritage, be sure to visit some museums and learn more about how it all came together. The Brunei

58

FEBRUARY 2014

Museum has a variety of displays for the spectator such as Islamic art, ancient artefacts, and a natural history collection. The Royal Regalia Museum is the home to everything royal from the jewel-encrusted crowns to the royal chariot.

The Gadong area is the capital’s shopping district.

Bargaining is at its best in Gadong. It has several shops and department stores where you can find a good bargain on traditional handicrafts, clothes, books, accessories, and electronic goods. Gadong also has several fine restaurants where you can have a good

meal after a hard day’s work!

It also has its share of fast food joints. But, we suggest you take a break from all that and try some authentic Brunei specialities. Daging Masak Lada Hitam is a delicious fried beef dish that you must try if you love beef. If you like seafood you will love what Brunei has to offer. Be sure to try Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan, also known as yummy spicy prawns! And if you just want to stick to your chicken, try Serondeng Padang, a delicious chicken dish flavoured with some traditional Southeast Asian spices.

Finally, a visit to Brunei would be incomplete without a trip to Kampong Ayer.

Kampong Ayer is a small water village which has been described as the Venice of the East. This small village is accessible only by boat and wooden bridges which makes it all the more unique.

Settling In You have a variety of places to choose from when it comes to staying in Brunei from luxury resorts to traditional hotels. If you are looking for comforts of the highest degree, we suggest you choose a luxury resort or a business class hotel.

These hotels have everything that a top-notch hotel must have, but they are also very traditional. Empire Hotel and Country Club, Sheraton Utama Hotel, Terrace Hotel, Jubilee Hotel and Riverview Hotel, to name a few, will quench your thirst for luxury.

port is the bus, not to mention the cheapest.

The bus system is well networked and efficient.

You can also move around in taxis or rented cars; most hotels provide car rental services. Another interesting way to move around is by using water taxis, which will give you a taste of everyday life in Brunei.

If you can compromise on luxury, we suggest that you go for serviced apartments and guesthouses as they go easy on the pocket and do complete justice to your stay.

Le Gallery Suites Hotel, Abd Razak Apartments, Nazira Guest Houses, and Asean EC are some of the places you can stay.

Visa requirements for Brunei vary by nationality. Citizens of Canada, UK, Italy, Spain, UAE, Oman, and some other countries specified by the Bruneian government are allowed entry without a visa for a period of 30 days. US citizens are allowed 90 days of stay in Brunei without a visa. For

As for getting around, the most popular mode of trans-

other nationals, visas can be obtained from the Bruneian embassy in their country. So now that you have the low down, book your tickets and have fun!

www.dazzle-magazine.com

59

Amaze Recipes

Thai In Thirty For valentine, don’t waste your time in the kitchen; cook him an exotic Thai meal in thirty minutes‌

Thai Rice Noodle Salad

Serves: 4 Prep: 22 minutes

Ingredients: Salad: 200g 125g 3 2 2 1

1

Bean Sprouts Fine Vermicelli Rice Noodles Tbsp Fish or Soy Sauce Small Gem Lettuce Hearts Juiced Limes Tsp Muscovado Sugar or Soft Brown Sugar Red Onion

To Make With Steak: 4 2 1 1 1

Sirloin Steaks, 175g each Tbsp Sesame Seeds Red Chilli, deseeded and shredded Tsp Sunflower Oil Tsp Oil Mint leaves

Directions: Salad: 1. Halve the red onion and thinly slice; wash and clean the lettuce hearts; separate the leaves.

2. Place noodles and bean sprouts in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water.

3. Leave for 4 minutes, or until noodles are tender, then drain and cool under cold running water and drain again. Return to the bowl.

4. Stir together the lime juice, fish or soy sauce, and sugar. Then stir into the noodles with the red onion and lettuce.

60

FEBRUARY 2014

For the steak: 1. Heat sunflower oil in a frying pan.

2. Tip sesame seeds onto a plate, rub oil onto sirloin steaks, and press into sesame seeds.

3. Fry for 5 minutes for medium rare, turning halfway. Leave to rest for 5 minutes, and then thinly slice.

4. Toss red chilli and mint leaves into noodles.

5. Top with steak to serve.

Thai Salmon With Dipping Serves: 4 Prep: 30 minutes

Ingredients: 4 4 2 2 1

Salmon Fillets Tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce Garlic Cloves Tbsp Honey Red Chilli, thumb-sized

1 Tbsp Fish Sauce 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil 1 Red Onion 1 Lime Juice Âź Cucumber

Directions: 1. Dice cucumber and red onions; finely chop garlic cloves; deseed and finely chop red chilli. Put all together and mix with sweet chilli sauce and lime juice.

2. Put the salmon in a bowl with the chilli, garlic, coriander, fish sauce, sesame oil, and honey. Season with pepper and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or overnight.

3. Grill or barbecue the salmon until it’s crisp at the edges.

4. Sprinkle the cucumber and onion over it, and serve with sweet chilli dipping.

Thai Red Curry Prawns Ingredients: 12 4 2

Button Mushrooms Tbsp Red Curry Paste Large Potatoes Oil to taste Coriander to taste Fish Sauce to taste

400ml 300g 250g 200g 150g

Coconut Milk Butternut Squashes Cherry Tomatoes Raw Prawns Green Beans

Serves:6 Prep: 30 minutes

TIP: For a low-fat option, substitute coconut milk with 200ml milk.

Directions: 1. Peal and cube the potatoes and the butternut squashes; cut the button mushrooms in halves; peel the prawns.

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or large saucepan and fry 4 tbsp curry paste for a minute until fragrant.

3. Add the coconut milk, stir well, and bring to a simmer.

4. Add the potato and butternut squash and cook for10 minutes until almost tender, and then add the rest of the vegetables. Simmer for 5 minutes.

5. For the vegetables, transfer half the curry to another pan, and then add the prawns to the remaining half.

6. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until the prawns are cooked, then season with fish sauce.

7. Finally, sprinkle coriander over both curries, and serve with steamed jasmine rice.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

61

Dazztrology Aries March 21 - April 20 Despite the on-going tug-of-war between your private life and career and the fact that a partner or competitor is occasionally adding to the drama, you’re still able to turn a profit or to at least brainstorm some very profitable ideas that earns your boss’s respect. You could also be taking on more leadership roles. Maybe that’s what has a competitor so upset. You also find time for romance, socializing, and bringing a sense of peace and harmony into your home this month.

Taurus April 21 - May 21 Your spouse, best-friend, business partner, rival, or competitor is not in sync with your professional path, leadership, reputation, boss, or father/authority figure. Your partner/rival is being stubborn, depressed, or in the mood to challenge you, so they have become opinionated.

You’re doing well professionally and earning the respect of your peers, and your partner/rival is ticked off that you’re being cheered on when they would rather you were not encouraged to carry on in the direction you’re heading.

Gemini May 22 - June 21 Despite having an on-going drama of some kind involving your finances, you actually have some excellent financial and professional opportunities this month.

You have two money sectors and two professional sectors and they have paired up with work and profits joining forces while success and wealth are also teaming up together. The good news in your financial and professional life could help to distract you from the less than stellar energy flowing through your love life sectors.

Cancer June 22 - July 23 While your various partnerships and rivalries are still undergoing quite a lot of stress and challenge, you are still able to make progress within some of your romantic or financial partnerships this month. You are able to find time for fun, romance, and playtime.

However, you still have plenty of issues involving trust and/or your home life to iron out.

Leo July 24 - August 23 You still have a lot of drama happening within your professional life. However, working from home or working on things around the house is still a productive alternative. You and a partner or rival are able to communicate, negotiate, and find a lot of common ground this month. You could also find that you and a partner are able to have quite a bit of fun running errands together, shopping, and hanging out with local friends and family.

Virgo August 24 - September 23 You are beginning to pay more attention to your partnerships or to your rivalries. Mostly we are seeing good news in this area of your life so even if you’re dealing with a rival or enemy, they appear to be ready to make nice. Either your friends are helping you to resolve issues with these rivals or you are turning rivalries into friendships. You and a partner could also enjoy spending more time with friends and colleagues this month.

62

FEBRUARY 2014

By Skye Thomas Tomorrow’s Edge

Libra September 24 - October 23

There seems to be enough money for the household budget but not a lot of extra for playtime activities. Luckily, you are beginning to see the beginning of a positive trend in your professional life this month. Hopefully the good news at work will begin creating more income too. In the meantime, you will just have to find economical ways to entertain yourself and your loved ones.

Scorpio October 24 - November 22 Despite the fact that you’re still dealing with a lot of drama at work, something finally changed this month. A boss or authority figure may have left the battle, you may have decided to stop trying to take on a leadership role, or you may have accomplished a major level of achievement even with all the negativity happening around you. This professional retirement or stepping aside of a leader was a good thing and it helped you see more clearly what role you have to play in the upcoming months.

Sagittarius November 23 - December 21 Extended family, neighbours, and local friends can be such a mixed blessing. There are times this month, when you have so much fun with them and you really love them, and then other times when they pull out all their weird quirks, beliefs, behaviours, etc. and you just want to run screaming. Of course, we all know that’s part of the deal when you care about people, that we take the good with the bad, but this month, they are really good or really bad, sometimes both at the same time!

Capricorn December 22 - January 20 This month, you are beginning to have a disagreement with yourself or with your boss about your professional path or level of achievement. You and your partner or rival are still bickering about things at home or someone in your private life. You have some social outlets that help to distract you from the stresses of life, and you and your partner are able to enjoy yourselves when you are away from home running errands, visiting with local friends, etc.

Aquarius January 21 - February 19 You’re getting upset about your professional path, level of success, leadership style, and/ or your boss. However, you’re also successfully working towards achieving your financial and professional goals. It could be real issues that are upsetting you or you may just be feeling grumpy. Be careful not to say or do anything that you will regret. Taking time to reflect on your long-term professional goals could prove quite helpful and enlightening this month.

Pisces February 20 - March 20 Despite your financial challenges involving friends, teammates, membership dues, internet activities, and/or committees, you’re still having a great time socializing and having fun this month. You are entering a time when you will be enticed to dance, sing, play, get lost in your favourite hobbies, spend time with children, pets, or lovers, and maybe even look at finding a way to turn your favourite pastime into a career this month.

www.dazzle-magazine.com

63

Last Word

The Beauty Of Love “Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?”

Christopher Marlowe (15641593), Dramatist, Poet, and Translator of the Elizabethan era “It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations.”

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”

Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), Poet, Writer, Artist

“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.”

Alexander Smith (18301867), Poet

C

M

“Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life.”

Y

CM

Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998), Professor

Aristotle (384BC-322BC), Philosopher

MY

CY

CMY

K

““Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944), Writer, Aviator

“True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.”

La Rochefoucauld (1613– 1680), French Author

64

FEBRUARY 2014

“To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.”

“We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”

John Lennon (1940-1980), Singer, Songwriter, Peace Activist

William M. Thackeray (1811-1863), Novelist

“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), Philosopher

The first full-fledged film production house in Saudi Arabia.

www.silvergrey.tv Tel: +966 2 6605484 - Fax: +966 2 6605384