Excite Issue 1

Indulge. Splurge. relax.

issue 1 • april 2014

Finally !

Oman has its firs t re magazine al lifestyle that cove rs your favo urite content

idyllic capri Mediterranean appeal discovered

core streNgth ab exercises that tone you up

Timeless

homes

Keep your style fresh for years to come

lena Dunham your favourite New yorker

editor’s note

Living the good life Welcome to the first edition of Excite-Indulge. Splurge. Relax.

Leisure activities can be as brief as an afternoon spent in a mall, getting to know the old city of Muscat, or visiting your favourite spa for a Moroccan bath. My favourite experience is boating on a Friday under the sultry sun with good friends and great music. But if my friends aren’t up to it, I just prefer wandering through a souk or a furniture shop looking for timeless pieces for my home. That brings me to the cover story of our very first issue: Classic Choices.

An ideal home is filled with natural light and distinct collectibles from your voyages around the world.

This month, we help you to create a beautiful living space that makes you, your family and friends feel warm and always welcome.

Produced by

Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: +968 24696868, Fax: +968 24693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com Send your feedbacks to excite@deenarmedia.com

Issue 1 April 2014

Excite is all about the finer things in life or ownable lifestyle. We want you to aspire to learn a new kind of meditation, switch to healthier baking alternative to drop the kilos, communicate effectively with your children in order for them to thrive, try a popular kind of dessert or laugh at Calvin and Hobbes’ philosophies. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable in your skin, after discovering a sterling way to improve your lifestyle of course.

– Ed

Chairman

Hatim Al Taie

Editor-in-Chief

Abdullah Al Taie

General Manager

Rathish Ramachandran

Head of Design

Shyniben Koyakkil

Content Head

Deepali Kumar

Senior Sales Executive

Leticia Meneses

An Al Roya presentation

Printed at Modern Colour Printers, Muscat

For advertising details: Call 95041146 Email sales@deenarmedia.com

2014 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers.

While every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of any content in this magazine. The publishers accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the writers or advertisers.

Contents

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Oman’s treasure trove Heritage, culture and arts are integral parts of nation’s identity that need to be preserved

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24

17

Adventurous hike

Reduce stress

Racing success

Enjoys the outdoors while Oman’s splendid winter lasts.

This month, explore Misfat al Abriyyin, Jabal Shams

The young, talented and humble prince believes that one should make a dream of their life

REGULARS News....................................6

TV/Books........................61

Festivals.......................... 58

Food for thought....... 62

Movies..............................60

Horoscope..................... 63

Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation

Sunburst luxury We give this luxurysport chronograph the once-over

57

Elite racing....................................... 8

Perfect setting.............................35

Extreme 40 catamarans headed onto the Muscat racecourse for day one of Act 2

Jewellery can say a lot about a person.

Know what your jewellery says about you

Healthy whites............................ 26

What’s haute............................... 36

Find out how you can keep your teeth healthy and white for years

Step out in style with these gorgeous picks of the Spring Summer 2014 collection

Surprising substitutes........... 28

Socialise at work........................37

Avoid buttery goodness that can pack on the kilos. We have some great alternatives

Interact with your co-workers on a regular basis to grow in your workspace

Purple pout................................. 30

Abdudant waterfalls...............42

Violet is the new red. We show you How to nail dark purple lips

The unusual rainfall brought magic to Wadi al Naqma. We explore Oman’d beauty

Making waves..............................34

Happy Kids.................................... 46

It’s not all football in Brazil as these rising stars of the jewellery world shine

Give your children all that they need to grow, be safe and strive

O n T he C o v er

Colour equilibrium

Timeless choices

We give you a report of the colours of Spring 2014

32 COVER STORY

58

Pay to Play

Why you have to pay to play in 2014

There’s always room for personal and classic style.

We give you our take on the perfect decor for your home

Mesmerising Capri

It takes just a weekend to get organised.

Use our step-by-step solution

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This haven is considered among the most romantic destinations of the world.

Terry Mathukutty explores Capri’s magnificence

Core strength Get organised............................. 49

18

29

Team up with us for a 2-Week Challenge to 100 Crunches. Tone your abs and gain amazing strength

Parisian sweet tooth.............. 50 Beautiful macarons are the current ‘sweet’ crazes, and they also make perfect gifts

Qiuck and healthy.....................52 Perfect for a mid-week meal, these recipes are fast, filling and guiltless

Restaurant Review...................54 We relish and recommend good-old steak at The SteakCompany

Race like a Hurricance......... 56 Steven Ewing provides a viewpoint on the new raging bull

That Girl Through her hapless alter ego Hannah Horvath, Lena Dunham has brilliantly captured the anxieties and ambitions of a generation

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news Arabian leopard spotted

Cinematic festival A total of 102 movies including 11 Omani short films will be screened as part of the eighth edition of Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF) from March 23 to 29.

Announcing the plans for the film festival, Dr Khalid Al Zadjali, chairman of MIFF and Oman Film Society (OFS), told the media that the number of films to be showcased this year has gone up. “During the previous edition, we had only 67 films but this year, we have 102 films, marking an increase of 35 films. That shows the importance of this festival,” said Al Zadjali.

Oman government’s Arabian leopard project has been making efforts to safeguard this shy and reclusive creature. (Photo via The Columbian)

The film festival organised by OFS under the auspices of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, will screen 23 long feature films, 10 long documentaries, 22 short films and 47 short feature films. These films will be screened at the City Cinema Al Shatti, Muscat Grand Mall, Al

A team of researchers from the environment preservation office of the Diwan of Royal Court has spotted the Arabian leopard in Al Najd area in Dhofar Governorate, during their field research and survey of the area.

The researchers also managed to photograph the leopard. Experts believe that the area was within the zone where the Arabian leopard has lived for ages — in the mountains of Dhofar Governorate.

However, the animal has not been spotted in the area for years, mainly due to the lack of ibex and gazelle in the area.

The field research and survey being conducted in the area since 2003 has confirmed the presence of 14 species of wild mammals at Al Najd. However, the presence of the Arabian leopard was only confirmed in 2011, when a team of researchers from Rio Grande do Sul University, Brazil managed to detect the signs of presence of the Arabian leopard in the area.

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EXCITE • april 2014

Bahja Complex and at the theatre of Oman Film Society.

According to Al Zadjali, the MIFF has become selective about the films to be screened during the festival. “Over the last few years, we have tried to improve the standard of this film festival and, hence, have become more selective in choosing the films.

In the previous years, we used to feature almost all the entries but we have reached a stage where we want to improve on the quality of the films that we screen. We were careful in selecting these 102 films,” he said.

He also informed that 110 celebrities from 30 countries, including international actors, directors and technicians, will grace the seven-day film festival. The MIFF organisers are looking forward to bring Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor for the opening ceremony of the festival that will be held in Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

Samsung excludes Google BussinessInsider-Samsung has two new smart watches launching in April, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, the sequels to the poorly reviewed original Galaxy Gear that debuted last fall. But Samsung made an unexpected move in the new version by abandoning Android as the watch’s operating system. Instead, the new Gears run Tizen, another open source operating system that Samsung, Intel, and others are working on.

Some see the move to Tizen as a signal that Samsung wants to distance itself from its reliance

on Google for software and services. After all, Samsung misses out on a lot of potential revenue when its customers use Google stuff. That said, Samsung has another official reason for making the switch to Tizen. Android isn’t optimised to run on wearable devices like smart watches, and Blackard said Samsung didn’t want to wait around for Google to catch up. “Today, Android isn’t optimised as a wearable platform,” Blackard said. “In the meantime, Samsung has been working on Tizen for a long time.” Still, that could change again.

A Goodyear tire sporting a similar version of the selfinflating tire

Bieber meltdown The increasingly arrogant pop prince Justin Bieber took bratty to a whole new level in a four-and-a-half hour deposition video recorded couple of weeks ago in Miami after one of his bodyguards was accused of roughing up a photographer.

The highlights released by TMZ include Bieber dropping the abuses on a soft spoken court reporter, failing to remember who hiphop sensation and early mentor Usher was, and showcasing his vocabulary struggles by noting that he became famous all by himself on YouTube and was thus “detrimental” (rather than instrumental) to his own career. Trying to get in a fight with paparazzi, a DUI arrest, and

egg-throwing allegations, the list goes on and on. “Someone who likes to watch train wrecks or planes crashing,” Eric Schiffer of ReputationManagementConsultants. com told FOX411. “The worst is absolutely yet to come.” Schiffer said the longer Bieber takes to clean up his act, the harder it will be for his old fans to forgive him and buy more of his stuff. “Until he grows up and awakens to his lack of respectful, dignified behavior, then protecting his reputation cannot be done,” Schiffer said. “But it will still be like using perfume over a skunk’s continued spray.”

The signs of Bieber’s once skyrocketing career plummeting to earth are already there.

‘Freddy’s BBQ Joint’ for sale

Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood from the Netflix original series, ‘House of Cards’

Hey wannabe Frank Underwoods of Washington: perhaps you already own the cufflinks famously sported by your ‘House of Cards’ muse, and maybe you’ve been known to squash an enemy with glee and a one-liner.

How about taking the act one step further by snapping up the rib shop beloved by everyone’s favorite Vice President?

The run-down storefront where producers for the Netflix show shot scenes at “Freddy’s BBQ Joint” is for sale, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Self-inflating tire tech The Aperia Technologies Halo is a bolton, self-contained pump designed to keep tires inflated to the perfect pressure at all times, extending their life and improving fuel economy along the way.

The device attaches to the axle just like the hubodometers often seen on trailers.

The pressure setting is pre-programmed at the factory, and one unit can service up to two standard tires, or one wide base tire.

And it works both ways, reducing pressure in overheated tires, as well. Each Halo costs USD299 and was engineered to work at all drive and freewheel positions on most types of Class 7 and 8 trucks, including buses, but isn’t currently compatible with the front steering wheels.

‘Burger King baby’ seeks mom In 1986, a newborn wrapped in a red sweater was found abandoned in the bathroom of a fastfood restaurant in Pennsylvania. Nearly three decades later, the baby is all grown up and looking for her biological mother — and tens of thousands of people are trying to help.

Twenty-seven-year-old Katheryn Deprill began her quest on 2 March by posting a photo on Facebook. Deprill’s photo has been shared nearly 27,000 times by Facebook users. Deprill says she wants to thank her biological mother for “not throwing me away.”

EXCITE • april 2014

7

Special feature

ELITEracing

The 11 elite level Extreme 40 catamarans headed onto the Muscat racecourse for day one of Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series

L

and Rover Oman has been at the heart of world-class sailing action in the waters off Muscat, as the premium car brand hosted the award-winning Extreme Sailing Series as global series main partner. The Act, which saw 11 of the World’s very best professional sailing teams racing ‘Stadium Style’ in high-performance Extreme 40 catamarans, has been thrilling to watch for the thousands of public who have visited the Race Village at the Almouj Golf Club.

“It has been an absolute honour for Land Rover Oman to be hosting the Extreme Sailing Series at the second Act of out of a total of eight on the global tour this year,” commented Rob Preston, Regional Customer Services Director for Land Rover MENAP Region.

David Aziz, CEO, Automotive, MHD LLC added, “It was an amazing experience for us as well as our customers and members

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EXCITE • april 2014

The fleet powered off the startline and blasted around the course, with each race lasting around 10 minutes

of the media who spared their time to go sailing on the Land Rover Extreme 40. We hope to make it a bigger event next year with additional Land Rover Experiential activities added on”

The Wave, Muscat, SAP Extreme Sailing Team & Alinghi take their places on the podium

The final day of Extreme Sailing Series action provided a thrilling spectacle as the 11 teams raced round the course, just metres off the shoreline, at up to 30mph, thrilling the crowds gathered on the edge of the bay. Heading into the final race of seven, on the final day, just four points separated the top four boats, with The Wave, Muscat, SAP Extreme Sailing Team, Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand all within grasp of the top spot on the podium.

But it was the local Omani team, The Wave, Muscat, who snatched the victory, dominating the final race and pushing Emirates Team New Zealand into second place and the Swiss team, Alinghi into third.

The circuit, which Land Rover signed as a Series Main Partner in April 2013, puts the spectators into the heart of the battle and

The Wave, Muscat Skipper Leigh McMillan received the prize for first place from His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat and flowers presented by Land Rover Global Ambassador, Hannah White.

Now in its seventh season, the Extreme Sailing Series is an award-winning and adrenalinefueled global Stadium Racing series competed on Extreme 40 catamarans.

Series Main Partner Land Rover and Red Bull Sailing Team announce ‘Official Team and Vehicle’ partnership

raises the bar in terms of both high level competition and sporting entertainment.

The Extreme 40 catamarans and Land Rovers are both designed with lightweight capabilities that make them dynamic and responsive, delivering worldclass performance in their respective environments. The circuit is one of only five global sailing events that are endorsed by the International Sailing Federation, including the America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, the World Match Racing Tour and the PWA World Tour.

The Extreme Sailing Series circuit will now head to Qingdao China for the third Act of the year.

SAP Extreme Sailing Team grunt up as they muscle their Extreme 40 around the track

EXCITE • april 2014

9

Out & about

Adventurous hike

Enjoys the outdoors while Oman’s splendid winter lasts. This month, explore Misfat al Abriyyin, Jabal Shams

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EXCITE • april 2014

T

he principal mountain range in northern Oman is known as Al Hazar (literally meaning ‘the rock’).

It rises abruptly out of the calm waters as the Straits of Hormuz and stretches for more than 600km in a south-easterly direction, following the long crecent of Oman’s coastline. The range splits into the Northern, Eastern and Western Hajars and boasts many peaks in excess of 2,000 metres. The highest peak, at just over 3,000 metres is Jabal Shams (also known as Al Qannah) in the Western Hajar. The spectacular ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’ is also in this area, and an energetic walk around the rim of the canyon offers breathtaking views and is well worth the effort.

This month’s suggested hike Misfat al Abriyyin, Jabal Shams Just before the paved road turns to the right and climbs steeply up Jabal Shams, you’ll see an impressive cliff with a TV tower at the apex. The east face of Jabal Misfa sports several rock climbs, varying in length from 150 to 500m. Have a look for climbers on your way up Jabal Shams.

Sunset view of the spectacular ‘Grand Canyon of Oman,’ Jabal Misfa

Remember • Be prepared and sensible-let someone know where you’re going • Stay hydrated- don’t underestimate the strength of the sun. Carry along hats, sunscreen, sunglasses and wear longsleeved clothing. Take far more water than you think you’ll need.

• Take some high-carb food with you like bread, peanuts and trail mix.

• Carry a basic first aid kit.

• Make sure your phone battery is fully charged.

• Take your litter with you (if possible, pick up the litter you find on your way) until you find yourself a bin.

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 11

HERITAGE

Bait al Baranda museum, Muscat

treasure trove Heritage, culture and arts are integral parts of nation’s identity that need to be preserved

O

man has a rich past with historical relics strewn all across the country. In a bid to preserve the country’s cultural heritage for its posterity as well as visitors, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture (MOHC) has attached enormous importance to the innumerable relics found in archaeological and cultural sites and from sources other than these.

Global best practices and cutting edge technology are applied to the conservation of these vestiges of ancient period. To this end, Oman’s museum segment has been developed in the recent past through public and private investment. This expansive infrastructure is supervised by MOHC’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. Four of the major museums come under MOHC: The Natural History

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Museum (1985), Oman’s Children Museum (1990), which are the two most popular public sector museums, and the Omani French Museum (1992) and the Museum of Heritage and Culture.

Sohar Museum, which opened in 1993, is presently closed to public view for renovation. Museums like Muscat gate and popular Armed Forces Museum are run by other government agencies like Diwan of Royal Court and the Ministry of Defence, respectively.

For some years, Bait al Zubair Foundation Museum, a private sector institution, established in 1998 by Zubair family, has been operating virtually as a national museum of the sultanate. Housing the finest private collection of Omani artefacts

in the country, the museum’s operation is funded by the Zubair group. A pioneer in the adoption of curatorial methods, the museum is a venue for cultural events, workshops and conferences. Bait al Zubair’s role was so exemplary that in 2010, MOHC introduced new regulations to oversee the activities of a rapidly growing segment of private museums. The regulation focuses on collection authenticity, display criteria and building norms and facilities. As a result of this, the MOHC has officially certified three museums -- Bait al Zubair, the Modern Art Museum and the Omani Costume Museum.

There are also a handful of private museums initiated by people who has a repertoire of interesting collectibles they would like to share with public. Bait Adam

Muscat Gate Museum

and Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art are two shining examples of this category and attract many visitors.

It should be mentioned here that the total footfall in all MOHC museums reached 49,473, recording a plunge from the previous year; the reason could be the closure of two museums for renovation.

The upcoming national museum Scheduled for completion in June 2014, a public sector museum, which could be Oman’s largest, is coming up in the government quarter of Muscat. The new National Museum occupies a 27,500sqm plot and will house 13 permanent galleries, displaying more than 6000 Omani objects comprising artefacts, manuscripts and documents of historical relevance. While the names of UK based design consultants Jasper and Jacob and Carillion are approved for consultancy and construction, international cultural organisations are expected to be involved in exhibition,

There are also a handful of private museums who have a repertoire of interesting collectibles they would like to share research, restoration and management. The authority has invited tenders for developing the national museum.

Before being converted into a bona fide national museum, it will start off as an exhibition, which will continue for a year. The displayed artefacts and documents will be changed quarterly in the exhibition so that people know about Oman’s historic importance in the region. Owing to its strategic geographic location, the country developed relations with various parts of the world through different phases of history, which enabled the country to enjoy a significant position in the region. National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) has precious artefacts, maps, manuscripts and documents of historical relevance to Oman, which can give glimpses of the life and times in Oman in different periods. It is learnt that NRAA has recently acquired a 16th century letter from an Omani national, written by one Portuguese to an Omani named Mohammad, whose identity is not ascertained. But this letter is a very important piece of document which speaks of the relations of Oman with the Portuguese during that period.

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 13

PEOPLE

That girl

"

I

think that I may be the voice of my generation—or, at least, a voice of a generation," declares Hannah, the aspiring writer protagonist of Lena Dunham's new series, Girls, which premieres on HBO and revolves around a group of four young women living in New York as they fumble their way through twentysomething life in the greater postrecessionary Manhattan area. Hannah,

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played by Dunham (who also writes, executive produces, and directs Girls), is the talky, self-obsessed one, and makes her announcement in her parents' hotel suite after a whirlwind 24-hour period during which she has been summarily cut off by them financially, fired from her unpaid internship, engaged in an awkward relationship with a guy who might not be into her, and downed a cup of tea. To longtime cable subscribers,

Through her hapless alter ego Hannah Horvath, Lena Dunham has brilliantly captured the anxieties and ambitions of a generation

the show's other archetypes will seem vaguely familiar: there's Marnie (Allison Williams), the uptight, ambitious one; Jessa (Jemima Kirke), the flighty, adventurous one; and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet), the naive, optimistic one; there's even a Sex and the City poster in one of the Girls girls' apartments. But while Sex and the City was a celebration of all of the cosmos, Manolos, and punny innuendos of a certain kind

of single-girl life in Manhattan, Girls reflects the resignation-and, in some cases, the entitlement-of another demographic, forced by sky-high rents and a bad economy to watch it all from the existential cheap seats as they come to grips with the fact that the malaise they've been experiencing as a deferment of life might very well be life itself.

Dunham, the daughter of artists Laurie Simmons and Carroll Dunham, grew up in SoHo and began making films while she was still a creative writing major at Oberlin College. After graduating and moving back to New York, she developed her own web series, the art-world send-up Delusional Downtown Divas.

But it was 2010's Tiny Furniture, the semiautobiographical tale of a Spanxwearing film major (Dunham) who, after finishing college and getting dumped by her boyfriend before he goes to the Burning Man festival, moves back in with her artist mother (played by Simmons) and overachieving younger sister (played

by Dunham's real-life sister, Grace), that put Dunham on the map. Shot in 18 days in her family's apartment for just USD45,000, the film went on to win the best narrative feature award at the South

by Southwest Film Festival. It also caught the attention of Judd Apatow, who serves as an executive producer on Girls.

If you are a woman in your twenties, you are most likely to watch this show twice, simply because you can’t get enough of it.

The depiction of women is unnervingly relatable. It's funny how Lena worked in things like the way that we're always asking everyone if they're mad at us, and the fact that women cuddle with each other and we pee with each other.

We also like the way you address the possible, if not inevitable, comparisons to Sex and the City.

We absolutely love the characters of the television series. The writing of the show was clever too. Dunham agrees too; not only in terms of the over-the-top lifestyle, she also feels like it was aspirational about friendship. Like, she loves the friendships that you see in Nancy Meyers' movies, but for me, that kind of friendship is elusive. Dunham feels like a lot of the female relationships she sees on TV or in movies are in some way free of the kind of jealousy and anxiety and posturing that has been such a huge part of her female friendships, which she

hopes lessens a little bit with age.

Those dynamics are so sophisticated and we do think that women need each other in a way that men might not need each other. We wouldn’t like to make any big claims, but we women do have a kind of intimacy. There is almost a kind of relationship in female friendship, and I don't know if it's the same for men.

Dunham thinks about her best friendships—which the Marnie-Hannah friendship in Girls is based on—as like a great relationship of her young life.

That relationship on the show was very moving for us, because we think all of us have experienced it—and almost every woman we know has. We have that one friend, and we practice with each other in pre-adolescence, and then we kind of move on to having a more mature version of that with a significant other.

And then those relationships have to

If you are a woman in your twenties, you are most likely to watch ‘Girls’ twice. It is relatable and re-enacts your relationship with your BFFs E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 15

implode before you can kind of meet each other again and renegotiate your friendship as adults.

high-school age range. But 24 to 25-that seems like an age that is so specific and that hasn't been done.

Lena expresses that it's almost like when you're young, your friends take on that role, and then guys take on the role of your friends later. She remembers huge fights in college that were like, "You don't want me to be with a significant other because you don't want me to be happy and not be around all the time!" Those are the kinds of things that are really hard to imagine an older woman saying, but she’s so glad that those female friendships on the show worked for many viewers, because that was the biggest thing for her-having all those interactions feel genuine. She wanted this show to fill in a gap in TV for women this age. She feels like there've been high-school shows—and her so-called life is one of them—that have been honest about what teenage girl friendship can be, that sort of Angela-Rayanne relationship. That is all stuff that's been captured really well in the

Lena’s character, Hannah, is constantly fumbling and struggling and terrified to really commit to her work, even though she is obviously very gifted. It's like she has a confidence that she's not even aware of. And Dunham things that it's sort of like the naivety of youth. It's interesting how we often can't see the ways in which we are being strong—like, you can't be aware of what you're doing that's tough and brave at the time that you're doing it because if you knew that it was brave, then you'd be scared.

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Lena wanted ‘Girls’ to fill the gap in TV for women of this age. Early twenties have rarely been captured

Another observation we made was that the male characters on Girls are defined as the women. There is not as much emphasis placed on them, but they're all really interesting, rich, specific characters. We absolutely love this show, and recommend it any day.

PROFILE

Racing success The young, talented and humble prince believes that one should make a dream of their life

P

rince Prince Abdulaziz Discipline: Motor Friends call him: Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal Sport Various ATF Turki AlFaisal – Porsche GT3 is a humble, championship ME kind and generous person.

He spent most of his childhood studying in London. Living in Born: 4 June 1983 His philosophy: Europe allowed him stay fit and in Riyadh, Saudi “I believe in brought him into contact with sports Arabia activities, especially motor sports. At an following dreams early age, Prince Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal to wherever they decided to advance his interest in motor take you. If this sports to the next level. the means challenging Middle Special talent: the world around The last few years have been especially East Football and you, then it is successful for Prince Abdulaziz Turki Porsche Cup Water Sports AlFaisal. In 2009, he participated in the 24Championship truly worth hour race for the Toyo Tires Cup in Dubai. and finished in doing.”

His team finished in second place and he second place, only raced to first place in the A5 category. The two points behind the same year, he participated for the first winner. He also tested to Favourite cuisine: time in the European GT3 Porsche Super qualify for Le Mans 24 Hours Italian Cup Series. Between 2009 and 2010 he endurance, coming in second competed in the Middle East Porsche Cup place. In 2012, he won the Porsche Championship and finished in first place, GT3 Championship for the second time earning the championship title. and competed in the Dunlop 24-hour race in Dubai, finishing fourth. He also took Favourite music In 2011, Prince Abdulaziz proved that he part in the FIA GT3 World Championship. could succeed outside the Middle East, In 2012, he won the Porsche GT3 is R&B winning the first race at FIA GT3 in Championship for the second time.

Portugal. During 2010-2011, he took part in Sourced from redbull.com

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 17

COVER STORY

classic

choices

While certain elements like rustic furnishings, natural materials, define classic style, there’s always room for personal style. We give you our take on the perfect decor for your home

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Although there are many different styles and techniques to choose from when decorating your home, there’s just something warm and welcoming about the classic decorating styles. Whether you prefer something strictly traditional or a slightly eclectic mix of different classic styles, the overall look is stylish, relaxing and comfortable. If you’d like to add some classic touches to your home, here are a few decorating techniques you can try.

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 19

O

ne of the great things about classic pieces of furniture is that they never really seem to go out of style. When you choose classic furniture pieces, you should focus on quality and durability, because you’ll undoubtedly want to keep the piece for a long time. Although a quality piece of furniture will naturally cost more than a cheap piece, you’ll actually save money in the long run because of its durability and timeless style.

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There are several different furniture styles that fit into the category of ‘classic.’ If you prefer a traditionally elegant look, dark wood finishes are always a popular choice. If you prefer something a bit more casual, medium- or light-toned pieces that reflect a traditional or slightly country flavor can also work well. Of course, if you prefer a more eclectic style of decorating, you can mix and match various classic furniture pieces to create a look that is all your own.

a traditionally styled room, classic patterns are always a great choice.

Stripes, floral prints, checks, toile patterns and hound’s tooth patterns are popular and timeless. Instead of patterns, you could also choose to add visual interest with textured fabrics, wall coverings and floor coverings for a subtler look.

Patterns

Classic colours

When choosing fabrics, floor coverings, wall coverings and upholstery for

Warm shades are generally considered to be the best choice for

EXCITE • april 2014

classic-style rooms. Earth tones such as brown, beige, gold, brick red, orange and yellow will add a sense of warmth and earthiness to the room.

For a light and airy look and feel, choose colours from the lighter end of the colour spectrum. You can also use darker warm shades to provide a striking accent. If desired, you could even use a dark warm shade as the primary colour in a room, creating a bold, yet still traditional look.

Combine dark wall shades with white

woodwork and trim for a truly classic touch.

Decorating accents When choosing decorating pieces, look for traditional accents, styles and patterns. For example, if you love the look of French wall art, a beautiful fleur de lis metal wall sculpture could be the perfect choice. Art prints or canvas paintings framed in traditionally styled frames can also be used to add visual interest to the room.

When choosing the lighting for your home, classic choices include chandeliers, floor lamps and table lamps. Candles and lanterns can also be used to add a relaxing or even romantic touch. If you’ve opted for classic hardwood floors, a beautiful woven, hooked or braided area rug can add warmth and a splash of colour.

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Keep up with trends Making sure your home is fashionable can be tough. So this year, why not opt out of following the latest and greatest, and choose timeless home decor style over fleeting fads? We’ve got ten home decor trends that will keep your style fresh for years to come.

Minimalism

Warm tones

Functional furniture

No matter what year it is, less is always more. The less you have crowding your shelves and tables, the better your home will look and the less you’ll have to dust. The same goes for the layout of each room. Stick with furniture that’s proportional to the room so the space doesn’t look crowded.

Shades like caramel, plum and ochre are all timeless because they warm up your space. Whether you paint a room in a warm tone or stock up on accents in those shades, your home will look chic and cozy, regardless of the latest trends.

As chic as that angular chair with a bucket seat looks in the magazine, don’t buy something on which you can’t comfortably sit. The same goes for glass coffee tables and shelves with no space.

Buy home decor items that are meant to be used, not just admired from afar.

Comfort Like function, comfort is an important factor when buying furniture. It’s not timeless if you have to replace your couch because you just can never relax on it. Buy something that looks good and also feels good.

Natural lighting If you need to buy window coverings, choose window treatments that let in the most light. Where there is minimal natural light, invest in high-quality lighting options that give your space a natural-looking glow.

Quality over quantity Just because you have shelves doesn’t mean they all need to be overflowing, and just because you have walls doesn’t mean every square inch should be covered with a painting or photo. Choose art and accessories wisely and shop less often.

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Durability

Smart storage

When it comes to home decor, it’s often better to splurge on something that will stand the test of time rather than something trendy, yet poorly made. You’ll end up spending the same amount on several low-cost, low-quality items versus one well-made piece.

Again, shop wisely.

An organized house is a happy house. Having smart storage solutions never goes out of style and will ensure your home is always in order. From wrought iron hooks to classic bookshelves, you can easily make storage part of your design aesthetic.

Shades of gray

Easy updates

In fashion and in home decor, gray is a shade that isn’t going away. From softer tones to slate to gray with hints of blue, this timeless colour looks good anywhere, including on counter tops, walls and accessories.

Not every piece within your home must fall within the ‘timeless’ category. In fact, following the latest trends will keep your decor fresh and fun.

To have your cake, and eat it too, go trendy with items that can easily be exchanged from season to season. Feature the latest fabric prints on throw pillows, or highlight the hottest colour palette by painting an accent wall. As the trends come and go, you can easily update these items without requiring a complete makeover.

Accent colour Trendy colours change year to year and season to season, but a room always needs a bit of colour to really pop. Rather than investing in an orange couch or painting the living room aquamarine, choose accessories such as throw pillows, vases and even art in bold accent shades.

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Mind & body

Reduce stress Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation

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f stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. Anyone can practice meditation. It's simple and inexpensive, and it doesn't require any special equipment. And you can practice meditation wherever you are — whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor's office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting.

Understanding meditation Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life.

These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.

Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine.

Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process

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results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Benefits of meditation Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and can even improve certain medical conditions.

Meditation and emotional well-being When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress. The emotional benefits of meditation include: • Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations • Building skills to manage your stress • Increasing self-awareness • Focusing on the present • Reducing negative emotions • Meditation and illness Meditation also might be useful if you have a medical condition, especially one that may be worsened by stress. While a

growing body of scientific research supports the health benefits of meditation, some researchers believe it's not yet possible to draw conclusions about the possible benefits of meditation.

With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help such conditions as: • Allergies • Anxiety disorders • Asthma • Binge eating • Cancer • Depression • Fatigue • Heart disease • High blood pressure • Pain • Sleep problems • Substance abuse Be sure to talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of using meditation if you have any of these conditions or other health problems. In some cases, meditation can worsen symptoms associated with certain mental health conditions.

Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment.

But it may be a useful addition to your other treatment.

Ways to meditate Meditation is an umbrella term for the many ways to a relaxed state of being.

There are many types of meditation and relaxation techniques that have meditation components. All share the same goal of achieving inner peace.

Guided meditation Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing.

You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher.

Mantra meditation In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts.

Mindfulness meditation This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. You broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation,

such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions but let them pass without judgment.

Qi gong and Tai chi This practice generally combines meditation, relaxation, physical movement and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance. Qi gong (CHEE-gung) is part of traditional Chinese medicine.Tai chi is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts. In tai chi (TIE-chee), you perform a self-paced series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner while practicing deep breathing.

Transcendental meditation You use a mantra, such as a word, sound or phrase repeatedly silently, to narrow your conscious awareness and eliminate all thoughts from your mind. You focus exclusively on your mantra to achieve a state of perfect stillness and consciousness.

Yoga You perform a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind.

As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you’re encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment.

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AestheticS

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Healthy

whites

Find out how you can keep your teeth healthy and white for years

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smile can mean a lot of things – it’s a great ice-breaker, something that lets you know that another person is at ease with you. But too often a great smile is marred be one thing – bad teeth.

Some of us may have been gifted with that million-dollar smile that could melt anyone’s heart, but keeping it that way is no easy task. Obviously you need your teeth to break down food as you eat, so unless you’re a fan of a liquid diet I suggest you take your dental care seriously.

Oral hygiene Make sure you are selecting an oral hygiene regime that suits you. There are certain key ingredients in oral care products today that target specific problems i.e. teeth that stain easily, poor gums, cavity prone and sensitive teeth. Each category warrants specific ingredients that should be contained in your oral hygiene regimen. Check with your dentist as to which type of teeth you have and what you should be using.

Daily routine

Aesthetic treatments

Be sure to brush, floss and use a mouth rinse twice a day. An electric toothbrush is mandatory for proper oral care. Again, choosing the right products for your specific situation is crucial. I tell my patients to start with brushing for a full two minutes, floss and use a mouth rinse for 30 seconds. No eating or drinking for a half hour after usage to allow active ingredients to settle into your teeth.

Using porcelain veneers with the right approach can make a significant impact on overall facial beauty. To understand how the process works, you have to first understand facial beauty. Facial beauty exists in symmetry and harmony of facial features. People whose left and right sides of the face are symmetrical are pleasing to the eye. That means their nose is in the center of the face, chin centered, eyes centered and parallel to the ground and the smile is parallel to the eyes. However, this exists about five per cent of the time and decreases as you age.

Veneers, even in an asymmetrical environment, using colour, texture and properties of light emission, can give the appearance of symmetrical facial features if the smile is designed properly. As we age, our gums become thin and recede - veneers give the look of thick, healthy gums.

Preventing aging Proper care from a professional is the key to preventing aging of your smile. A night guard may be required if you grind your teeth, possibly adult braces if your teeth have shifted and possibly veneers.

Simple treatments Professional bleaching or at home bleaching is a quick way to get a white smile and see the possibilities of what a white smile can do for you. At this point it’s good to have a consultation to see what the real possibilities are.

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Fitness

Surprising substitutes Baking calms the mind and feeds the soul, but all that buttery goodness can pack on the kilos. Here are some great alternatives

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f you're looking to make healthier baked goods, omitting some or all of the butter from your favorite recipes can greatly reduce the amount of calories, fat, and cholesterol in your sweet treats. There are countless ways to replace eggs in recipes, and here are healthier alternatives to using butter. These substitutes are great for vegan bakers too.

Applesauce Often used to replace oil in recipes, applesauce can also be used as butter alternative, and it works best in cakelike recipes (like this vegan banana apple chunk bread). Replace half the amount of butter in your recipe with applesauce; if the recipe calls for one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and half a cup of applesauce. If you don't mind a denser, more moist bread, replace all the butter with applesauce to cut even more calories and fat.

Avocado Substitute half the amount of butter in a baking recipe with mashed avocado (it works well with cookies); use the same method as you would when using

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applesauce. Using avocado not only lowers the calorie content but also creates a softer, chewier baked good, and is perfect if you want to omit the dairy.

Greek yogurt

Replace all of the butter with Earth Balance to reduce saturated fat and cholesterol. Using Smart Balance rather than Earth Balance will also save some calories, but note that Original Smart Balance contains whey, so it's not vegan.

Replace half the amount of butter in your cookie recipes with half the amount of full-fat plain Greek yogurt.

For example, if the recipe calls for one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and one quarter cup of yogurt. You'll reduce the calories and the saturated fat.

Play around with using more yogurt and less butter to see if you still like the taste and consistency. Here are more ways to use Greek yogurt in baking recipes.

Canola oil

Prune purée

In certain recipes, replacing butter with oil works well, especially if the recipe calls for melted butter. Fiddle with your favorite recipes to figure out when canola works instead of butter; when baking chocolate chip cookies, I've had success substituting half a cup of canola oil for half a cup of unsalted butter.

Although slightly higher in calories, canola is much lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Often used to help little ones stay regular, prune purée also makes a low-calorie and low-fat alternative to butter. Whatever amount of butter the recipe calls for, replace it completely with store-bought baby food prune puree (unless you have time to make your own; just purée prunes in the food processor). This option works well in recipes that involve chocolate and cinnamon.

Earth Balance

Crunch time!

Two-Week Challenge to 100 Crunches

Reverse crunch

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t’s time for a workout challenge, and this one is all about the abs.

Perfect for those new to strength training, it’s short and sweet — all it takes is a few minutes each day for the next two weeks and you’re sure to notice stronger and more defined abs. Instead of doing basic crunches, this challenge involves five crunch variations to target different areas of your midsection.

Lying on your back, lift your legs in the air with your knees bent. Place your hands on the floor beside you.

Without momentum, use your lower abs to slowly curl the hips off the floor and into your chest.

Slowly lower them back to the starting position.

V crunch Lie on your back, and lift your legs and arms up so they are extended toward the ceiling. Lift your upper back off the floor, reaching your hands toward your feet.

This counts as one rep.

Lower your legs toward the floor while reaching your arms overhead, keeping your shoulders off the mat and lower back pressed into the mat.

Repeat the crunch motion to complete one rep.

Bicycle crunch Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground.

With your hands behind your head, bring your knees toward your chest and lift your upper back until your shoulder blades off the mat. Be sure not to pull on your neck.

Straighten your right leg out to about a 45-degree angle to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow toward the left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.

Switch sides, and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep.

Diamond sit-up Lie on your back and open your legs into a diamond shape (aka butterfly legs), with the soles of your feet pressed together and knees out wide. Extend the arms overhead.

Inhale to curl the torso up, and tap the floor in front of your feet to stretch your glutes a bit.

Slowly lower back to the starting position.

This counts as one rep.

Technically considered a sit-up, this effective move works the abs through a larger range of motion and adds some functional fitness training to the challenge.

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beauty

Purple pout Here’s how to nail dark purple lips

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he easiest way to take your look from day to night is with a bold lip colour. And since purple reigns this season, why not switch up your signature red lip with a deep plum hue? It’s not only sensual, but its stunning wine-colored hue is sure to get you noticed instantly.

Purple is now the new red. Last year was all about the classic Marilyn Monroeesque scarlet. Take in a notch higher with this shade of the season. Purple not only complements all outfits and looks alike, it also makes your friends wonder what’s different about you.

Exfoliate To wear dark lip colours, you must have smooth, supple lips sans flaky skin. Start by exfoliating with a lip exfoliator using circular motions to slough away any dead skin. You may use E.L.F. Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator or any facial exfoliator.

Camouflage your true lip colour with cover-up Layer concealer over your lips using a flat makeup brush to blank out any of your natural lip colour. That way your lip shade won’t conflict with the purple lip colour, leaving you with true pigment payoff.

Line your lips This provides a barrier that’ll keep the purple lipstick from feathering or bleeding. We recommend M.A.C. Cosmetics Plum Lip Pencil.

Fill in your pout with the plum pencil Colouring in your lips with the same purple lip pencil from step three gives the purple lipstick you’re about to apply something to adhere to. This helps to make the colour last longer on your lips.

Coat your lips in a deep winecoloured hue Using a lip brush to get a precise application, apply a purple lipstick over your entire mouth. Try Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Blackberry.

Lacquer-up your lips with a matching gloss Intensify your lip’s look with a gloss in the same shade as your lipstick.

Create symmetry and clean up any imperfections with concealer Using the lip brush and concealer that you used in step two, perfect your application by cleaning up around the edges of your mouth, creating straight lines with cover-up.

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Finally, pucker up and get ready to show off that pretty purple pout!

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fashion

Colour equilibrium

We give you a report of the colours of Spring

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esigners take a modern twist on the traditional for spring 2014 by pairing soft pastels with vivid brights to create a colorful equilibrium. Inspired by a mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad and strong, confident women, designers use colour to refresh, revive and defy conventional wisdom.

We take a look at renowned designed who incorporated these colours into their Spring Summer 2014 collection.

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Paloma

Three very adaptable pastels sit on the one end of the palette and, because we are so accustomed to seeing them as nature’s background, they can be creatively combined with any colour in the spectrum. Placid Blue, like a pictureperfect, tranquil and reassuring sky, induces a sense of peaceful calmness, while Violet Tulip, a romantic, vintage purple, evokes wistful nostalgia. Similar to the verdant shade of Springtime Foliage, Hemlock, a summery, Ornamental Green, provides a decorative touch that’s very different from the Greens of recent seasons. Pair any of these versatile pastels with a bolder hue for an au courant look.

BCBG Max Azria Cool Chambrays and shades of pink feature prominently in the collection. Black and Cool Gret set the backdrop for colourful prints with a mixture of warm and cool tones such as Begonia Pink, Vine Green and Bright Yellow. Max’s pick for this season is a shirt-dress in Chambray Blue and White.

Celosia Orange Violet Tulip

Pamella Roland Spring is a perfect opportunity to wear colour, especially after being covered up all winter. For spring 2014, the use of vibrant colours such as Flamingo, Candy Pink, Winter Sky, Peach Whip, Mellow Yellow and highlights of silver and gold. A must have according to Pamella is a Flamingo and Candy Pink t-shirt, perfect for any occasion.

Tadashi Shoji White being the most dominant colour this season, can be matched with any other colour of spring.

It’s neutral and fresh. A musthave piece according to Tadashi is an ivory scalloped dress with a flared skirt. Other colours in Tadashi Shoji’s spring collection are Lavender and Frosted Jade.

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JEWELLERY

Making

waves T

his new year, it’s time to look to the New World for jewels.

And where better to cast our winter-weary eyes than toward Brazil. For starters it’s hard to say ‘joia’, the Portuguese for jewel, without smiling.

It just sounds happy. And looking at these jewels from some of Brazil’s top designers, you can’t deny that there is a lifeenhancing exuberance about them.

It's not all football in Brazil right now as these rising stars of the jewellery world shine

influence of Brazil – its richness of natural

Black Label pastel earrings, Carla Amorim

Blessed with gold and almost every precious gem under the sun – the country supplies 65 per cent of the world’s coloured gems - Brazil embraces jewels and makes them like no one else.

Years of a protectionist government with high tariffs on imported luxury goods meant that along with an uninhibited nation with a predisposition to adorn itself, the Brazilian jewellery industry flourished. Going well beyond the stereotype of big coloured stones and Carmen Miranda overkill, these jewellers are the ones to watch.

Carla Amorim, an enterprising woman from the capital Brasilia, founded a jewellery brand with her sister 20 years ago that is now well-established and stocked in key department stores and online jewellery boutiques around the world. The

Cheeky hoops, Fernando Jorge

Colourful scalloped earrings, Silvia Furmanovich resources and its culture – is evident in her work. Amorim’s latest designs pick up her favourite parts of Rio de Janeiro including the cable car or ‘Bondinho’ to the Sugarloaf mountain, and the twin peaks that loom over the city. The Pantone range of jewels is just what it promises to be: saturated colours bursting with life. The egg-yolk yellow calcite Sunlight earrings are almost bright enough to merit wearing SPF. Fernando Jorge may be living and working from London but this São Paulo native who studied at Central Saint Martins still brings a Brazilian sensuality to hard rocks and metal. Our favourite collection is Cheeky named for the nation’s obsession with beauty – particularly women in swimsuits swaying along the beach. Who else but a Brazilian could dream up such a tribute to beauty? Jorge’s jewels are fluid, slinky and desirable and just dying to be worn.

Seeing Silvia Furmanovich jewels is like

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walking into the sunshine after the rain.

Slick, glossy bright colours and rippling textures are alive with rain-slicked promise. Orange chalcedony fan earrings look like fine slices of ripe mango held up against the light while a humble, blushingpink cockle shell paired with a majestic emerald gives new life to both materials in a bracelet. From a family of jewellers the spontaneous eye-grabbing tropical joy of her pieces belies complex carving, gemsetting and construction techniques, for barefoot luxury at its finest.

Orange and Gold statement earrings, Silvia Furmanovich

Perfect setting

Jewellery can say a lot about a person, and knowing what your jewellery says about you is vital

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n a business setting, less is usually more. Large, dangling earrings may catch the light just the way you like it, but they can be very distracting during conversations.

If your position in your company is a power position, getting matching jewellery can increase a persona all that much more.

Sleek, stylish, simple designs are preferable. In essence, you want a person to notice the necklace, watch, or ring for being unique, but not for being ostentatious or flamboyant.

If you are having a hard time deciding whether an item is appropriate or not, wear it around in a casual setting and take note of how many comments you get on it and what people say. If you still aren’t sure, your best bet is to go with something that you are more confident is appropriate.

In a casual setting, jewellery rules are much more lax, but the type of jewellery you wear will still send an impression. Feel free to express yourself in your choice of styles, but be aware that others are still subconsciously evaluating you.

For instance, at a party with either an influential co-worker or when going on a blind date, style is welcome to visually tell your story to your companions, but be conscientious. If opinions don’t matter in the least for your particular event, go for it! jewellery is designed to sparkle and grab attention, so don’t be afraid to go 100 per cent.

The Aasna Bangle

The Kiana Pendant

Diamond bangle in 18kt white gold

Diamond pendant in 18kt white gold

The Arian Earrings Diamond earring in 18kt yellow gold

The Sylvia Ring Diamond ring in 18kt yellow gold

The Niamh Ring for her Diamond ring in 18kt yellow gold

The Bellona Earrings Diamond earring in 18kt white gold

The Juhi Bangle Diamond bangle in 18kt yellow gold

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SHOES

What’s haute

Step out in style with these gorgeous picks of the Spring Summer 2014 collection

Vapour, Jimmy Choo Karin, Brian Atwood Brian is still the King of the monster platform. This shoe has vibrant colours and artful details.

These beauties are open-toed, matte and in metallic napa leather. They have faceted brass studs trim front.

Filigree, Sergio Rossi

Maitai, Jimmy Choo All elements are fused with perspex for a contemporary twist. We love the combination of red suede, silver and gold.

Perfect for any occasion.

This is the heel to be in at any holiday gathering or a night on the town.

Boasting open toe, black leather, adjustable buckle closure with this stunning gold and chromium butterfly embellishment.

Antonio Berardi + Rupert Sanderson Apex Suede and PVC Sandals

Heavy metal, Zanotti This Giuseppe Zanotti sandal makes an unforgettable statement with a bevy of buckled straps. Boasting of open toe, black leather, silver hardware with ankle high shaft.

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Crafted in Italy, these black suede and clear PVC sandals feature a supportive adjustable ankle strap and beautiful crystal-embellished T-bar.

Tartufo, ZiGi Soho Categorised as a ‘Shootie,’ the strappy silhouette is wrapped in a glossy nude patent while buckles work their way up the vamp.

career

Socialise at work Interact with your co-workers on a regular basis to grow in your workspace

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hroughout high school, you learn that it’s bad to socialise in class. No note-passing is allowed, no whispering during the lecture. But then, you fast forward and enter the workplace. Suddenly, Socialising with coworkers is not just ‘okay,’ it’s encouraged. Many effective managers want you to get to know your coworkers on a friendly basis. That’s because the environment you build with your colleagues in the workplace facilitates the type of quality work you’ll produce individually and as a team.

Sharing knowledge

Encouraging teamwork

Avoiding burnout

Coworkers who socialise want to work together. If you know your colleagues on a friendly basis, you’re more likely to understand one another when the pressure is on and you have to collaborate.

Facilitate better teamwork by knowing more aspects of your colleagues than just their skills and abilities. Maybe your colleagues play sports or have kids? Use these facts and ideas to understand how to relate to coworkers when you’re collaborating.

Everyone in your workplace brings a different set of skills and experiences to the table. If you keep to yourself, you might miss out on what influence and information your colleagues offer. Seeing issues and situations from a different perspective can make you more aware of individual personalities, possible partnerships and possible conflicts, and help you become better equipped to handle a wide variety of clients and tasks. Getting to know your colleagues’ passions and expertise will help your career by expanding your own knowledge and your respect for others.

Workplace burnout usually has little to do with the job itself and more to do with your mental state. According to the “Forbes” article “The Ins and Outs of Workplace Burnout,” burnout comes in three varieties, and is caused by mental states such as boredom, workaholism and a feeling of loss of control. You know the drill: if you do something long enough, it grows tedious and even annoying. Keep your job fresh by taking breaks, conversing with colleague, and keeping up with the details of who’s who.

You may feel more appreciated, not just for your work, but for the way you contribute to the social climate of your company.

Emotional support Socialising can build a sense of compassion in the workplace, so that after a life crisis, even if you do have to return to work in a vulnerable state, you may feel supported by colleagues.

If you never say more than a brief hello to your coworkers, you can’t expect them to be too accommodating when your life turns upside down. Socialise with your colleagues to build a healthy work environment. An article in “The Huffington Post” entitled “Not socialising At Work Could Be Hazardous To Your Health: Survey Says,” suggests that when employees are friendly at work, their bodies releases hormones that contribute to better health.

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OUTBOUND

A resort since the time of the Roman Republic, Capri is considered among the most romantic destinations of the world. Terry Mathukutty travels to Capri

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n island on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of southern Italy, Capri has two harbours Marina Piccola and Marina Grande. Capri is the main populated centre. The separate commune of Anacapri is located high on the hills to the west. The long awaited day had come when we were to visit Capri. Staying on the coast in Sorrento meant we had to go the harbour to board the hydrofoil. The Bay of Naples boasts some of the most attractive coastlines in the world. The sheer beauty of Italy was only being proved day after day in the country. The hydrofoil was the fastest means to reach the island. We had come ashore at Marina Piccola. Upon reaching the island we moved on with our guide towards the Villa San Michele. Climbing up through pathways, it was easy to see why people fall in love with Capri. Dotted with shops selling sandals, limoncello, different types of salami and restaurants with heart stopping views, the place was like paradise.

The Villa, located on the north-eastern side of Anacapri was actually an ancient Roman imperial villa, its ruins preserved

by Axel Munthe. The architect of the place was Munthe himself. The presence of the ruins in the gardens served to enhance the beauty of the landscape. Munthe lived in San Michele from 1896-1910. These are the moments when we realise the significance of an excellent guide as the story of San Michele still lives on in our memory. The architecture and collection were reflective of Munthe as a romantic.

Some of Munthe’s notable collections are the head of Medusa which he had found lying in the sea, the Tavolo Cosmatesco which is a table built following the style of the Cosmati (i.e. Roman marble workers, decorators and architects), the marble bust of Emperor Tiberius and the Egyptian sphinx. The garden is abundant with plants from various latitudes apart from the Mediterrean region.

From the colonnade there is an extraordinary view of the Gulf of Naples which should not be missed at any cost.

The azure sea was dotted with yachts, boats and cruise ships of various shapes and sizes. It was said that at any point of time there were more tourists than actual residents on the island.

The highest place on the island was Mount Solaro. It was reachable by foot or by chairlift. Opting for the chairlift was

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a wise decision when we saw the ascend of almost 600m above sea level. On the chairlift, the splendid view of Anacapri and the Bay of Naples was once again revisited. The vast panoramic view was definitely the undisputed protagonist of this place. One could see gigantic limestone masses called Sea Stacks that stand out of the sea - the Faraglioni.

The smooth route back to Anacapri allows a visit to Cetrella, where one can admire the lonely church of San Maria.

We hurried back to catch some lunch at a restaurant with a great view, which was teeming with people and clearly Italians loved food. After lunch we headed to board the boats to see the famous Grotto Azzura.

The blue grotto is one of the most beautiful sea caves in the world. After reaching a particular place on the coast by boat, we then boarded a dingy boat to venture into the cave. The only entrance of the grotto was a small passageway with a ceiling so low that we had to lie down in the boat to get through. The gondolier waited for the lowest between two waves to enter the cave, and then dragged the rope along the wall. It is well worth the trouble - once inside a magnificent geological spectacle unfolds in the shape of a large ovalshaped cave that shimmers in a stunning surreal silver-blue light. In the second undersea entrance, daylight shines onto the white sands at the foot of the cave and is then reflected up as pure blue light. The water absorbs all the other wavelengths except blue.

Along with decades of tourists, the Romans, who proclaimed it a place of worship for Emperor Tiberius, also revered it. Adorned on the walls of the caves were statues, including some of Neptune and Triton that were discovered on the seabed.

Right: A view of the marina and jetty

Places of interest Marina Piccola (Small Harbor), Arco Naturale and Pizzolungothe Belvedere of Tragara, Sea Stacks (the Faraglioni), Anacapri, the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), and the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas.

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T r av e l

G u i d e

Weather High season officially begins May 1st and ends September 30th. The weather is beautiful in May, June and September, and you might prefer to come during this period if you want to avoid the crowds of tourists who arrive on the island in the warmest months of July and August. For nature lovers, the flora and fauna are at their most beautiful in late March and throughout April. Winter in Capri has a special charm. Given that the island is no longer flooded with visitors, those who choose to travel off-season will have the opportunity to get to know the people and the island, at their most authentic. During low season you can also take advantage of the substantially reduced prices.

Local products: Sandals, Perfumes, Limoncello

Getting there

number plates and driven by the owner.

Once they arrive in Marina Grande, the port of Capri, visitors can entrust their luggage to porters who will transport it from the hydrofoil or ferry along the docks to the taxi stand, hotel, or private residence of the visitor’s choice.

Funicular railway The red funicular railway train enables visitors to reach the center of Capri in just 5 minutes, via a panoramic route over the lemon trees and vegetable gardens. Trains depart every 15 minutes or more frequently still when demand is particularly high. Tickets can be purchased at the Funicular railway ticket office in the center of Capri or in Marina Grande, to the left of the port, where all the ticket offices for the various hydrofoil and ferry companies are located.

Depart from the Port of Molo Beverello in Naples. The trip takes around 80 minutes

by Ferry (9EUR) or 40 minutes by hydrofoil (16EUR). Depart from the Sorrento. The trip take around 40 minutes by Ferry (9EUR) or 20 minutes by hydrofoil (12EUR).

If you’re not on a budget or are part of a large group, you may choose to get to your destination via private transportation.

This service is available upon request 24-hours a day and the boats can pick you up or drop you off anywhere you choose on the island, the Bay of Naples or the Almafi Coast.

Bus

Getting around

Taxi stands are located at the port, in the Piazzetta, and all the principal places where tourists gather. Passengers are advised to travel with a hat or head scarf and sunglasses. Fares are established by the taximeter.

In the busiest months of the year, from April to October, the circulation on the island of non-residents’ cars, motorbikes, and scooters is not permitted. Exceptions are made for vehicles bearing foreign

Little orange buses travel along the routes Capri-Anacapri, Capri-Marina Piccola, Capri-Marina Grande (the so called S.Costanzo line), Capri-Damecuta, Marina Piccola-Anacapri (during the summer season only), Anacapri-Grotta Azzura, and Anacapri-Faro. Tickets can be purchased directly on board, at the Funicular railway ticket office in Marina Grande, or in Piazza Martiri d’Ungheria, close to the Piazzetta, where the bus station is situated.

Taxi

A magnificient view from a walkway over-looking the bay

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 41

ESCAPE

Abundant Waterfalls The unusual rainfall, which brought noteworthy magic to Wadi al Naqma sends Khaled Abdulmalak on an unforgettable exploration

I

t was an early Friday 5.30am rendezvous at Hatat House with my two like-minded adventurous friends Kester and Joel, where we fuelled up and replenished our provisions for the day, before hitting the two-hour drive to Wadi al Naqma.

Leaving Hatat House behind us, we headed towards the creeping sunrise as it illuminated the Quriyat road, the mountains covered in a captivating bluishgrey hue. After Quriyat we continued towards Sur following the signboards to Wadi al Arbiyeen and upon reaching the junction approximately 1.5kms down the dirt road, we veered left at the bifurcation.

Passing the sign boards for ‘Wadi al Arbiyeen’, we took a left after 4kms and a further left 7kms thereafter; the fork to the right pointing towards Feyq. Forty minutes later and 11.5kms down the straight gravelled road, we reached the village of Swayh. Its entrance so welcoming, we were greeted to a full turquoise pool of fresh crystal clear water. The strong waterfall, a rare sight for this area, flowed freely over the jutting rocks adding mass and beauty to this already stunning land.

Swayh is at the junction of two wadis: Al Naqma that flows in from the south-east and Al Hail flowing in from the southwest. Wadi al Naqma has remained to date one of my personal favourite spots 42

EXCITE • april 2014

to explore. Albeit my sixth visit to this wonderful locale, this particular visit reaped surprises I had never experienced which in turn exceeded my expectations.

The overpowering surge of water engulfing Wadi al Naqma this particular day had never been witnessed before. The intensity of the water flow at this low level could only mean its source would be extremely powerful and I set myself the target to reach the luscious 150m waterfall, the tallest one to date that I have witnessed in Oman. I always feel very blessed trekking through this timeless, untouched, natural beauty and since the recent deluge, I was psyched that this specific visit would especially inspire spectacular beauty.

The trek started at the falaj, on the left bank of the wadi. This trail started off on an inclined slope and eventually descended back into the wadi, approximately an hour later. We continued down the wadi bed, sometimes knee deep in water (it was a excellent call to bring dry bags for the camera equipment), where we climbed over every boulder obstructing our path and crossed several overflowing pools, which in normal circumstances were mere streams.

Albeit extraordinary to witness raging rapids flowing freely over this landscape, the heavy downpour had significantly ravaged this area and unfortunately left heavy destruction in its wake.

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 43

The rather demanding and challenging trek entailed us stopping off at several pools of water on the way, the following one fuller than the previous and all interlinked by a plentitude of small waterfalls which added eye-catching character and mass. It was such a relief to take dips in the refreshing water as the sun unabatedly battered its force down on us. We were certainly not complaining however as trekking this wadi with a dry bed meant no cooling off and carrying more fluids. Saying that though every element brings about its own challenges. What would normally be quite a straightforward trek, this time around due to the unpredictable surge of water, we ended up clambering over rock faces and discovered new entry points to reach our goal, the mother of all waterfalls. The challenges arising from this trek meant we had to tread carefully on unearthed ground climbing over overhanging passes, which did not secure stability. Also challenging was lugging my heavy cumbersome 10kgs backpack full of photography equipment over and through these passes. I was not going to miss out on such a rare and beautiful sighting.

At around 2.30pm with the heat peaking, we finally reached the abandoned village of Shiyya, the latter beaming with inundated terraces and huge boulders home to several man made holes used as shelter. This plush, modest village was a world apart from our last visit. I had previously camped here with my wife and son in this small piece of ‘heaven on earth’, where the terraces bloomed out an array of mountain flowers surrounded by a startling green.

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A further 30 minutes later we reached the first 20m high waterfall, a beautiful gush of cold water flowing into a deep, wide pool etched out in the shape of an amphitheatre, surrounded by towering mountainous cliffs. A further falaj system commenced at the top of the rocks and followed the cliffs to some notably unreachable corner; I often wonder how the villagers built it! We took a lunch break and enjoyed our private pool before venturing on our last stretch to reach the highest waterfall in this region.

What to bring • Snacks: Nuts and raisins are good for energy • Water: At least 2L • Hat, Sunscreen, Swimwear • Closed shoes or boots, not flipflops • Towel (not compulsory though as the sun will dry you off in no time)

After rehydrating, eating, swimming and stretching, we re-packed our bags and started the ascent. The first wall greeted us with shining stones, polished by the hands and feet of the villagers who have been using this route for hundreds of years. It was an extraordinary moment of satisfaction projecting myself down the same path my Omani brothers had done over past decades. We stumbled upon a second falaj system, this one bringing water to the higher terraces via the waterfall. This last ascent was particularly exhausting especially with the intensity of the sun slowing down our footsteps and bringing sighs of despair. But when we eventually reached the viewpoint and took in the engaging waterfall in its entirety, the elated feeling of accomplishment reaped valued benefit for all our efforts. “It is the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen in my life!” Kester belted out not far from the bottom, the water crashing at his feet. The sprays spurting out of the 150m waterfall created mini rainbows from the afternoon sun and it was, indeed, a spectacular sight.

I was so delighted to share this memorable vision with like-minded people who love and respect nature and who are ready to sweat to reach such a magical place.

After breathing in this phenomenal view and swimming in the pool at the base of the waterfall, we commenced our way back to Swayh, a distant town we had left many hours prior. Attempting to capture as many moments as possible, we stopped several times en route taking photos, enjoying the pools and cooling down our middle-aged knees until we reached the village at 5.15pm and home by 7.30pm.

Parenting

Happy kids By giving our children all the things they need, we can help them be safe, strong and thrive

A

ll kids need the basics of lifelike food, warmth, shelter and clothing. But they also need to feel loved and secure. Read on for some ideas about how you can help the children you care for.

When I cry: I'm a baby. I'll cry an average of two to five hours everyday, it's my way of talking. Go through this checklist when I cry and it will help you work out what's wrong (and if I won't stop, just love me anyway!)

Meeting their everyday needs

Crying checklist: Please check my nappy.

See if I'm hungry or uncomfortable.

Make sure I'm not in pain or have a fever.

Wrap me safely in a soft blanket and cuddle me.

Take me for a ride in a buggy or car.

Place me in a bouncy chair or gentle infant swing.

Play soft music, sing or hum quietly.

Give me a soothing bath.

Babies and children need to know there is someone who loves them and that their needs will be met as soon as possible.

This means: • Feeding them when they're hungry.

• Keeping them warm, dry and safe from danger.

• Helping them if they are in pain, scared or upset.

• Providing family routines.

• Making sure there is always someone you trust to look after them.

A few minutes is a long time for a baby who is feeling hungry or upset. The sooner they are comforted the safer they will feel.

Older children might be able to wait a little longer, but they still need to know that you will feed them when they are hungry, and help them when they are sad or in pain.

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Feel safe and secure When children feel safe and secure, they learn to trust other people. Children who don’t feel safe can be anxious and unhappy. This can affect their health and learning. But when they learn that they can trust the adults around them, it helps them grow up happy, healthy and to enjoy the world around them. Firstly, we make children feel safe by meeting their basic

needs. But we also make them feel safe by showing them that we love them.

Love and hugs Hugs and cuddles help children to feel safe and comforts them. Holding your children, picking them up, sitting them on your lap, kissing and cuddling, are all good ways to show that you care.

Babies and toddlers usually love games like bouncing them on your knee, gently tickling, and games that involve wiggling their fingers or toes can be lots of fun. Holding a toddler's hand when out walking helps to protect them from danger and to feel safe and secure in the outside world.

Older children need lots of affection to remind them that you care. You can do this with cuddles, a 'goodnight' kiss and a pat on the shoulder. Snuggling up close while reading a story together or watching TV is great for your child and you.

Think about your childhood, if you were bought up with lots of hugs and praise from your parents, then this will be normal for you. But if you weren't bought

up like that, it might feel strange to do these things. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel.

Keep asking yourself: What is good for my child?

What kind of parent do I want to be?

Plenty of praise Your child wants to please you. If you praise them when they do well at something or are trying hard, it will make them want to do it again. Praising your child for being good will make them want to be good, and it will help them feel good about themselves.

Children who feel good about themselves tend to: • Learn more easily and make more effort to achieve.

• Get into less trouble.

• Get on well with others.

• Make friends more easily.

• Feel happier and more secure.

Smiles Give your baby lots of smiles, and smiling will be one of the first things they learn to do for you.

Smiling is one of the simplest ways of helping children feel happy and safe.

When you smile at children you are telling them that: • You love them.

• You enjoy their company.

• You are pleased with them.

• You are taking notice of them.

• You are happy.

• You are good fun to be with.

Smiles work even better when you are looking into your child's eyes. Good eye contact when smiling, listening or talking to your child helps to get their attention.

Talking It's good to talk and sing to babies from the time they are born. A gentle voice helps your child to feel relaxed and secure. It helps them to get to know you, and to know that you are there to look after them.

When you talk to children they soon start learning words themselves. The more you talk to them, the more they will learn.

They will also learn more if you use proper adult words most of the time. Learning words helps them to communicate and to understand more about the world. As they

get older, words will become one of their most important tools. Children with a good use of words find it easier to express themselves, to make friends, and to learn at school and at home.

Some ideas for talking to your children: It's easy to switch off when you're busy and tired, but try to put aside a few minutes a day to talk to your child. A quiet time together before bed can just be a few minutes of talking about your day and it will make it a special time. Name games: When kids are learning words, play games like name parts of their body and so on.

Bedtime stories or just reading books at any time: Even if kids are young, they like looking at the pictures. Singing songs and nursery rhymes to them is a great way for them to learn words. Talk topic: Ask them to pick a topic, and you can tell them a story about it from your own childhood.

Play 'highs and lows': If your child is a bit older, talk about the best thing and worst thing that happened that day.

Listening As they get older and more able to use word, children begin to ask lots of questions. By listening carefully and

E X C I T E • a p r i l 2 0 1 4 47

Children love stories about themselves - it helps them feel loved and important. You could make a scrapbook or album that's all about your child from the time they were born. Put all sorts of things in it like a handprint, photos, things they've said or a favourite birthday card. Read it with your child as a special reward or treat, or to comfort them.

New experiences can include simple things like: • Tell a story from your childhood.

• Play a game: A boardgame if they're older, peek-a-boo if they're younger or naming games like 'i spy…'

• Sing a song or nursery rhyme.

• Explore the house and garden.

• Read a book.

• Teach your kids shapes and colours.

• Take your kids to a friend's place to visit.

• Praise your children for something new they did or something they did well • Take your child for a walk to the park, beach or anywhere near by.

• Do some drawing, painting or colouring.

• Pick up stones, look at flowers, new experiences are everywhere for kids.

Learn new things

Take care of their feelings

You don't need fancy toys or equipment to give your child new experiences. You can use everyday things around you, go for walks or explore the beach or park.

Why not start a shell collection - or look for special stones? Or what about joining a toy library? It makes learning fun and teaches them about the world. They need other people too - other children to play with and relationships with people of all ages. For older children it's good to be involved in their school activities and homework, and to meet with their teacher often.

Sometimes it's hard for children to find the right words, or tell you when they are sad or frightened.

doing your best to answer their questions, you will show them that learning is fun.

Listening is another way of showing that you are interested and care about them.

Even when kids are asking for something they can't have, they need an answer and a simple explanation.

Make a scrapbook

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Babies and small children can be frightened by anything new and different, when there is no real danger. A stranger, a clown, or a loud noise, can all be very scary for a toddler who is not used to them.

Sometimes you might feel tempted to laugh, to tease

them or or tell them 'not to be silly'. What they really need is for you to comfort them and give them a simple explanation. This will help them feel good about themselves, and feel OK about talking to you if they have a serious problem.

Rewards and special treats All parents want their children to behave.

If you give kids attention when they are good, it will make them want to be good more often. If you only notice them when they are naughty, it might make them want to be naughty more often. The best reward for being good is getting your time and attention. Taking time to play and have fun together doesn't have to cost money. A picnic, a walk in the park or a trip to the beach can be lots of fun.

Self-help

Get organised It takes just one weekend to get organised. Use our step-by-step solution to keep track of your paper work

T

he only time you seem to think about your important documents is when you need them. And, oftentimes, you can't find them when you need them because you don't have an organised and centralised system for storing your important documents; and the last time you needed one of them, you simply tossed it back into the sea of papers in your home office instead of putting it back where it belonged. With all of your important papers spread throughout your house, you waste a lot of time searching for them when you need them. You're also at risk of losing some of them completely. With a few simple steps, you can organise your important paper documents once and for all.

Tools Needed • Small two-drawer filing cabinet or • Portable hanging file box • Multi-coloured hanging files (six different colours) • Manila third-cut top-tab folders

Gather All of Your Documents Before you can organise all of your important documents, you must locate and gather them all together. This is sometimes easier said than done.

Common places where important documents hide include your home office, the kitchen, bedroom drawers or your purse and briefcase.

• Auto records - titles, maintenance records, insurance policies and information, loan information and payment records.

• Health records - insurance policies, health insurance benefits manuals, explanation of medical benefits, doctor bills, prescription lists, flexible spending information, medical receipts, medical directives, life insurance policies.

• Financial records - bank statements, investment records, loan records, credit card statements.

• Electronics records - cell phone contracts and manuals; sales receipts and warranties for computers, laptops and iPads; cable and Internet plans and bills; wireless router sales receipt and manual.

• Personal records - birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, immunisation records, passports, military service records or wills. If you have pets, you can also include their important documents such as veterinary and vaccine information in this category.

Segregate Vital Documents Most of your important documents can be stored in a regular filing cabinet or portable hanging file box.

There are some, however, that really

should be stored in a fireproof safe or offsite storage option such as a safety deposit box.

Take each category of important document and assign it a file colour as Home and Property Records, Auto Records, Health Records, Financial Records, Electronics Records, Personal Records. Use the manila folders and create a folder for each individual document within each category. Place the folders in the appropriate coloured hanging file section.

Ongoing Maintenance Now that your important papers are organised, keep them organized. Each month when you pay your bills, file any new documents in the appropriate section of your filing system; At the same time, look for any documents you removed from the system during the month that might still be out of the filing system. Re-file them. At least twice a year, review the documents in your filing system to see if any can be purged. A good schedule to follow is at the first of the year and at the end of each school year. With a little effort, you can reap long-term benefits by organizing your important paper documents.

Categorise Your Documents Most important documents fall into one of the following six categories. Sort all of your gathered documents as follows: • Home and property records - property deeds, home improvement projects and receipts, appliance manuals and warranties, home insurance policies and manuals.

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dessert

Parisian sweet tooth Beautiful macarons are the current ‘sweet’ crazes.

They are also a dazzling gift for friends

“

D

on’t underestimate the power of pretty colors,” says editorial food director Jennifer Aaronson of the French macaron’s popularity. No need to tell us; we’re smitten with these luxurious two-bite treats, and we’re sure you will be, too.

The French macaron, not to be confused with the coconut macaroon, or the more rustic-looking almond macaroon, actually originated at a monastery in 14th-century Venice.

They were said to be shaped like a monk's navel, and French nuns used them to pay for housing during the French Revolution. But its modern iteration as sandwich cookie was popularised by Parisian pastry shop Laduree in the 1900s. The craze moved stateside a few years ago, and there’s no end in sight.

Their Parisian heritage certainly counts for something, but don’t underestimate the power of pretty colours. Who doesn’t love a fancy, bite-sized treat? We think they look like jewels. They’re also indulgent without being over-the-top. They’re high in sugar, of course, but the only fat comes from the almonds and possibly the filling. They’re naturally gluten-free, too.

Structurally, you’ve got two almond meringue biscuits sandwiching some sort of filling. The cookie ‘shells’ are very crisp out of the oven, and they’ll stay that way for months in an airtight container.

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Once you sandwich them, though, the insides begin to soften, creating the contrast we associate with the best macarons. Many people don’t realize that macarons have to be aged. This can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, depending on the filling. Something liquidy like jam will be ready overnight, while a buttercream that firms in the fridge can take up to a week. The perfect macaron

should have a crisp outside and a soft, chewy middle.

Flavour-wise, the possibilities are endless. For example, a mint cookie could go with a dark-chocolate ganache, a white-chocolate buttercream, or even something fruity or herbal.

We love rose macarons paired with raspberry jam filling. Now why would one make them at home instead of buying them

ready-made? The difference in cost is pretty incredible. They’re not difficult to make, just very precise.

There’s also the customisation factor. They can be coloured as well as flavored, just add a few drops of food colouring in the last beating, so you could even match them to your decor for a party or special occasion.

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recipes

Quick and healthy Perfect for a mid-week meal, these recipes are fast and filling without the side helping of guilt

Chicken Skewers with Satay Dip INGREDIENTS

3

Thread the fillets onto skewers, then place them on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, cover with cling film and freeze.

4

To serve, defrost in the fridge overnight and cook at 200 C for

5

Ten to 12 minutes or until cooked through.

6

For the dip, combine the peanut butter and coconut milk.

7

Scatter the skewers with coriander leaves and chopped peanuts, if you like.

8

Serve with the dip and lemon wedges.

Mini chicken fillets 220g Soy sauce 28g Sweet chilli sauce 28g Peanut butter 55g Coconut milk 55ml Coriander leaves Chopped peanuts Lemon wedges

DIRECTIONS 1

Slice the mini chicken fillets into finger length sizes.

2

Mix them with the soy and sweet chilli sauces.

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Preparation time: 10m Cooking time: 15m Serves: 15 Per-serving calories/fat: 42kcal/2g

Preparation time: 25m Cooking time: 20m Serves: 12 Per-serving calories/fat: 88kcal/8g

Stuffed Mushrooms INGREDIENTS

4

Whole fresh mushrooms 12 Vegetable oil 15ml Minced garlic 8g

5

Add the garlic and chopped mushroom stems to the skillet.

6

Fry until any moisture has disappeared, taking care not to burn the garlic. Set aside to cool.

7

When the garlic and mushroom mixture is no longer hot; stir in the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper.

8

The resulting mixture should be very thick. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing.

9

Arrange the mushroom caps on the prepared baking sheet.

Softened cream cheese 225g Grated parmesan cheese 20g Ground black pepper 0.5g Onion powder 0.5g Ground cayenne powder 0.4g

DIRECTIONS 1

Preheat oven to 175 C.

2

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

3

Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully break off their stems. Chop stems extremely fine

and discard the tough end of stems.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

10

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under the caps.

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restaurantS

The SteakCompany

T

he SteakCompany is a steakhouse located in Bareeq Al Shatti Mall on the same spot as the now non-functional Abala.

The SteakCompany is one of the few restaurants that not many people know about, yet those who do, keep going back.

Maintaining the looks and feel of the old restaurant, it has a modern setting with sleek transparent furniture and metallic globe lights. Black and red is dominant with few colourful floral chairs. The only element that didn’t go with The Steak House’s theme was the brown pillar, as it seemed quite out of the ordinary.

We recommend that you reserve one of the four booths and it’s comfortable and cosy. The restaurant does offer outdoor seating, but since it’s at the entrance

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of the complex and doesn’t offer the best view, dining outside almost isn’t an option. We went at lunch and the restaurant wasn’t crowded, however it does get busy at dinner.

From South African Prime to Australian Black Angus, The SteakCompany’s easyBoerewors

to-read menu offers all that a steak devotee needs. To begin with, we ordered two cocktails, Planter’s Punch and She Said Red. With interesting names and flavour combinations, it was a good start. For appetisers, we went for Caesar salad, Carpaccio and Boerewors, a plate of homemade South African sausages, Chocolate fondant

grilled and served in smoked tomato salsa. The Caesar Salad was good, while the Carpaccio wasn’t the best we’ve had. The Boerewor sausages on the other hand were flavoursome, grilled to perfection and went well with the salsa.

Wagyu rib eye

For our main course, we were recommended the signature Wagyu Rib Eye with mashed potatoes and vegetables. We requested for our steak to be medium rare and must say that the beef was cooked just the way we wanted. The other dish we ordered was flame grilled chicken breast marinated in herb and lemon, with creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables. With a spicy sauce to go with it and well-grilled chicken, we absolutely loved its flavours.

For dessert The SteakCompany offers Chocolate Fondant, Cheesecake, and Date Cake. We thoroughly enjoyed the Chocolate Fondant that came with ice cream on the side. Surprisingly, we were disappointed with the Strawberry Cheesecake, as it didn’t have the right consistency, neither did it taste good.

Overall, we thought that the service at The SteakCompany was very good. The staff seemed to be friendly and helpful, and our food did not take a lot of time to arrive. The SteakCompany scored high in terms of its quality, service, presentation and main course. Though dessert was unsatisfactory, we are sure we will go back to The Steak Company for its steak.

Verdict Service Ambience Food Price Location Overall

Carpaccio

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Automotive

Race like a

Hurricance I f you're into cars and are familiar with this little thing called the Internet, you've no doubt seen the new Lamborghini Huracรกn by now. And while it might seem redundant to talk about the hot new Lambo again, the stunning coupe finally, officially makes its public debut here at the Geneva Motor Show. In other words, it's an excuse for us to bring you yet another set of photos, ripe for the droolin'.

The bull's beating heart is a new, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, good for 610 horsepower and 413 poundfeet of torque. In other words, she'll be super quick, with Lamborghini estimating a 0-62 time of just 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of over 202 miles per hour. All that force gets sent to the ground via all-wheel drive, all packaged up in a coupe that is, well, gorgeous.

The Huracรกn goes on sale this summer, and Lamborghini expects it to easily eclipse the outgoing Gallardo in terms of sales.

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Steven Ewing provides a viewpoint on the new raging bull

Timepiece

Sunburst luxury

We give this luxury-sport chronograph the once-over

SPECS

B

aume & Mercier launched its redesigned Capeland watch at the SIHH exhibition in Geneva in 2011. The watch has a harmonious design featuring a brown sunburst finish on the dial, a stainless-steel case and a brown leather strap. We found the dial especially attractive, with its colour scheme of brown, red, black and white and its subdials in a symmetrical tri-compax arrangement. We also liked the narrow hands and the different levels on the dial. Thanks to tachymeter and telemeter tracks, it’s possible to calculate speed and distance. However, the size and position of the displays tend to make the watch hard to read. The reflective chronograph hands, the overly long minutes hand and the modest amount

of luminous material on the hour and minutes hands and at three, six, nine and 12 o’clock also decrease the overall legibility of the watch.

The supple leather strap and flat, stainless-steel, double-folding clasp are also comfortable. The strap is padded and accented with a white seam, and the clasp has an outer bar and prong that keep the watch securely in place.

The Capeland’s beautiful design, clean finishes, high level of wearing comfort and good rate results are all impressive. But its price of USD4,350 seems relatively high when compared with other nicely designed chronographs with standard movements.

Baume & Mercier Capeland Chronograph Price: USD4,350 (RO1,675 approx.)

Manufacturer: Baume & Mercier, Chemin de la Chênaie 50, CH-1293 Bellevue, Switzerland Reference: MOA10002 Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds; chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counter; date and hack mechanism Movement: Automatic ETA 7753 elaboré; 28,000vph; 27 jewels; Etachron regulator; Incabloc shock absorber; 44-hour power reserve; diameter-30mm, height7.9mm Case: Stainless steel, curved sapphire crystal, screw-down stainless-steel caseback; waterresistant to 50m Strap and clasp: Leather strap with stainless-steel double-folding clasp Dimensions: 42x15.1mm Weight: 107g Variations: Various dial colours and straps

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architecture

construction

finance

interiors

landscaping

materials

realty

A guide to all building needs in oman 2014 edition coming soon

E X C I T E • m a r c h 2 0 1 4 45

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Celebrate Shakespeare and theatre in general with a sweet seat in an outdoor Elizabethan theatre.

February 1 - November 14, 2014 Art and Performance, Cultural Event, Family Oriented, North America, Comfortable

Get festive

Festivals

We round down this month’s best and most colourful festivals of the world

Rio Carnival Samba into one of the world’s greatest parties.

February 28 - March 4, 2014 Art and Performance, Wild Parties, Cultural Event, South America, Hot

Holi Immerse yourself into most colourful party in the world.

March 17, 2014 Unusual, Asia, Intense

Losar Celebrating the Tibetan new year involves ritual, food, and dance.

March 2, 2014 Cultural Event, Religious Celebrations, Family Oriented, Asia, Comfortable

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MOVIES

300: Rise of an empire Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turnedgod Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy

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Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster ‘300,’ this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield-on the sea-as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemisia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

The film is a theatrical, romanced, highly graphic view of Greek History under the second Persian invasion of Greece (480–479 BC). It centers on Themistocles of Athens and Artemisia I of Caria, as well as Xerxes I of Persia, and Gorgo, Queen of Sparta.

The Battle of Artemisium was a naval engagement, concurrent with the battle of Thermopylae previously displayed in 300, and was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states and the Persian Empire

Director: Noam Murro Producers: Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Bernie Goldmann Screenplay: Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Rodrigo Santoro Music: Tom Holkenborg Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Running time: 102 minutes

in September 480 BC, in the straits between the mainland and the northern tip of the island of Euboea. The film will also focus on the naval Battle of Salamis (480BC), just south of Athens, in which Artemisia played a major role, as well as possibly the much earlier Battle of Marathon (490BC), from the first Persian invasion of Greece. The Battle of Salamis (home of the mythical hero Ajax) was fought after the Persian Empire had advanced into southern Greece and occupied Athens.

TV

BOOKS

Suits

Mike Ross, a brilliant college-dropout, finds himself a job working with Harvey Specter, a lawyer

Divergent

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hile running from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant young college-dropout, slips into a job interview with one of New York City's best legal closers, Harvey Specter.

Tired of cookie-cutter law school grads, Harvey takes a gamble by hiring Mike on the spot after he recognises his raw talent and photographic memory. Mike and Harvey are a winning team. Even though Mike is a genius, he still has a lot to learn about law. And while Harvey may seem like an emotionless, cold-blooded shark, Mike's sympathy and concern for their

cases and clients will help remind Harvey why he went into law in the first place.

Mike's other allies in the office include the firm's best paralegal Rachel and Harvey's no-nonsense assistant Donna to help him serve justice. Proving to be an irrepressible duo and invaluable to the practice, Mike and Harvey must keep their secret from everyone including managing partner Jessica and Harvey's arch nemesis Louis, who seems intent on making Mike's life as difficult as possible.

Premier: Thursday, March 6, USA Network

Veronica Roth grips you with her debut novel, the first of a trilogy that will surely become popular like The Hunger Games Divergent is the debut novel of American author Veronica Roth and is the first installment in the Divergent trilogy. It is set within a dystopian version of Chicago.

The novel has been compared to similar young adult books such as The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner because of its similar theme and target audience. Roth has said that the idea for the series was born while she was studying in college. Its major plot device, the division of society into personality types, is similar to Philip K. Dick’s 1964 novel, Clans of the Alphane Moon and Rupert Thomson’s Divided Kingdom.

Summit Entertainment purchased the media rights to the book, and production on the movie took place in 2013, also titled Divergent. The second novel in the trilogy, Insurgent, was published on May 1, 2012, and the third and final book, Allegiant, on October 22, 2013.

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Food for thought

sudoku

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A shark’s eye corneas are most suited for replacement in human eye surgeries.

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Tipping restaurants is considered insulting in Iceland.

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More than 97 per cent of all email traffic is spam.

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You ought to know

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The Caesar salad originated in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1920s.

Horoscope Read our star previsions for your love, social life, well-being, finance and mood

Famous

Pisces

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) Follow your instincts and finish what needs to be finished, to make room for action, pure and simple.

The Sun’s approach towards your sign will breathe fresh air into your love life and make it feel more genuine.

Be careful, to avoid upsetting the sensibilities of those close to you.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20) The sun putting you in the spotlight will boost your charisma and give you a desire to assert yourself, take your just place and shine in all directions.

You will feel the need to withdraw into yourself and take a step back after a promising and interesting encounter.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Venus is now going to hold you more or less over a barrel, making you more committed to reflecting on the past and the lessons to be learned, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes again, than flirting with love. It could herald renewal and revelations.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) The 5th March will see an end to a phase devoted to love, or at least to winning over others. You have exceptional charisma, which has probably enabled you to close ranks and make an impression and in some cases, influence your destiny at work and home.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Saturn has more or less held you over a barrel and forced you to carry out a review of what is really working in your life, so that you can eventually change the situation, change the record or, for some, change your life. You will now wish to incorporate these changes.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 21) Love will be at the centre of your concerns. You may have had some difficulties at the beginning of the year in maintaining harmony between yourself and your other half, but in March, the message will basically get through, friend Scorpio, and you will make it long-lasting.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 23) Take a step back from your social life. You will have less of a need to integrate and will prefer to go for deeper reflection than usual. Mercury’s trine aspect to your sign will help you considerably to break free from certain received ideas and question some of your relationships.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22) It hasn’t been a period of total rest, as you have been exposed to shakeups, passion and the need to measure up your present feelings with the lure of the past, controlling your urges and desires, friend Virgo, in order to have an experience which will transform you.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22) Planetary requests this month are going to enable you to get your breath back where your relationships and social life are concerned. The quincunx aspect from your ruling planet will enable you to adopt the position of observer, allowing you to find new ways of coping.

Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22) Dialogue will be advisable and a priority for you to build that closeness with your partner or calm things down on the family front, where tempers have been flying since December. Keeping things running smoothly occupies your time and sets your nerves on edge.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21) The trine aspect from Venus to your constellation will give you a positive lift and strengthen your relationships, both socially and in your private life. You will be supported in this by those around you, convincing them effectively of your ideas with your elegant style and tact.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) Venus has been giving you support in your search for love, if you have been seeking to widen your horizons and raise the level of debate. There will be no question of playing the field, fooling around or having pointless affairs. Instead, you will search for something long-term.

Adam Levine March 18, 1979 - LA, California, USA Adam’s the edgy front man for the popular band Maroon 5, and he’s also collaborated with some of music’s biggest names like Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera. Although you might not guess from his egocentric stage presence that he’s a creative, often supersensitive Pisces, his Moon, the planet that guides the emotions, is in determined, forceful Scorpio, so that’s probably where he gets his drive and intensity! In his spare time he speaks out regarding awareness of ADHD and supports LGBT, and he has his own line of guitars.

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