December issue 2013

December 2013

Fashion & Lifestyle

Are You a

Commitment Phobe?

Check 2014 Resolutions of

Egypt’s Fashion Gurus Sponsored by:

Give your Living Room a Cozy Makeover for the Holidays!

Contents Home

56 Get Cozy for the Holidays!

Escape

60 Where will you be in the holidays? Pick your place!

64 Christmas & New Year’s Eve Top Destinations Around the World

Health

December 2013 Fashion

14 Ladybird Loves Ostwald Helgason 16 Ladybird Loves Amina K. 18 Steal Hilary Rhoda’s Style 20 Style Inspiration for your Party Look 22 2014 Resolutions of Egypt’s Fashion Gurus 24 King of the Jungle 26 Merry Shopping

Beauty

36 This Season’s Beauty MustHaves 38 Bring Out the Best in your Eyes: Part 2 42 Let us MAKEUP this Season!

2 | December 2013

Faces of Egypt 44 Train For Aim: Reach your Target & Become a True Athlete 46 Ashraf Tawfik: The Face Behind On the Run Egypt 48 The Four Fat Ladies: A Taste of Nostalgia 50 Samira Khalil: The Fitness Rising Star 52 Moemen El-Swidi: The Entrepreneur Behind Car Spa

70 We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a HEALTHY New Year!

Fitness

74 It’s all about YOU! 2014 Resolution 76 Does Exercise Make you Fat?

Nutrition

82 Detox this Holiday Season 84 Your New Anxiety Busters

Cooking

86 For your Christmas Banquet 90 Wok Fried Lobster Tail with XO Sauce

Love & Relationships

92 Commitment Phobia, For Her!

In every issue:

Editor’s letter P.12 Spotted P.32 Shopping cart P.34 Pieces we love P.54 Ladybird’s Q&A P.68 Why eat this? P.80 The best, the top & the must do! P.102 Reviews P.104 Happenings P.108 Horoscope P.110

Mother & Child 94 Are you being the parent your child needs you to be?

Features

98 Old or New but All Must Have Beautiful Blues

SPOT IT 112 Quintessentially Prive 114 Azadea Appreciation Event 115 Refaat Jewellers Grand Opening Event at the First Mall 116 Global Customer Appreciation Week at the Cairo Marriott

COVER CREDITS Model & photography: Rana El Gohary

L ad y b i r d

Scan it & get connected to our facebook fanpage to get all our tips, updates and news!

FOLLOW US ON: Ladybird Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine @Ladybirdmag ladybirdmagazine 4 | December 2013

CEO Zeyad Sorour Editor-in-Chief Ismail Marzouk PR & Marketing Naira El lamei Project Manager Samar Zaki Senior Editor FARAH ASFOUR Editor Yosra Shohayeb Senior Graphic Designer Eman Salama Graphic Designer Peter B. Henry Financial Director Haitham Hamouda Distribution Ahmed Abou el Ela, Ahmed Fawzy & MAHMOUD Kenawy

Distributed by Al-Ahram Association 23 Emad El Din Kamel St., Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 22627533 www.ladybirdmagazine.com

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Contributors Noura Hassaballa

Bettina Hemmingsen

Family Counsellor and Therapist Trained at the Walter Kempler Institute in Copenhagen in Psychotherapy and Family Therapy and Counselling and have practised for more than 12 years. Her consultation spans from Marriage Counselling to Individual therapy and Group Sessions.

Furthermore she has a Bachelor in Social Work.

For more info please contact: bettwe.hemmingsen@live.dk

Sherine El Shimi

Nutritional Consultant Bachelor of Science in dietetics and nutrition, Northern Illinois University, Illinois, USA. Specialized in weight loss and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Using anthropometric measures in assessing health, eating habits and lifestyle. Implementing individually tailored nutrition programs to improve overall health and delay the onset of chronic diseases.

For more advice, please contact: noura.hassaballa@gmail.com

Chef Shuhua Hou Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza He is the Chinese tycoon at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza who brings his passion to the opulent 8 restaurant to entice the palates of the hotel’s discerning guests. His skills and learning were perfectly gained in Paris where he began his experience as a chef 11 years ago, after graduating from the Professional Cooking School in China.

Clinical Nutritionist She attended the Faculty of Medicine at Alexandria University, did a diploma in Nutrition and Public Health, then got her master’s in clinical nutrition from the University of Roehampton in London. Now, Sherine is a clinical nutritionist and a member of the Nutriton Society in the UK. Contact her via facebook: DrSherineElShimiNutrition 6 | December 2013

Mona El Gazzar

Vice President of Fashion Business Development at Jumia Egypt - Rocket Internet GmbH Has more than 12 years of experience in the fashion industry, launching international brands in Egypt such as GUESS, Esprit, Diesel and Fred Perry among others. Mona joined Jumia to be responsible for developing the biggest and fastest growing fashion online store in Egypt.

Ghadir Al agabany

Ayat Seif Elnasr

Fashion Marketing Consultant She has an extended diversified experience in fashion business, commerce and retail.

For advice, please contact: ghadir@alagabany.com alagabany.com

Nivine Mukhtar

Beauty and Fashion Consultant A certified makeup artist from Robert Jones Academy. Studied Business Consulting in Notre Dame University, USA. Has BA in English Literature from Ain Shams University.

For advice, please contact: ayatseifelnasr@hotmail.com

Samira Khalil

Jewelry Editor

Graduate from Faculty of Arts English Department Ain Shams University. Has accredited jewelry professional diploma and jewelry business management diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Fitness Coach She decided to quit her office job and follow her passion as a fitness coach. Now she is the first Egyptian Cheerobics Instructor. She has two fitness certificates from the leading certification programs: Gold’s Academy and the International Sports Science Association. She is currently studying for a Sport Yoga Certificate from the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA).

For advice, please contact: khalilsamira1@gmail.com

Nour Aboulela Fashion Blogger Love by N (www.lovebyn.com) For advice, please contact: info@lovebyn.com

8 | December 2013

Editor’s letter It’s Time to Move On Do they give you a feeling of ecstasy or shatter your soul? Are they tender? Are they cruel? Do you recall their real moments or push them away? Are they a friend or an enemy? Do they give you more courage or scare you to death? Do they draw a smile on your face or make tears run down your face? Do they live in you or is it the other way round? Are you the one who creates them or are they the ones who define you? Can you control them? Do they direct your path? Who is stronger? You or they? Memories…what do you do to us?

A year has passed. It came and planted in our lives new seeds that we have to harvest. As the saying goes, “We reap what we sow.”

Sadly, not all the time. Life is not that kind to us. We sometimes have to sow what years have put in our way before they left us and handed us to a following year.

Each one of us had his/her own 2013. For some, 2013 was the best year ever. For others, they might still be trapped in 2013’s aftershock.

There is a third party for whom the number 2013 can be replaced by any number as it was a neutral year that didn’t make a difference, if any. But there is one thing that I am sure of; it is certain that we are ALL coming out of 2013 with some memories; memories of people, places, incidents, experiences, even aromas.

So what do we do now? I don’t know what you will choose to do. As for me, I believe it is time to recycle; meaning to extract the useful and motivating memories and bid depressing and gloomy ones farewell. Easier said than done, huh? I know, but at least I will try, because I want to live the rest of my life as light as a feather and as free as a bird. This year, I will make an attempt to get rid of the burdens that 2013 has placed on my shoulders. Wish me luck!

And for you, here is a good one: “Our dreams must be stronger than our memories. We must be pulled by our dreams, rather than pushed by our memories.” Jesse Jackson

12 | December 2013

Fashion

LADYBIRD LOVES OSTWALD HELGASON

D

esigner duo, Susanne Ostwald and Ingvar Helgason (from Germany and Iceland, respectively), founded their company in 2008, quietly and without any experience in running their own business. Ostwald is the intuitive talent of the two, with a background in fashion design, while Helgason keeps one hand in the creative side and another in production and business.

The designers managed to awe us all in the recent New York Fashion Week, leaving us drooling over their Spring 2014, full of colors and floral motif, collection.

Ever since their big break in 2012, the designers have been leaving a turning-heads street look with their fabric manipulation with print and texture garments.

Their F/W 2013/14 collection, inspired by poetry and musicals, is definitely a worth trial this season. Now, who would not want a fun, awesome Ostwald Helgason look?

14 | December 2013

December 2013 | 15

Fashion

LADYBIRD LOVES

Amina K. Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Available at Amina K. store, Amina K. showroom, Mounaya Gallery and on dia-boutique.com

16 | December 2013

Fashion

Steal

Hilary Rhoda’s

Style!

at 19th Annual Art Walk New York

DOLCE & GABBANA Crystalembellished tulle dress AVAILABLE ON NETAPOTER.COM for EGP 414,635 Gemma Beaded Metal Bar Bag available at accessorize for EGP 320

*All prices are subject to change

Estée Lauder MadMen® Collection Rich, Rich Lipstick AVAILABLE AT BEAUTY RETAILERS

Tiffany Solitaire Diamond Earrings AVAILABLE AT TIFFANY&CO. for EGP 7,750

Yves Saint Laurent Shocking False Lash Effect Eyeliner AVAILABLE AT BEAUTY RETAILERS 18 | December 2013

GIANVITO ROSSI AVAILABLE ON NETAPORTER.COM for EGP 7,130

Editorial Features

When I say sexy, you say…

We were on the edge of our seats to meet Oysho’s Brand Manager Sanaa Nazha to indulge in their breathtaking Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Oysho is a Spanish fashion brand specializing in women’s lingerie and intimate apparel. In addition to that, customers can find contemporary gym and homewear, informal loungewear and unique accessories. Oysho adapts all the trends to their collection and you would see the innovation in their collection on seasonal basis.

With over 500 stores in 36 countries, Oysho has succeeded to woo their customers once again bringing them an exciting and dynamic collection co-branding with Mr. Wonderful for pyjamas and designing their gym shoes with the same technique as Adidas to deliver their customers impeccable quality.

Fun and Sexy Underwear: This collection includes the basic underwear line, where you

would find comfortable cotton and polyamide underwear, shape collection and invisible under garments. The collection also includes the fantasy underwear line, where you would find catchy and sexy lingerie with the latest up to date colors and trends.

The Gym Collection: This line offers fashionable, technical and flattering items with anatomic patterns with items adapting to each body. The collection includes a lot of details such as quick dry fabrics that absorb humidity and would not leave marks on your skin. Oysho definitely considers their customers as they created a clever trendy jacket with an iPod pocket and a headphones pass-through whole. If you want to lose the jacket, there are substitutes such as the quick dry fabric waist-belt, as well as the armband.

“We thought that this collection would be the perfect gift for everyone.” Nazha said.

The Sleepwear: This collection includes the funny

sleepwear line featuring famous characters such as Minnie Mouse, Kitty, Snoopy, Mafalda and much more. Doesn’t it feel great to sleep in nostalgic pj’s?

You would also find characters such as rabbits, teddy bears and penguins included in this line with some red colors. Christmas never sounded more fashionable and comfortable.

If you are looking for something more feminine and trendy all at once, then the Classic Sleepwear line in this collection fits you well with its calm floral prints.

The Homewear: Who doesn’t adore clothes that

can work both at home and outside? No one. Oysho provides women with a trendy comfortable homewear collection to work both ways. We salute you.

Labybird’s Editor, Yosra Shohayeb with oysho’s Brand Manager, Sanaa Nazha

Fashion

Style Inspiration for your We’ve compiled some party pieces that will help you get an idea about the style you should be wearing to New Year’s Eve party. Not only do you want to celebrate the New Year, but you also want to make a statement with your first outfit in 2014!

LANVIN ring

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

AURELIE BIDERMANN ring OSCAR DE LA RENTA earrings

HERVÉ LÉGER

EDIE PARKER

BURBERRY PRORSUM BIJOUX HEART earrings

ILEANA MAKRI ring EMILIO PUCCI CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

20 | December 2013

CHANEL VINTAGE earrings

TOM BINNS earrings JIMMY CHOO

HERVÉ LÉGER OSCAR DE LA RENTA earrings

SASS & BIDE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI

NINA RUNSDORF ring

SOPHIA WEBSTER

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA

EDIE PARKER

December 2013 | 21

Fashion

2014 RESOLUTIONS OF EGYPT’S FASHION GURUS

W

BY: YOSRA SHOHAYEB

ith the New Year knocking on our doors, I am astonished as every year of how fast this year has passed. Can you believe it? 2014 already? Another year has passed with aspiring designers emerging, designers stepping it up, stylists saving us, models working it and bloggers keeping us updated. We couldn’t wait to catch up with some of our favorite fashion ladies to ask them how they are planning to style up this year. Check out some of Egypt’s top fashionistas’ fashion resolutions.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fustany.com Amira Azzouz Having to work around the clock, it’s sometimes a bit hard to balance between a comfortable look and a fashion forward one, so for the New Year to come I’m planning on giving myself more time to dress up as often as I can. I’ll be buying more full skirts, because I’m loving them at the moment, they can be dressed up or dressed down with simple additions and make a great statement look. Speaking of statement, I plan on continuing to collect funky and fun accessories (think necklaces and sunglasses with a twist). I’m also on the lookout for the next big hit after the cat ears, which are a personal favorite. Treating myself to a vibrant colored Lady Dior bag is on top of my to do list and finally expanding my collection of statement bags and heels, I adore things that are unique and funky yet wearable, as they have the ability to take any simple outfit to the next level.

Model Tara Emad My fashion resolution would be to start exploring more with colors and patterns. I love them and I want to start wearing them more often. My inspiration would definitely be Amina K. and Manish Arora.

Fashion Designer Amina K. Not to be demotivated by routine and always dress nicely because if you look good, you feel good. And above all be comfortable in what I am wearing.

22 | December 2013

Stylist Ghadir Al Agabany Aspiring to be a little more glam, always refined and forever red carpet ready. In my dreams, Harvey Nicolas is always calling for me to spend wisely and sensibly. An aesthetic maxi size Bottega Veneta Intrecciato bag and any one avant garde Nicholas Kirkwood footwear are my main targets of the year. Those directly runway inspired pieces would definitely boost my ego and fulfill my sense of self, especially when smartly and economically purchased on clearance. Always remember: get thrifty and don’t break the bank!

Fashion Blogger Nour Aboulela My resolution for 2014 is that I will finally lay my hands on my black Birkin which is already two months late!

Fashion Designer Rana Greiche For 2014 I’ve decided to organize my closet by color, which makes it much easier to find the perfect outfit and match colors together. I also want to add more colors to my wardrobe; check what color is missing and get it, because life without colors is really boring.

Designer at Azza Fahmy Jewellery Amina Ghali It’s all about mixing and matching in 2014!

Blending in statement silver and gold pieces together and combining streamline forms with the structural.

From skinny bangles to stacked and layered jewellery. But essentially, it’s always about pieces that reflect quality of art, craftsmanship, and design.

December 2013 | 23

Fashion

King of the Jungle BY: NOUR ABOULELA A gloomy day in London I was wearing my Minkpink “King of the Jungle� dress. What I love most about this dress is that it can be worn during any season even during Winter with a coat on top.

Dress: Minkpink Hat: River Island Bag: Chanel Coat: Elisabetta Franchi Boots: Vince Camuto Follow Nour on: Website: www.lovebyn.com Instagram: lovebyn Facebook : www.facebook.com/lovebyn00

24 | December 2013

Editorial Features

This year, your Christmas gifts from‌ Tiffany & Co.

For her

For him

Fifth Avenue

Dibbern Zilverstad

Goebel Edzard

Fashion

Merry Shopping!

B Designs available on style-treasure.com

available at pull & bear available at pull & bear available at massimo dutti

Afandina Collection

By Boho Sharky available on style-treasure.com available at pull & bear 26 | December 2013

available at superdry

available at massimo dutti

available at pull & bear

moleca shoes available on jumia.com L.mak available at Boho Gallery

Plein sud pants available on jumia.com

available at pull & bear available at superdry

available at pull & bear available at stradivarius

L.mak available at Boho Gallery

available at oysho

B Designs available on style-treasure.com

available at oysho

available at massimo dutti December 2013 | 27

available at stradivarius

available at oysho

available at massimo dutti available at stradivarius

Nazeeka The Plexi Clutch available on style-treasure.com

available at oysho L.mak available at Boho Gallery

available at stradivarius

available at massimo dutti

available at pull & bear 28 | December 2013

available at oysho

available at superdry

Rocks & Ice available on style-treasure. com

available at massimo dutti available at pull & bear available at pull & bear

QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones Available at Audio Technology-Bose distributor available at oysho

available at stradivarius available at stradivarius

available at oysho available at oysho

available at oysho

available at pull & bear available at massimo dutti December 2013 | 29

available at h&m

available at oysho available at pull & bear

Nazeeka The Plexi Clutch available on style-treasure.com

available at pull & bear

available at h&m

available at oysho

available at pull & bear SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker Available at Audio Technology-Bose distributor rana greiche winter collection available at facebook page: Rana Greiche Couture

available at stradivarius

available at pull & bear

30 | December 2013

available at pull & bear

available at oysho

SPOTTED CELEBS LATEST NEWS & GOSSIP

Kelly Clarkson is Pregnant!

Kelly Clarkson tweeted on November 19 that she is expecting her first child with husband Brandon Blackstock, saying that is “the best early Christmas present ever.” They didn’t take long; she and Blackstock just tied the knot on October 20th. Blackstock already has two children from a previous marriage.

Adam Levine: Sexiest Man Alive Adam Levine was named Sexiest Man Alive for 2013 by People magazine. The 34-year-old singer is known for being the frontman of band Maroon 5. The singer also became very popular for his judge job on the smash television show “The Voice.” Adam is engaged to a Victoria’s Secret Angel.

With a life like that, no wonder he won such a title.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Going Out Again A new report revealed that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are back together again, which confirmed rumors of their secret hookups. Kristen, 23, and Rob, 27, endured a very painful and very public breakup, so it makes sense that the two celebs are a bit concerned about revealing their true feelings for each other. Kristen’s friends told hollywoodlife.com that “she doesn’t want to keep her relationship with Rob a secret anymore. She doesn’t want to sneak around whenever she sees Rob.” “Rob on the other hand, is being a lot more cautious and isn’t ready to have everyone know his business when it comes to who he’s dating,” the insider adds.

32 | December 2013

Editorial Features

Make a Christmas wish and Jumia will make it come true BY: MONA EL GAZZAR

Be unforgettable this Christmas for EGP 826 Angelina Jones Pumps for EGP 525

Get both a powerful camera and an Android tablet for EGP 1,199 Three Fifty Nine Tribal Mini Dress for EGP 1,393

buy a chocolate fountain and show off some delicious snacks for EGP 385 Clue Synthetic Yarns Jacket for EGP 250

Christmas is all about parties, gatherings and gifts, isn’t it? Get the perfect gift without getting stuck in traffic for hours. Save the time and spend it with your loved ones and family instead.

Check us out and grab your Christmas gift; we have everything you’d wish for... from party shoes to chocolate fountain machine.

With best prices guaranteed and door-to-door delivery, we love Christmas… and so will you!

Dazzle 925 Gauge Italian Silver Platinum Plated Ring for EGP 500

Dazzle 925 Gauge Italian Silver Platinum Plated Ring with Ruby Stones for EGP 500 Dazzle 925 Gauge Italian Silver Platinum Plated Ring for EGP 350

Shatan Red Sapphire Flower Platinum Plated Set for EGP 1,100

Three Fifty Nine Boho Mini Skirt for EGP 560

*All products are available on www.jumia.com.eg

Shop Tommy Hilfiger watches only at Jumia.com for EGP 1,795

Fashion

Salvatore Ferragamo SABA METALLIC LEATHER LOAFERS available on mytheresa.com for EGP 2,748

*All prices are subject to change

DKNY Metallic shell padded coat available on netaporter.com for EGP 10,363

GIVENCHY Small Antigona bag in gray leather available on netaporter.com for EGP 19,480

KATERINA PSOMA Bumble bee diamantee pendant earings available on farfetch.com for EGP 1,836

.J.CREW Collection Café silk-jacquard Capri pants available on netaporter.com for EGP 2,558

KENZO skinny embroidered trouser available on farfetch. com for EGP 3,823

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Hail To The Queen Diana textured-leather shoulder bag available on netaporter.com for EGP 6,428 J.CREW Delphinium crystalembellished jacquard sweatshirt available on netaporter.com for EGP 5,116

Salvatore Ferragamo SCOTTY VELVET SLIPPER-STYLE LOAFERS available on mytheresa.com for EGP 4,149

34 | December 2013

MONIES ‘Valioro’ necklace available on farfetch.com for EGP 5,795

Beauty

This Season’s Beauty Must-Haves 3 1

1. Lancome L’Absolu Rouge 2. Yves Saint Laurent Youth Liberator Serum Foundation 3. L’Oréal Paris Super Liner Blackbuster 4. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II 5. Chanel Les Beiges Powder 6. Maybelline Volume Express Mega Plush Mascara 7. Lancôme Show - Hypnôse Star ‘It Accessories’ 8. Clinique new Superprimer Face Primers 9. M.A.C PAINT POT EYESHADOW IN LET’S SKATE 10. Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer N°999

2 7 4 5

10

6

9 8 36 | December 2013

Beauty

Bring Out the Best in your Eyes Part 2: Eye Shape

T

BY: AYAT SEIF ELNASR

here are many different eye shapes that differentiate us from each other. Each eye shape has a different makeup application technique to enhance its shape and hide any flaws. Let’s just state and explain first each eyeshape and its features.

Hooded

Hooded/aging eyes: Sometimes called “bedroom eyes,” because the lids tend to look heavy and partly closed. There are two types of hooded eyes; those that you are born with and those that you acquire. Many women acquire hooded eyes as they age, but you can minimize the fullness of the lids to make you look years younger. Applied correctly, eye color can help hooded eyes appear more open by minimizing the eyelid. Our goal is to make the fleshy lid area recede.

Asian

Tips: Avoid using a dark eye shadow over the entire lid because it can make the lid appear heavier and will make your eyes look closed and small. It is the gradation of color, from dark at the outer corner to light as you move across the eyelid, that will help push away what we do not want to see and open up the eye. Don’t be tempted to highlight the brow bone too much; this can accentuate the hooded appearance of the eyelid. Avoid applying your highlight shade over the entire lid; it will just make your lid look even more hooded.

Small

Asian: To accentuate the eyes, draw a pencil line from the middle of the upper lash lines to the outer corners and all along the bottom lids. Smudge.

Small: Line the inner rim of the lower lid with a white or light blue liner. Adding more whiteness around the eye makes it look bigger.

Round: Elongate your eyes by lining the outer two thirds of the upper and bottom lash lines and joining them at the outer corner. The line should be a little thicker at the outer corner and turn up slightly at the end.

38 | December 2013

Round

Close set

Close set: The ideal space between your eyes should be approximately the width of one eye. If the space between your eyes is less than one eye-width, you have close set eyes.

Your goal is to create the illusion that your eyes are farther apart. To add the illusion of space between your eyes, keep the emphasis on the outer corners. Use a dark liner on the outer quarter of the top and bottom lash lines, and add mascara to the outer lashes only.

Tips: Keep the inside corners of your eyes and the areas closest to your nose as light as possible, to help visually push the eyes apart. Concentrate the darker shades on the outer corners of your eyes. Always elongate your darkest shadows out to help pull the eyes apart. Avoid smokey eyes. Always keep the inner corners till 2/3 of your eye lid highlighted.

Wide Se t

Wide set: (Opposite to close set) To determine whether or not you have wide set eyes, measure the width of one eye. The space between your eyes should equal the width of one eye. If the space between your eyes is greater than one eye-width, your eyes are considered wide set. Your goal is to create the illusion that they are set closer together (visually pushing them in). To downplay space between your eyes, use darker color on the inner corners and a slightly lighter one for the rest of the lash lines. Avoid sweeping shadow out to the temples. Instead let your shadow fade out before it reaches the end of the eye.

Tips: To visually “push” your eyes closer together, you need to darken the inside hollows of your eye next to the bridge of your nose. Deepening the color in this area helps your eyes appear to be set closer together. To get the needed color depth, do not bring your contour color all the way in, just layer your midtone shade. Begin any dark color application slightly in from the outer corner of your eye and blend your shadow up and in instead of outward, because blending it outward will “pull” the eyes wider apart, and your goal here is to “push” them closer together.

Almond

Almond: This shape can handle just about any look. For daytime, lightly mark the entire top lash line and dust a neutral shadow over the lid. For night, trace the top and bottom lines, and smudge for a smokey effect. >> December 2013 | 39

Deep set eyes:

Droopy eyes:

As the name suggests, deep set eyes are eyes that are set deep into their sockets. The brow bone also extends out farther with this eye shape than with any other eye shape. The goal with deep set eyes is to bring your eyes out and forward, while pushing your brow bone back to make the eyes look more properly set on the face. The great thing about deep set eyes is that they are much less likely to start to droop as you age.

By “droopy eyes,” I do not mean that the lid is droopy; I mean that the outer corners of your eyes turn slightly downward. They are sometimes referred to as “sad, puppy-dog eyes.” Your goal is to make the outer corners appear to turn up, rather than down. It is actually very easy to do! You just need to start your color application slightly in from the outside corner, on top and especially along the bottom lash line.

Tips: A dark eyelid does not work for this eye shape. You want to highlight the eyelids of deep set eyes as much as possible to help bring them out. A dark lid pushes them farther back into the head. Darkening the crease is also unnecessary for this eye shape. God has given you a crease, so there’s no need to emphasize it. There is no need to highlight the brow bone because it is already prominent. Highlighting brings it forward even more and we want it to recede. When you wear eyeliner, keep it as close to the lash line as possible (very thin). Thick eyeliner, especially on the upper lids, will work against you when you are trying to bring out the eyes.

Prominent/protruding eyes: (Opposite to deep set) If your eyelids and eyes are full and tend to extend out from the face, you have prominent eyes. The goal here is to visually “push” the eye away from us and help the eye appear to recede into the face. We do this by creating a light-todark effect with the three eye shadows, with the darkest shade applied closest to the lash line and fading as you go toward the brow. For prominent eyes, we are actually trying to make the eyes appear smaller; we want to minimize their fullness.

Tips: Never highlight your eyelids; your eyes will appear even more prominent. Remember, everything we highlight is visually pulled forward. A deeper or contour shade across the entire eyelid helps to minimize the fullness and makes it appear to recede. With this eye shape, you can apply your eyeliner all the way around your eye with the same thickness and intensity, because we actually want to close the eye in slightly. Perfect eye shadow application is smokey eyes.

40 | December 2013

Tips: You want to create what we call an “open ended” eye, which means that the color from your top lash line and bottom lash line do not meet at the outer corner of the eye. If the color meets in the outside corner, it will accentuate the droop. By leaving it natural, you actually create a visual lift to the eye. When applying mascara, be sure to concentrate on the middle to inside lashes.

Defined lashes in the outer corners of the eyes also accentuate the droopiness. Be sure your eyebrows curve gently outward, never in an exaggerated, downward arch. When wearing color along the lower lash line, begin your application about an eighth of an inch in from the outermost corner. For this eye shape, I suggest not using eyeliner along the lower lash line. It can look too dramatic. Instead, use your contour shade to define along your lower lash line.

Deep set

y Droop

Promi

nent

Beauty

Let us MAKEUP this Season! by: eman arafa

Naturalness is timeless in both fashion and makeup.

Nothing can compete with nude looks, which means natural tones, bright shining faces with a healthy glow, wide-opened eyes devoid of heavy layers of mascara and eye shadow. This is a very natural makeup trend, which aims to emphasize natural beauty, freshness, and youthful allure. The main rule of this look is less is more.

The all time favorite smokey eyes firmly hold position this season. Go for dark or metallic eye shadows for an intense monochromic makeup. Subtly draw attention to your gaze by applying a hint of glint to the inner corners of your eyes. The key is to use a metallic shade that is close to your complexion. If your skin tone is fair, use champagne. If it is olive, go for gold. If you are dark, bronze is your best bet.

42 | December 2013

A warm autumnal trend works magic during the holiday season. It’s a look you can take from day to evening with hues that kind of make you feel cozy and melancholic.

Softly define the crease to add depth and charm along with saturated lips in burgundy or wine. Thick bushy eyebrows are also a must this season if you want to create spectacular makeup look.

Metallic shadows are used this season to create different looks, whether a wild holiday or an aristocratic one. You may combine neutral eye shadow colors with tones of gold, copper, chocolate brown or bronze with a dazzling sheen to them. Wing out the eye lid toward the brows and smolder the lower lash line with metallic grey or black, accentuating the look with a hint of sheen around the outer corners of the eyes. Just gorgeous!

PHOTO SHOOT CREDITS Hair dresser: Kriss Beauty Salon Models: Anna Krasnikova & Rana El Gohary Styling by: Alagabany Fashion Consultancy Photographer: Fadi Yehia from Fadi Gwanny’s Studio Jewelry by: Shereen Darwish Silver Jewelry The feline flick is again super trendy. To achieve such a stunning look, you simply have to visually lift the outer corner of the eyes by drawing a winged liner. You can use scotch tape to make sure your flick is sharp and clean. Reach the edge of wilderness with a dramatic dark lipstick in shades of deep purple, pink or black. Be playful and mysterious.

YOUR DREAMS – OUR INSPIRATION

TM

Faces of Egypt

Train For Aim Reach your Target & Become a True Athlete BY: FARAH ASFOUR Train For Aim (TFA) has become a popular name in the sports community in Cairo. But what is exactly TFA? Is it normal group fitness classes? Not exactly.

Does it offer a new type of sport that was not in Egypt before? Kind of. In order to know more about TFA, we met its co-founders Tino Waked and Ayman Hakky and listened to the whole story of TFA. Would you give us a brief introduction about yourselves?

Tino: My name is Tino Waked and I’m 25 years old.

I studied Economics at the American University in Cairo for two years then I got a soccer scholarship at Rutgers University in the US where I stayed for two years. I had also played soccer for Egypt national football team and Enppi Club. And now I work at McKinsey.

Ayman: My name is Ayman Hakky, I’m 27 years old and I work at BP. I graduated from the American University in Cairo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. I was a water polo player in the team of El Gezira Sporting Club.

44 | December 2013

Tell us about the start of TFA. We started TFA in October 2012 with our friend Donia Scarello. Donia is a golf player and she is into biking and marathons. We were all ex-professional athletes and after we stopped playing sports, we still wanted to train and participate in competitions. So we thought about building a team where people have the opportunity of exercising together. We didn’t want to offer group fitness classes only for the sake of fitness reasons; we rather wanted to have an aim or a target that we train for, and this target is participating in competitions, with a special focus on endurance races and triathlon.

What is triathlon?

Triathlon is an endurance sport involving three disciplines: swimming, cycling and running. In a triathlon race, triathletes have to complete a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run consecutively.

Trialthlon is not known in Egypt, how did you know about it in the first place?

Ayman: I knew about triathlon in Trinidad and Tobago when I was there in 2011. After I came back to Egypt, I found out that there actually is an Egyptian Triathlon Federation and there are Egyptian triathletes but only a few. However, still the sport was not known in Egypt. We then thought of reintroducing triathlon in Egypt and spreading it.

Who can join TFA and what is the nature of your workouts?

Anyone is welcome to join TFA. No athletic experience is required and people of any fitness level and any age group can train with us. Our workouts are basically strength and core exercises. The core of TFA is that our trainings are tailored according to our next target.

We have a target race every 2-3 months and we get ready for it by making a 10 week training program before it.

Of course TFA has gone through different stages before reaching today’s popularity, can you tell us more about this?

When we first started in October 2012, we only trained with our friends then the word spread through our Facebook fanpage and the marathons we competed in (Egyptian Marathon 2013 in Luxor and Dubai Marathon 2013) and bit by bit the number of people training with us increased. The turning point for TFA was in March 2013 when Ezz Khalil became the Head Coach of TFA. Ezz was a professional handball player, he is a professional boxer, and a certified trainer and cycling instructor. Partnering with Ezz gave us credibility and a professional edge that we were in need of. TFA’s start was spontaneous; we were not generating any income and we didn’t have the knowhow. All this changed in March 2013. We created a website, started collecting fees, and we expanded.

TFA now includes TFA Fitness, TFA Cycling and Spinning, TFA Running, TFA Nutrition (one-on-one sessions) and Adventure Aim. We came up with the idea of Adventure Aim because people who trained with us wanted to have some fun in something other than competitions and races, so we collaborated with Wild Guanabana, founded by Omar Samra, to offer TFA’s team one adventure every year.

What are TFA’s latest achievements and news?

A lot of developments have been going on in TFA recently. We collaborated with the Egyptian Triathlon Federation and officially represented Egypt at the Triathlon World Championship in London last September. We managed to get sponsors who partially backed the competing triathletes and we donated some of the raised funds to Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation. One of the major developments in TFA has been the introduction of the “True Athlete Program” that is aimed at providing financial and technical support to Egyptian athletes, looking for sponsors to back them, and offering them free oneon-one trainings. We are currently supporting two athletes; squash player Farah Azabawy and junior swimmer Sarah Hossam.

As for our latest news, TFA has recently launched in Palm Hills. We have started preparing our players for the Egyptian Marathon 2014 in Luxor where we will participate in the 21km run. Also TFA will organize the African Triathlon Championship with the Egyptian Triathlon Federation. The championship will take place in Sharm El Sheikh in March 2014.

What are your future plans for TFA? We want to spread triathlon in Egypt and reach more people through TFA’s expansion in new locations. We will work on sponsoring more athletes through our True Athlete Program. Our big dream that we want to turn into reality in 5 years is founding a complete fitness academy that enables us to offer more sports, sponsor more athletes and represent Egypt in international sports competitions.

For more info, check: facebook.com/trainforaim or trainforaim.com December 2013 | 45

Faces of Egypt

Can you give us a brief introduction about yourself?

I joined the Egyptian Aviation Academy at 17, then I transferred to Ain Shams Business School, Major Accounting. After graduation, I worked as an accountant at a Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

During university vacations, I worked in the sales department for an Egyptian company selling stationery tools for stationeries, which gave me experience in dealing with the market.

Ashraf Tawfik

The Face Behind On the Run Egypt BY: YOSRA SHOHAYEB

I always wondered how successful people perceived themselves, how they feel when they see their work flourish before their eyes everyday, especially if it is materialistic as a building. Did those people start from the bottom or have they had it all handed on a silver plate? Well, my wonders finally ended when I met the man behind one of the most successful spots in Egypt; On the Run. Amr Tawfik goes by the motto: Challenge Accepted!

46 | December 2013

Having had a bright career path, share with us how you started.

As I said before, I worked as an accountant in Sharm El Sheikh for two years. I moved to Cairo afterwards and worked at a Kuwaiti investment company. Then, I worked at General Dynamics Company at Beni Suef and I specialized in F16 planes in the accounting department. During that phase of my life, my colleagues and I stayed in Fayoum. At the age 31, I joined Exxon Mobil Egypt as an accountant until I was promoted as Financial Account Manager. After that, I was offered a position in the oil sales department, which was far from what I knew. However, I accepted the offer.

Didn’t you feel it was a risk to shift to a total different career, given that you were already in a high-level position?

I definitely felt it was a risk, but I was always attracted to the challenge. Although I was afraid, regret was not something I knew and I never had a problem to start all over again.

And what happened after that career shift?

After I accepted the offer, I managed factory oils which I knew nothing about and I headed engineers. I started reading a lot and learning about oils as the job was very technical. I used to hang all the oil products and types above my desk, in case I was ever asked about them. After

four years, I was promoted as Marketing and Sales Head for Industrial Oils, South Cairo. Then, I was promoted as head of the whole region. After being head of industrial oils, I handled the region stations’ oils and afterwards, I handled North Africa including Tunis, Egypt, Morocco, Cyprus, and Kazakhstan.

How did the idea of On the Run come to you?

On the Run is one of the trademarks that Mobil owns. Many refused the idea of On the Run in Egypt, complaining “who would ever stop at a gas station to drink or eat something?” However, I was one of the few who were pro the idea and believed strongly in it. In 1998/99, I traveled to the US, New Zealand, and France to study the application of it and to view different modules. I discovered that their module would not suit the Egyptian customer at all, so I decided to create an On the Run for the Egyptian customer. The name is the only thing we have in common with them. Because I believed in the idea so much, I refused to leave it to an international or a local company to operate it. My argument was that they would not understand what we were aiming for and that we would lose consistency. It was a risk in all cases, so I decided it was Mobil’s risk and not any other company’s. From there, a team of three and I started to work on it and the first On the Run was built in 2002.

How did you make the idea grow afterwards?

It was a very hard and long process because we needed to change the customer’s perception about going to a gas station and having something to drink or eat there. We had to operate the idea by our own hands. It was a challenge but nothing is impossible.

We started conducting market surveys and studied very well what our target needed. We focused on our locations’ areas and if there was an area we needed a location in, we built a gas station for it. A youthful staff was very important in order to communicate with our target market. We started working on advertisements to attract people. Our concept was “convenient,” from a parking place, AC, to a fast, safe, and clean environment. We also focused on the seasonal calendar. For example, in Ramadan we focused on our fast environment, “Come and leave in five minutes!” All benefits we received from suppliers we automatically directed to our customers. Around

2000 persons per site visited On the Run, so agencies advertised their products at our sites. In 2008, we saw a real profit and were evaluated number one coffee from between original coffee shops.

And did you expect this success beforehand?

I was a strong believer that it would grow. I had no doubt. Everything was studied well and we were filling a gap in the market.

What kind of obstacles did you face?

The biggest obstacle we faced was that the government did not want to give us a license for having a bakery because it was not safe to have one inside a gas station.

Therefore, we bought equipment that operated with electricity rather than fire and they gave us our license.

Another obstacle was unaccepted customers’ behavior, such as walking out of On the Run with a cigarette which was not safe. So, we created awareness signs for them.

Do you feel that you left your baby (On the Run) in safe hands? And do you miss it?

I always feel the urge to check up on it, but I sometimes hold myself back because I know I left it in the hands of experienced professionals. On the Run is like my son or daughter who has grown successful and I am proud of. For me, On the Run is something that has feelings.

I know that you received several awards, tell us about them.

I received “I Make a Difference” award from Europe/ Africa 2010 for the best On the Run chain in the world and another one from Venice. In 2008, I received “Best Performance” award for return on assets.

Looking back 30 years ago, did you see yourself here?

NOT AT ALL! I had no clue what I was good at and what I was not. My biggest plan was “what are we doing next summer?” Experience in life shows you what you are good at. Here is an advice I direct to everyone out there, “work hard for what you love, and you will get there. If you do not want to work hard for it, then it is not for you.”

December 2013 | 47

Faces of Egypt

The Four Fat Ladies A Taste of Nostalgia BY: YOSRA SHOHAYEB When you meet the sisters: Nira, Heba and Sherine Shunbo, you will feel welcomed with their enthusiasm and warm-hearted greetings. They will invite you into their world and make you feel at home. And wait for your reaction when you take a bite out of their scrumptious desserts, whether it’s their cheesecake, pies, cookies or their popular salted caramel brownies. Their homemade desserts look mouthwatering, smell yummy, and taste delicious, and they will take you back in time and remind you of your first childhood indulgence.

Nira is the youngest out of three sisters. She studied Marketing and Global Management in the States, came back to Egypt in 1999, worked random jobs and then she kind of found her place in public relations. Almost two years ago, she quit her job and started the bakery.

She went to Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Boston in 2006. However, it took her three years to use her degree. Nira has been baking since she was nine years old though.

Heba is the middle sister. She studied Comparative Literature in the States and came back to Egypt after graduation. She worked in investment banking for the first three years and then got into yoga and taught it.

Now, she is a freelance interior designer and has been 48 | December 2013

doing that for eight years now. Heba likes to cook and bake but not as good as Nira and Sherine as she told us.

Sherine is the eldest sister. Like her sisters, she studied in the states and lived there for many years.

While she was there, she absolutely loved watching cooking shows, and so she cooked and baked just about everything.

Tell us about the sisters.

We have a love-hate relationship, like all sisters do, we are opinionated, and each one of us is very different.

Sherine is grounded, organized, dependable, and a perfectionist (the creative director); Heba is free spirited, and a good mediator (the marketer); Nira, the youngest, is sociable, charming, extroverted (the baker).

Why is the name The Four Fat Ladies when you are only three?

We started off as four founding partners, hence the name. We absolutely loved the name, we think it’s fun and whimsical. Our fourth partner was a talented baker; however, she had to pull out due to other obligations.

How did you start TFFL? People were ranting and raving over many of the

desserts available in Cairo, but I (Heba) thought they weren’t comparable to my sisters’ and mother’s desserts. And so I prompted Nira and Sherine for us to start a bakery together. Nira found it daunting to leave her job and take the risk, but she knew that TFFL would succeed, feedback was already very positive.

Initially, we wanted to open a store, but with the local market being so volatile, we didn’t want to waste any more time looking for potential spots to open a cafe, and so we started our bakery online. We thought that would be a good way to test the market. We have always liked to bake, so I guess it’s extension of who we really are.

What sets you apart from other bakeries?

Our desserts are all made from scratch, we do not compromise on quality nor ingredients. Our desserts are authentic, and some of our recipes have been perfected throughout the years. I believe our concept is very organic, homemade, which is even reflected in our logo. The font is almost like a handwritten font; you can relate to us, you can relate to the brand.

Whom did you inherit your baking skills from?

We inherited our baking skills from our mother, we loved keeping her company in the kitchen as she baked. For our birthdays, our mother always surprised us with something new, and naturally they always tasted amazing!

What is your secret ingredient?

Passion. We are all passionate about baking, we always wanted to do it and we love being in the kitchen, even with our friends.

Do good or bad moods affect baking?

When I (Nira) am in a bad mood, baking puts me in a good mood. It is my place of Zen; it relaxes me. It is physically difficult, but mentally relaxing.

“

For more info, check facebook fanpage: The Four Fat Ladies Bakery

“It ain’t over till the fat lady bakes.

The Four Fat Ladies

December 2013 | 49

Faces of Egypt Would you tell us about yourself in brief?

I graduated from Cairo University in 2009 with a Bachelor in Economics and Political Science.

Besides, I got a marketing diploma as I wanted to pursue a marketing career. After I graduated I changed jobs several times. Although they were all related to marketing which I always liked, I was never fully satisfied with what I was doing. Eventually, I made a decision this year to quit corporate jobs forever and dedicate all my time to following my passion which is fitness, health and wellness.

How did you discover that you are passionate about sports and fitness?

I tried many sports during my childhood and teenage years; I played handball, volleyball and taekwondo but I didn’t excel at neither of them.

Then in 2007, I started track and field. With time, my fitness improved and I became more interested in fitness and began to read about it till I actually loved it and decided to take fitness courses.

Samira Khalil

The Fitness Rising Star BY: FARAH ASFOUR

Samira Khalil is an Egyptian young woman who is full of enthusiasm, ambition, potential and determination to do what she loves. She realized she has what it takes to be a talented fitness trainer who is capable of changing people’s lives and making them feel better about themselves. Samira is a co-founder of Stallions (high performance training group) that started in September 2012. She left Stallions in June 2013 and created her own brand “FOCUS.” She is also the first instructor in Egypt to get Cheerobics license from the UK. To know it all, read on.

50 | December 2013

I would like to dig deeper and know what exactly attracted you to sports and fitness and what impact did it have on you?

When I trained regularly, I gained control of my body, my mind and my life and it increased my self-confidence. I felt I’m a successful person and a strong girl. Working out also taught me discipline and commitment which have become very important qualities in my life.

What are your fitness qualifications?

I took a course in group fitness that taught how to give different aerobic classes, and this was an area where I stood out. I also have International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Fitness Nutrition Certification, I have Cheerobics Instructor License from the UK and currently I’m in the process of getting my Sport Yoga Certification from National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA).

Tell us more about your brand “FOCUS.” FOCUS is a bootcamp but it’s for small groups, up to 4 persons, and it mainly targets

professional athletes like marathon runners and swimmers.

I haven’t heard of cheerobics before and I think this is the case with most people here in Egypt. So, what is cheerobics?

Cheerobics is a fitness programme that combines aerobics and cheerleading, with the fun of pompoms.

Cheerobics is more of a fitness activity than dancing; it improves the fitness level and burns calories while having fun.

in Egypt and of changing people’s lives.

Any quick tips for girls on how to invest in their bodies in order to get the ideal body shape even when they get older?

Eat right, move more. Maximize your nutrients; eat in technicolor. Exercise at least 4 times a week.

Stay active. Build muscle and strengthen your bones through exercise. Always listen to your body.

For more info about cheerobics, check: facebook.com/cheerobicsegypt

In the past year or two, there have been a lot of emerging fitness trends, groups and classes in Egypt that are gaining popularity especially among young people.

In your opinion, is it just a fad or a real change in young people’s lifestyle?

I would say it is a trend that will soon turn into a habit. The boom witnessed by the fitness business in Egypt means there is demand. I also see that parents are becoming aware of the importance of sports to their kids and sometimes even make their kids play more than one sport. However, it can’t be denied that fitness now is a trend for a few people.

Who are your role models?

My idol is Jillian Michaels; she is an American personal trainer, reality show personality, talk show host, fitness writer and is best known for her appearance on The Biggest Loser. I also look up to Samia Allouba.

What about your dream?

I dream of becoming the best female fitness trainer

“

What is your goal or what do you want to achieve through what you do as a trainer?

What I’m doing is not all about making people more fit; my goal is to make people happy. I want people to live their life to the max, to know what actually makes them happy and do it. I want them to “focus” on their physical abilities and well being; and that’s why I chose the name FOCUS for my brand. I don’t want to be a typical trainer who tells people how to exercise and what to eat; I rather want to have a positive impact on their life through fitness.

Thrive to live.

“Samira Khalil

December 2013 | 51

Faces of Egypt

Can you explain to us what exactly Car Spa is and the concept behind it?

Moemen El-Swidi The Entrepreneur Behind Car Spa Would you please give us a brief introduction about yourself?

I am a 31 year old passionate entrepreneur who started such a major career shift in a very tough time (March 2011) as I wanted to be a successful business man. I graduated in June 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and I have a patent and a couple of publications in worldwide conferences. I really like coming up with initiatives and innovative ideas and I work seriously on them until I reach a real life implementation of some proposed ideas. Besides Car Spa business, I have my IT business as well; that is NileICT (nileict.com) and we are leading the smart cities business in Egypt along with a strong profile of innovative IT services with extra-ordinary references in the market.

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We are an American Franchise company committed to bringing vehicle owners a superior car wash. We are committed to clean cars, the health of our customers, and a non-contaminated environment. We are a values-driven company aiming at bringing vehicle owners everywhere a superior line of car care products that do not harm the planet or the user. We strive to conserve water, eliminate contaminated runoff, and protect natural resources. At the same time, we are the first to introduce waterless portable car wash system in mall parking in Egypt. We have a mission to educate users about responsible, sustainable car cleaning and washing. Car Spa is leading the eco-friendly car care industry in cutting-edge practices.

What is the difference between Car Spa and other car cleaning services?

We are the first and only eco-friendly waterless car care service in Egypt. Moreover, with Car Spa operating in Citystars, our customer can enjoy shopping, the movies, socializing in restaurants and cafes while we are cleaning his/her car. We provide premium services at normal prices that are even less than traditional and chemical detailing services prices.

How did you get the idea of your business?

I hate waiting for my turn in the fuel station to get my car washed. I get irritated when I find young kids with no experience at all ruining my car’s interior with water and dirty cloths. Also seeing those workers staring at girls and ladies coming into the station and most of the time speaking loudly with some slang phrases and

insults, which is unacceptable. One day I was shopping in Citystars and I thought why not they don’t offer a car cleaning service in the parking. So I started my research that ended up with “Car Spa – You Shop We Shine.”

Can you explain to us how the car cleaning service you provide is environment friendly?

Our products have been formulated with environment and the user in mind. Our products rely on a blend of non-toxic and earth-friendly cleaning agents that equal or surpass competitor products. For example, many of our solvents are derived from a soybean base, while our surfactants derive from palm kernel oil. They are non-toxic, biodegradable and free of acids, solvents, phosphates and other harsh chemicals.

Unlike the overwhelming majority of auto products manufacturers, we are always investigating “greener” alternatives for our existing products and services (like scratch removal and waxing services). Not only that but we are also a waterless car care service providers whose priority is to conserve water, eliminate contaminated runoff, and protect natural resources. We save 5060 liters of water per car. Imagine washing 1 million cars, this is 50 million liters of water which is the daily required amount of drinking water for 150 thousand citizens.

Did you face any difficulties while implementing your idea and starting your project?

Yes, mainly convincing the top management of Citystars that our service will not harm the parking floor. As for the customers, we always face the question, “What’s in eco-friendly for me?” and the answer goes, “It’s safe for your health and your family, especially kids.”

What are your plans or hopes for Car Spa in the future?

We hope we can change the whole car washing mindset in Egypt. Moreover, we are looking forward to announcing the first Integrated Green Car Service Center in Egypt soon.

What is your advice to people who want to start their own business?

Think different and innovate. Believe in yourself and your dreams. Learn from your errors. Always search for the expert advice. Study your business idea extensively before you start it.

Editorial Features Ladies Health Alliance Forum Reveals Latest Breakthroughs in Women’s Health

L

adies Health Alliance (LHA), Egypt’s first health center dedicated exclusively to women, proudly sponsored an interactive women’s health forum hosted by the Egyptian Society of Women’s Imaging & Health Care (ESWIH).

“We’re very happy to share today’s major life-saving and transformational breakthroughs in medicine that tremendously benefit women,” said Dr Madiha Khattab, former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and board member of LHA. “In today’s fast-paced life, women tend to ignore their health, with serious consequences. We want to tell women that there is no reason to fear consultations and early check-ups; it can save your life.”

The forum featured six sessions focused on the latest developments in women’s health with insights by some of Egypt’s renowned experts in the fields of breast cancer screening, advances in dermatology and laser treatments, nutrition, life coaching, osteoporosis and gynecology.

“LHA is a one stop hub for all women’s health issues,” said Dr Norran Hussein, Breast Imaging Consultant at the National Breast Screening Program, ESWIH Treasurer and LHA’s CEO. “We want to make taking care of your health an easier, faster and simpler process.

From breast cancer screening and treatment, to various consultations and comprehensive checkups, and from laser and cosmetic treatments to lifestyle specialties, LHA caters to every woman’s health needs.”

Home 2 METER ENCHANTED TREE By Wild Green available on thegiftery.com

Antique Collection

by Joud available on style-treasure.com

Natalino, Figurine

By Alessi available on thegiftery.com

Joud available on style-treasure. com

Joud available on style-treasure. com

ST by Style Treasure Signature available on style-treasure.com

Antique Collection by Joud available on style-treasure. com

Antique Collection

by Joud available on style-treasure.com

Christmas Cow Boy, Figurine By Alessi available on thegiftery.com

available at zara home

available at zara home

54 | December 2013

Antique Collection by Joud available on styletreasure.com

Natalincensino, figurineincense burner

By Alessi available on thegiftery.com

Home

I

Get Cozy for the Holidays!

n Winter nothing feels better than sinking into a comfortable sofa in a cozy warm living room with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. Wow! We miss that. Let your living room have a cozy makeover so that you enjoy relaxing in it during the cold nights of the holidays.

56 | December 2013

Soft furnishings Sofas and chairs need to beckon you to sink into them. Upholstered furniture, puffy armchairs and sofas add warmth and welcoming touch to the room. If you however like firm furniture, opt for wooden furniture with unfinished look as the natural materials add warmth to the interior design. Muffle hard-backed furniture with throws: chenille, faux fur, mohair or faux suede. Adding abundant throw pillows and cushions to armchairs and sofas softens and adds warmth and makes the room feel more welcoming. Change your scatter cushion covers to velvet, suede, wool, or heavy-weave cotton. Avoid silk, polyester and anything that looks shiny and feels cold. Choose a brightly colored area rug to tie the room together and provide an additional layer of comfort.

Warm colors Warm color scheme can be mixed with colder and darker shades to transform the mood of the room. Stick with warm colors of various shades that nicely contrast or match and maintain the warm color scheme in your living room design. Yellow, orange, red and all their shades and tones are warm. They are great at reflecting natural lighting filling the room with light and warmth. Yellow-based white can also be great if you are for pastels and neutrals but avoid then blue and greybased whites as they will make the room look cold. >>

December 2013 | 57

Group your seating Avoid L-shaped, rectangular and square configurations.

Aim for flowing lines with circular and hexagonal layouts. Unless you have a small space, try to avoid placing your seating arrangements along the walls. Pushing sofas and chairs back against walls gives the dreaded doctor’s waiting room look. Instead, pull your couches, chairs and ottomans toward the center of the room to create a seating arrangement that’s conversation friendly. Select a focal point in the room as a guide for furniture placement and use a rug to add a visual boundary. If space allows, create more than one seating area. Have a reading corner by a window with a small table and a couple of chairs or a chaise longue, or include movable, upholstered cubes and floor cushions. If you need help with placing your furniture, try space-planning software, such as planyourroom.com, to experiment until you find an arrangement you love.

Layer your lighting Though lighting is often overlooked when it comes to home decoration, it can easily take a room to the next level. To create a warm and comfortable room, be sure to layer artificial lighting throughout your space. Start with a great ceiling fixture that compliments the rest of the room’s decor. Select decorative table lamps to light up dark corners, and use spotlights to highlight art and accessories.

Finally, give your room a glow by lighting some decorative candles.

58 | December 2013

Accessorize with things you love For a space to feel cozy, it needs feel lived in.

Create a gallery arrangement with family photos, fill bookshelves with books you love to read and accessorize with unique objects that make you happy. You can also use storage bins to hold items your family uses often, such as games and toys.

This allows you to keep things close at hand, even if they don’t fall within your design scheme.

Relaxing hideaway A daybed or a chaise longue is a great way to add luxury to your living room. Mix jewel and earthy tones to create a warm and sophisticated scheme.

December 2013 | 59

Escape

Where will you be in the holidays?

Pick your place!

CELEBRATE IN STYLE AT THE DUSIT It will all start with an early celebration of unveiling Christmas Lights on Friday, December 13th to mark the beginning of the festive season with the whole family. This is in addition to an early celebration where Santa is there to give out Christmas cookies and chocolates as well as having pictures with your family complemented with unique Gala Friday Brunch, tunes of Jazz music and entertaining activities for your little ones. Choices are wide open for a tasty holiday; try out a succulent Christmas buffet or a New Year’s Eve Gala buffet at Branzino where you can say goodbye to 2013! Feel the magic of Christmas season with your friends and family and taste the flavourful holiday cinnamon cookies and special sweets at Dusit Gourmet.

Last but not least, don’t miss the unique Christmas dinner with a Thai flair at Ruen Thai restaurant where there will be special live cooking signatures created by Chef Panya for the occasion. Izumi is a convenient choice for sushi lovers with its “All you can eat on New Year’s.”

ADD A SPARKLE TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S EVE AT RADISSON BLU HOTEL, ALEXANDRIA This year enjoy the “Horror Night” theme and the international delectable open buffet on the tunes of the DJ, saxophone and the belly dancer show for only EGP 500 per person all inclusive. Party will start from 9:00 pm till 3:00 am. Furthermore, you can enjoy the room’s package including the “Horror Night Party” and the following day breakfast for only EGP 725 per person in double room all inclusive.

For reservation or more information, please call +2 03 5896000 Ext. 3216 or via e-mail reservations. alex@radissonblu.com

AN ELEGANT CHRISTMAS AT FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS & TOWERS Savor your Christmas surrounded by pure luxury at Aqua e Luce serving a special set menu dinner on Christmas Eve, or delight with exceptional Christmas brunch buffet, entertainment and kids activities. Or visit Leonardo and join Chef Federico to discover the original truffle world and his special 3 course set menu on Christmas Eve and throughout the month of December accompanied with a complimentary glass of local wine. For a Mexican twist enjoy Chef Mancilla and his teams’ memorable Christmas journey with a special 3 course set menu. For all chocolate lovers, indulge in Fuze Bar’s exclusive chocolate dessert menu featuring chocolate cocktails and a selection of cigar and cognac. Please your palate with the creations of Lebanese Chef Michel Ghawi at Al Dabke restaurant with its meticulous “nouvelle cuisine” menu ranging from marvelous mezzes to simply flavorful and exquisite classics. Or enjoy Darts English Hot Pot promotion throughout the month of December featuring the most famous traditional English pies. Not to miss Le Marche’s festive cookies, cakes, hampers, ginger bread houses, wines, pandoro and much more!

For reservation and more information, please call + 202 22677730/40, Hotline 16989

WELCOME THE NEW YEAR IN FRONT OF THE MAGNIFICENT NILE AT THE HILTON CAIRO ZAMALEK The Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences is the perfect venue for every mood’s celebration. Enjoy the New Year’s Eve with their festive menu at the Time Lounge in an elegant tranquil atmosphere while taking pleasure in the magnificent view of the Nile, in a romantic candlelight dinner with DJ.

KEMPINSKI NILE HOTEL AND KEMPINSKI HOTEL SOMA BAY ARE READY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH YOU Kempinski Nile Hotel offers a range of exciting venues and activities for the festive season including traditional dinners and dance parties and stylish gourmet experiences at its award-winning restaurants. Packages start from EGP 1,699 per room per night and include the following: service charge and all applicable taxes, complimentary parking, breakfast for 2, brunch, early check-in, late check-out, upgrade to Nile Junior Suite (subject to availability at the time of booking), complimentary massage treatment for 2 (45 minutes), complimentary soft mini bar, complimentary movie library, complimentary butler service, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Celebrate festive season in paradise at Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay with tailor-made packages including a memorable seven-night retreat. Rates start from Euro 1,040 per person and include the following: choice of luxury accommodation, airport transfer, daily buffet breakfast at View Restaurant, one bottle of sparkling wine per stay, one Cleopatra milk bath per stay, New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, complimentary soft mini bar, and complimentary access to the health club including gym, Jacuzzi and steam room.

On 24 December 2013, guests will enjoy a special Christmas Gala dinner celebration for a supplementary charge of Euro 125 per person (compulsory).

For reservations, please call +202 27980000.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO AT NILE PLAZA HAS IT ALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is the place to be during the festive season as it prepares to give guests and visitors alike the first-class hospitality it is renowned for throughout the holiday period.

From the moment guests enter the popular Lobby Lounge, a superb array of seasonal specialties will be on offer, including hand-made chocolates.

Christmas is always a special time at Nile Plaza with Santa’s visit, gingerbread house and live piano music at the lobby, while offering a choice of venues to enjoy a delightful evening. 8 restaurant, overlooking the Nile, is offering an eight-course set menu dinner that includes roasted duck, Dim Sum turkey, custard king prawns, wok fried beef, finished with a sugared candy Christmas tree. For those looking for an Italian flavour, Bella offers such treats as pan seared scallops, asparagus with cappelletti, pan fried sea bream or grilled veal, and a dessert of a “liquid heart” white chocolate meringue.

Beymen Café and The Bar will continue to serve their popular à la carte menus on Christmas Eve. To treat the family to a sumptuous Christmas Day gourmet dinner, Zitouni, the Egyptian-themed buffet is laced with a truly international twist. For a trendy modern party and outdoor street art, it’s Cairo’s hottest lounge, Graffiti, the hip night spot with spectacular views of the Nile and live entertainment.

DAZZLING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT SHERATON MIRAMAR Enjoy an unrivalled dining experience, elegant entertainment and decoration which will take you to the real Christmas and New Year’s warmth throughout the resort. Sheraton Miramar Resort’s restaurants and bars offer an exceptional Christmas and New Year program.

Mouthwatering dishes are served varying from regional to Italian cuisine in a fantastic atmosphere with amazing views of the sea or the pool. Miramar Restaurant serves delicious international buffets, while Orient 1001 offers authentic Arabic dishes and the finest Italian delicacies are presented in La Piscina.>>

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S THE PALATIAL WAY AT THE CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL

ON THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S EVE, RAMSES HILTON IS THE PLACE TO BE Spend a glorious Christmas and New Year’s Eve with live entertainment at Ramses Hilton’s restaurants and bars.

Touch the stars and see Cairo from Windows on the World roof-top restaurant offering a stunning panoramic view of Cairo and the Nile River and enjoy a delicious 5 course menu especially designed for this occasion with a very selective entertainment. Gather with friends and family at the Terrace Café Restaurant and enjoy a special delicious buffet offering a variety of seasonal delights. The Christmas spirit is perfectly captured at the Garden Court Café. And you don’t want to miss the festive treats.

For Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day enjoy dinner and lunch buffets at Roy’s Country Kitchen while at Saraya Gallery you can indulge in their especially tailored set menus for this festive occasion or you can enjoy a special menu prepared only for this occasion along with the live band and entertainment at Harry’s Pub. This New Year’s Eve, enjoy a spectacular dinner at Ristorante Tuscany or JW’s Steakhouse while listening to the tunes of the inspirational live music. If you’re in the mood for something more traditional with an Egyptian flair you’ll have amazing time at Egyptian Nights with special Egyptian food along with the band and belly dancer. Santa Claus chocolate, cookies Christmas cake, Stollen Bread, and Turkey to Go will all be available at the Bakery starting December 1st.

Ask about their exclusive packages for Egyptians and book one of their comfortable rooms with balconies overlooking the Nile while getting to experience “early bird” breakfast buffet on New Year’s Day.

For reservation and more information, call +2 2394 6902

HAVE AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S EXPERIENCE AT PORT GHALIB, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP Enjoy the festive season’s celebrations and take advantage of special discounted rates at InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Resort, Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Resort, Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib Resort and Marina Lodge At Port Ghalib.

InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Resort: Rates starting from EGP 800 per double room, per night, on a half board basis.

Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Resort & Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib Resort: Rates starting from EGP 550 per double room, per night, on soft all Inclusive basis.

Marina Lodge At Port Ghalib: Rates starting from EGP 400 per double room, per night, on soft all inclusive basis.

For reservation and more information, call +2 2394 6902 62 | December 2013

ATTRACTIVE HOLIDAY OFFERS AT THE SHERATON LUXOR RESORT •The confirmed (non-refundable) arrival for one night gets 5% off room rate. Rate is subject to service charge and taxes.

•The confirmed (non-refundable) arrival for two nights gets 20% off room rate. Rate is subject to service charge and taxes.

•The confirmed (non-refundable) arrival for three nights or more gets 30% off room rate. Rate is subject to service charge and taxes.

•Egyptians and residents, stay 3 nights and pay 2 only, EGP 245 per person, per night in a double room including service charge, taxes and breakfast. *Offers valid from December 2013 till September 2014

SOFITEL CAIRO EL GEZIRAH… THE IDEAL AMBIENCE FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS Enjoy a magnificent atmosphere and culinary delights at SUD Restaurant overlooking the majestic Nile. They offer Christmas dinner buffet with live music at a price of EGP 308 with a welcome glass of sparkling wine. You can also welcome the New Year with a special evening of dining at La Palmeraie Moroccan Restaurant where there will be a sumptuous set menu dinner at a price of EGP 355 with a welcome glass of sparkling wine on arrival. There will be an entertainment show of a belly dancer and an oriental takht in a luxurious ambiance. For party lovers, an extravagant and glamorous New Year’s Eve awaits you at Buddha Bar, Cairo’s signature night spot, offering innovative Asian fusion cuisine, signature cocktails and lavish sushi with live DJ entertainment. Prices start from EGP 900 for Silver and EGP 1,900 for Gold.

HOLIDAY SEASON FULL OF PARTIES AND PRIZES AT SHERATON MONTAZAH HOTEL Grand Gala party at Tabia Ballroom: EGP 500, all inclusive per person, program includes a belly dancer, DJ, singer and dinner.

Special party at Caesar Bar: EGP 350, program includes live songs, belly dancer and dinner.

Special partyAquarius Discothèque: EGP 400, program includes DJ, belly dancer and dinner. *All parties will include tombola.

Special packages for the New Year’s Eve (Room + Grand Gala Party): Single: EGP 800, including service charge, taxes and buffet breakfast + the party at Tabia, for the night of December 31st.

Double: EGP 1,250, including service charge, taxes and buffet breakfast + the party at Tabia, for the night of December 31st.

Extra night before or after December 31st will be for EGP 450 for single and EGP 500 for double including service charge, taxes and buffet breakfast.

A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS AT SONESTA HOTEL, TOWER & CASINO – CAIRO Sonesta Hotel invites you to a memorable special Christmas Eve dinner with live band entrainment, or a delightful lunch buffet on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, celebrate in a cheerful ambiance with live band entertainment and special dinner set menu at the Italian restaurant La Gondola. If you want it Lebanese, don’t miss New Year’s Eve dinner at Baalbek with oriental band and belly dancer. Enjoy the Christmas spirit with the harmonies of Rafik Attalah Christmas Carol on Saturday December 21st, 2013 at the IRIS Ballroom.

December 2013 | 63

Escape

Christmas & New Year’s Eve Top Destinations Around the World Spend a merry Christmas in…

FINLAND

Santa Claus Village and Santa Park, Napapiiri is a bucket-list Christmas destination. Napapiiri considers itself Europe’s Christmas capital due to the fact that it is Santa’s “true base of operations.” And every year, the town draws thousands of visitors from all over Europe to tour the two different Santa-themed attractions, Santa Claus Village and Santa Park, which offer tours of Santa’s workshops, opportunities to buy some of Santa’s merchandise, encounters with genuine reindeer and visits with the big man himself.

NEW YORK

Christmas in New York is timeless and beautiful. A carriage ride through Central Park is like living in a Currier and Ives print in the middle of Manhattan. Even the most touristaverse New Yorkers have to admit NYC at Christmas is a pretty spectacular sight, with Christmas trees, department store window displays and other holiday attractions popping up around the city. As Alicia Keys said, “Big lights will inspire you!”

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AMESTERDAM

Amsterdam comes alive with white lights everywhere; shopping avenues fill up and everyone hopes the weather will get cold enough for the canals to freeze over so they can have a big ice skating party.

Stroll the mesmerizing streets within the central canal ring where the 16th and 17th Century canal houses contain welcoming bars and cafes in which to linger and well-appointed homes whose windows invite a peek or two, all dressed up for the holidays.

PARIS

The French capital dazzles at Christmas. Enjoy a moving midnight mass with organ and choral music in Notre Dame Cathedral. Stroll down the ChampsÉlysées, lined with trees glittering in thousands of lights. Munch on roasted chestnuts and chocolaty crepes and maybe even slip on some ice skates and glide along the seasonal rink atop the Eiffel Tower. For some Parisian chic, head to the Galeries Lafayette, a department store whose majestic interior is home to a huge decorated tree. Joyeux Noël everybody.

Aspen

Every winter is a big winter for Aspen. One of the world’s most famous ski resorts, the very name Aspen is synonymous with a posh jet set crowd dressed in the latest European ski fashions and furs, and this reputation is somewhat deserved, since it is home to some of the most luxurious ski hotels and priciest ski town real estate on earth. Have a memorable holiday sliding down the mountains with a rustic Colorado-country vibe. >> December 2013 | 65

Welcome the New Year in…

MADEIRA

Madeira is one of the best places on this planet to spend the New Year’s Eve. It is a spectacular experience which will bring fun to people of all ages. It has the beautiful landscape which will serve as the backdrop for the festive night. There are also fun activities which will keep everyone entertained.

The main attraction usually lasts for ten minutes.

This involves successive display of fireworks which are created to shower the sky with various glistening colors. Madeira entered Guinness Book of Records as the largest firework display in the world.

RIO DE JANEIRO

While other big cities often get the spotlight for their New Year’s celebrations, Rio de Janeiro might just be the grandest party. Millions of people head to Copacabana on New Year’s Eve to experience the rich traditions of Brazil’s New Year’s festivities. Best of all, it is warm compared to many other New Year’s destinations that time of year.

Get to the beach early if you want to jockey for prime position for the fireworks spectacular scene.

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LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas will never become a cliché for the best party destinations. And what better way to spend New Year’s Eve but in Vegas?

Reinforcing its status as a perennial party town, Las Vegas welcomes people from all over to ring in the New Year. Hotels, clubs and bars take it to the limit with special shows, but many lock their doors around the midnight hours, so you’ll need to decide whether you want to be in or out. If you decide out, you will enjoy the four-mile-long Strip which becomes a vehicle-free promenade where you can mingle and watch fireworks shot off from surrounding rooftops.

LONDON

No matter what you like to do on New Year’s Eve, London has it all. A stunning fireworks show over the beautiful London Eye is a must see. The show starts immediately after Big Ben rings at midnight, and lasts for 15 minutes. While there are many great vantage points, the best spot to view the show is on the Westminster Bridge, which faces directly at the London Eye. Pubs, clubs, and restaurants are open late all over the city, bringing in the New Year in style.

SYDNEY

It is a dream of every fun loving person to spend his/her New Year’s Eve in Sydney. The ambience that Sydney offers is like no other country. As it is a place where there are several inhabitants from different corners of the world living together, it is just incredible to welcome the New Year with people from different caste, creed, religion and community.

A New Year’s Eve in Sydney is a must for everyone.

New Year’s there is telecasted nationally and internationally due to the beauty of the fireworks that can be seen from along the coast of the river.

December 2013 | 67

Q&A

LADYBIRD’S You Ask, Experts Answer!

1

Dr. Howard J. Gollup

Pediatrics

2

Dr. Lauren Elson

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

What can I do to increase my child’s intelligence?

Can a pinched nerve in the neck cause armpit pain that goes into the chest?

Doctor’s Answer:

Doctor’s Answer:

Read, read, read! It’s controversial whether “intelligence” can be improved, but you can help your child by reading, reading and reading to him/ her! Provide an environment rich in words and conversation; allow him/her to show their creativity in thought and action. Help find interests and help nurture those. Keep TV watching and video games to a minimum.

3

Dr. Stephen Bresnick Plastic Surgery

What is a liquid facelift?

Doctor’s Answer: A liquid facelift is a procedure in which facial fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Radiesse, are injected into the face to add fullness and the appearance of a lift. The procedure helps the jowls and cheeks if there is only early to moderate facial aging. It does not help the neck, sagging skin, or loose muscles. It is most useful for patients under 50 years of age.

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Depends. The nerves from the neck do not typically refer into the chest, usually more into the arms or shoulder blade region. Nerves from the thoracic region more often refer to the chest. See your primary care doc to make sure that you do not have any more urgent causes of chest pain. A physiatrist can help determine if the pain is coming from the spine.

4

Dr. Timothy Brown Obstetrics and Gynecology

What does it mean if I have a strong vaginal odor during sexual intercourse?

Doctor’s Answer: Some odor is normal and there is a large amount of individual variation. However, if this is a new development or if the odor has a strong fishy smell, then there might be a vaginal infection which should be checked.

5

Dr. Thomas C. Namey Rheumatology

What is the nutritional difference between cooking oils?

Doctor’s Answer: The fat balance! The new hierarchy is monounsaturated fat (peanut, olive, and canola), saturated fat (coconut), and polyunsaturated fat (safflower and corn).

7

Dr. Joseph F. Sucher Surgery

In case of lacerated spleen injury, does it have to be removed?

Doctor’s Answer: Depends. Most splenic injuries are able to be managed non-operatively. Some injuries may require an operation. Sometimes it can be repaired, or part of it removed (very rare). Many times splenic embolization is done by an interventional radiologist, who threads a catheter into the arteries to deposit “coils” or “foam” that stops the blood flow to the damaged area of the spleen.

6

Dr. Thomas M. DeBerardino

Sports Medicine

How long will a Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury take me away from sports?

Doctor’s Answer: Mild grade I MCL sprains allow progression toward normal activities when painfree palpation, usually in 2-6 weeks. Grade II sprains allow progression toward normal activities around the 6-10 week mark. Grade III sprains can take closer to 3 months before a return to sports is allowed.

8

Alagabany Fashion Consultancy

Some people think that they can’t wear peep-toe shoes in winter, question is can we wear them in winter or not? And if yes, how can they be worn?

Expert’s Answer: Of course we can wear peep toes in winter, especially that we fashionably wore sandals with socks just last summer. We could wear peep toes with knee socks, opaques, fishnet tights, mesh stockings or simply with nothing if your pretty feet and toes can bear the freezing winter. Remember, sassy styling prevails.

December 2013 | 69

Health

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a HEALTHY New Year!

Of course we hope we all have an amazing new year full of happiness, success, and all the nice feelings and beautiful experiences we have ever dreamt of. But for us, that’s not all. We are a little greedy! We aspire to a healthy 2014! Here are some easy tips that we can all follow to be healthier, fitter and happier.

Sleep more It’s easy to get into a routine of going to bed too late, and some of us prolong our evenings because of the stressful nature of our day jobs. Late nights, though, do result in more stress in the longer term, so how about eating earlier in the evening (which is healthier in terms of weight control, in any case) and going to bed half an hour or an hour earlier on weeknights?

Get organized

Wear sunscreen... all year Sun exposure affects everyone. According to the National Cancer Institute in the US, most skin cancer develops after age 50, though sun damage starts at an early age. The sun’s rays are also behind brown spots and can make wrinkles appear before their time.

Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen, even in the winter, anywhere skin is laid bare to the elements.

It’s helpful to make a checklist. Organize one room or aspect of your life at a time. When it comes to your health, tackle your medical records and lab documents. There are many apps that can help you keep track of all recent doctor’s visits, test results and immunizations. A trusty file cabinet will also do the trick. Don’t forget to clean out your medicine cabinet; expired medications and ointments have a way of lingering around.

Make a list of all the medications you’re taking, including vitamins, supplements and over-thecounter (OTC) drugs. Share it with primary care practitioners and specialists alike. Some medications are kidney-toxic. It’s important for your health care providers to determine if any medications and supplements could interact with one another in negative ways. Doses of drugs can change as you age or your kidney function declines.

Eat a healthy breakfast Preferably with protein, within 90 minutes of waking up. This starts your metabolism for the day and also prevents you from getting too hungry and overeating later in the day.

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Quit smoking already Use the stairs You may feel you should challenge yourself to a 20-minute daily run, or sign up to a weekly circuittraining class – and if you think you can keep it up, that’s brilliant – but how about making small changes that are definitely achievable, like always taking the stairs instead of lifts and escalators.

For smokers, quitting may be the hardest resolution to stick with because it is so challenging.

If you consider the benefits, and take advantage of today’s resources, this could be the year you successfully become a nonsmoker.

Walk every day One of the best and most convenient forms of exercise is walking; you don’t need any special clothes, you don’t need to plan ahead and you don’t have to work travel anywhere special to do it. Aim to walk briskly, so that you’re raising your heart rate, for around 20 minutes a day, more if you can fit it in. It’s especially important to get out and about if you lead a largely sedentary lifestyle. There are more benefits to your health than simply physical fitness, too.

Getting out into the fresh air can relieve stress and make you more mentally alert.

Avoid unnecessary painkillers Pain medications provide pain relief, but it’s important to balance the potential benefits with the risk of dangerous side effects, such as kidney damage, fluid retention, increased blood pressure, and digestive issues. Think twice before you reach into your medicine cabinet and check both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug labels to evaluate the risks and benefits before taking a particular medication.>>

December 2013 | 71

Get regular screening The type of screenings you need depend on your age and gender, so consult with your doctor about which ones you need. Some of the most important ones include an annual physical, blood pressure, and cholesterol test, colonoscopy, mammogram, pap test, and prostate and skin cancer screening.

Stop sweating the small stuff

Make more social dates with friends An active social life can have major payoffs when it comes to your health. “Research shows that a healthy social life can help you stick to your healthy habits, fight disease and depression, reduce stress, enhance your sense of purpose in life, promote greater happiness and even live longer,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, a psychologist, physical therapist and the author of “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness.”

How to be better social butterfly? Say “yes” more!

Sure, balance is key, so keep time for yourself too, but one social event per week (book club, dinner with the girls, a jogging date with your best friend) may go a long way in keeping you healthier and happier this year.

The latte that the barista at the cafe butchered; see if you can resolve to let the annoying but insignificant stuff go this year. That means no more crying over spilled milk! Psychological stress, even in small doses, can cause physical stress in our bodies, says Dr. Lombardo. “When we are emotionally overwhelmed, angry or frustrated, our bodies release cortisol, also known as ‘the stress hormone.’ Excessive cortisol can deplete immune functioning, resulting in our bodies having trouble fighting off disease. It can suppress thyroid function, decrease muscle tissue and increase abdominal fat. In fact, it can adversely affect pretty much every organ system in our body, including the digestive system, cardiovascular system, skin and cognitive health.” So when something begins to ruffle your feathers, take a deep breath, says Dr. Lombardo, and ask yourself, “Am I really going to let this rude guy on the freeway mess with my health?” The answer, of course, is no!

Consider acupuncture and massage They are valid therapies for chronic problems, such as back pain and neuropathy. Seeing a good massage therapist for neck strain may work better than taking extra strength Tylenol and/or Advil regularly.

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Know your family history Have you ever felt totally confident filling out that family history form in the lobby of a doctor’s office?

If the answer is “no” or even “kind of,” change it to “yes” in 2014. You’ll make better use of your time in the clinic and enable your doctor to better assess your risks. To get the scoop, talk to your family and write down what you discover.

Meditate Setting aside 10 minutes every day to meditate can have a very positive effect on blood pressure and stress levels. You don’t need formal training; you can either choose a quiet outdoor space and adopt a traditional meditation pose or sit down in a quiet room in a relaxed position, but don’t lie down as you may fall asleep. Close your eyes and repeat a simple twosyllable mantra to yourself. This could be anything, but keeping it meaningless (‘ah-om’ for example) is less distracting than choosing a real word. Try to focus on the sound of the mantra, letting any thoughts that enter your head fly away without your attention. End the meditation after 10 minutes. You’ll get used to judging the time once you’ve practised.

Practice good dental health Believe it or not, periodontal infection contributes to heart disease, diabetes, and even premature, underweight births.

Step up your fibre intake Eating plenty of dietary fibre in the form of wholegrains, wholemeal products, brown rice and pasta, pulses, mixed seeds and fibrous fruit and veg is not only great for weight control, it also helps regulate your blood-glucose levels and encourages a healthy digestive tract and cardiovascular system.

The evidence is strong that the oils in darker types of fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring, are beneficial for the heart and brain and may even lower risk of cancer.

“

“

Eat at least two fish meals per week

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.

Albert Schweitzer

December 2013 | 73

Fitness

It’s all about YOU! 2014 Resolution

M

BY: SAMIRA KHALIL

y own life journey to being fit and healthy began when I was overweight and unhappy during college. I always believed that my genes and family history played the major role in how I look. However, I came to realize that my eating habits, lifestyle and nutrition played the biggest part. I knew back then that it’s not easy 74 | December 2013

to change my life, but I look at myself right now – it didn’t torture me either but on the contrary I have gained control and power in a way I have never anticipated.

How many times have we put weight loss and exercising in every year’s resolution and fell off the resolution wagon, blamed work for not

having enough time to work out and binging on junk food because there’s no time to prepare healthy meals and snacks each day?

Before writing 2014 resolution, take a step back and capture a good look at your life and be honest. Have few minutes to dream and recall your fears and desires. No matter how many kilograms you want to lose or how much excess fat you want to take off your belly, as long as you are committed with a good plan and an ongoing motivation, you will reach your GOALS no matter how long it takes.

Speaking of goals, how can you accomplish victory or success if you are not heading towards something? So before you jump off the couch and start dreaming about 2014 resolution, you have to have a long term ATTAINABLE GOAL. Sounds easy right? Not so fast. It’s very easy to say to myself that I want to look like a super model. Put this in mind: All sexy models whom we see in magazines or on TV spend hours of makeup sessions then are air brushed to look perfect. It takes some effort from you to come up with a realistic goal. Unrealistic goals and aspirations only guide us to failure.

LET’S GET REAL WITH YEAR’S RESOLUTION!

THIS

Write it down.

Here I suggest writing down everything you want to achieve and sticking it on the fridge, at work or even in your own bedroom. Writing down desires will inspire you to work through your goals and will give you a full view picture to what you have in mind in a more organized way. Do you want to be healthy? Physically fit?

Drop to a size 6?

How can I reach my goals? How can I see myself improving each day? The key here is to have your own daily game plan and tactics that are governed by your ULTIMATE GOAL. Just commit and take it day by day.

Break down your goals.

In order to stay on track and not overwhelm yourself with big goals, start to get smaller. This small goal might be: I will lose 0.5 kg/week.

Whenever you lose that weight, reward yourself but make sure the reward is not food related.

Here are a couple of examples on how mini goals can help you stay on track:

Example 1: ULTIMATE GOAL: Lose 12 kg, feel healthy and strong.

REWARD: Travel to Spain during summer.

Why this goal?

Losing weight will help me play more often with my kids, will impact my health and make me feel good and look good. I will avoid weight related diseases and reduce the stress on my joints.

• MONTHLY GOAL: Lose 2 kg/month in a healthy way.

• REWARD: Buy new workout gear.

• WEEKLY GOAL: Eat clean healthy food (2400 calorie/day) • REWARD: Have one cheat meal on Friday.

• DAILY GOAL: Eat 5-6 small meals/day.

• REWARD: Have a bubble bath.

Example 2: ULTIMATE GOAL: Get active.

REWARD: Participate in a hiking trip.

Why this goal?

Physical exercise will decrease stress and improve my chances of living longer and healthier.

Getting active will make my muscles and bones stronger, will prevent weight gain and I will feel balanced and less likely to experience emotional eating.

• MONTHLY GOAL: Do 15 reps of pushups with no rest in between.

• REWARD: Have a sport massage session.

• WEEKLY GOAL: Exercise 4 days/week.

• REWARD: Sun tanning at the pool • DAILY GOAL: Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

• REWARD: Read a book.

No matter how big your goal is, how much you weigh, how you feel about yourself, YOU are the only one who has the choice to regain control and live life at its best.

December 2013 | 75

Fitness

Does Exercise Make you Fat? If yes, then this is for you!

A

t one point in our lives we all get that feeling of wanting to change. It is indeed a very difficult step and decision to make. But knowing that others have been in your shoes before makes the burden somehow lighter. Deciding to hit the gym and exercise like a hardheaded man is one of those life-

76 | December 2013

changing decisions that most of us make one time or another. But what would you do if you look in the mirror after all that sweat and muscle soreness you endured and found out you were getting FATTER? “Who said what? Not after I finally moved my behind off the couch.� And we do appreciate it, thank you.

FIND OUT THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE GETTING FATTER! Cardiovascular exercise: Are you interested in losing weight? Then you should cut back on classic cardiovascular exercise. Shun it, even. Abolish it. Throw out your treadmill or better yet, give it to someone you do not like as cardio does not work if your goal is long-term weight loss. There truly is only one reason to exercise, which is to increase your metabolism in order to burn more calories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is the only style of exercise that accomplishes that goal?

Strength training. Increasing your metabolism through strength training is the key to successful, permanent weight loss. One pound of muscle burns six calories per pound per day, while one pound of fat burns two calories per pound per day. That four-calorie difference may not sound like much, but for most people, that is the difference between living lean and living obese.

Slow exercise: Why do shorter, intense workouts boost fat loss?

According to Nicole Pizzi, M.P.H. (Master of Public Health), a performance specialist at Bird Rock Fit in La Jolla, California, it is all about what happens inside the body after the workout is over. “Sprints, while cardio in nature, tear down muscle because you’re taking your body to its upper limit,” Pizzi says. “The body requires extra energy to repair and strengthen itself, and that means you will continue to burn fat and calories for days after your workout.” Those who jog for 45 minutes or knock out an hour on the elliptical, however, return to their normal calorie-burning state almost immediately after they have finished exercising. It is the same reason your muscles do not get sore after a moderate hike; you are not challenging your body.

Severe exercise: Researchers found out that replacing long hour workouts with short, intense classes that focus on full-body movements—like squats with biceps curls—to quickly fatigue the entire body helps

you lose weight faster. This is great news for those of us who are already pressed for time.

The trick to a successful short workout lies in HIIT, high intensity interval training, where you make the most out of your exercise time by working within your target heart rate. The longer people exercise, the more they pace themselves and the less intense the overall workout becomes.

Having a treat: According to a study, a quarter of gym users gain weight after starting regular exercise. The new gym-goers pile on the pounds because they allow themselves a treat after working out. A survey found that 39% of people burn as little as 300 calories during each visit to the gym making them susceptible to weight gain if they then treat themselves to a high-calorie snack. The poll found that regular gym sessions gave dieters a ‘feeling of complacency,’ which made it more difficult for them to stick to their recommended daily calorie intake.

Bigger appetite: Another reason why going to the gym can make you fat is that users have far bigger appetites than people who do not exercise. Exercise sessions substantially boosted their appetite. It all has to do with the hunger hormone ghrelin which lines the stomach walls and signals the brain to eat. A study shows that low rather than high-intensity exercise stimulates ghrelin levels independent of exercise duration. Another study backs up this showing that intense exercise actually suppresses appetite.

Compensating the calories: Many gym users also exercise regularly ahead of a night’s partying or hanging out. Many fitness fans would work-out prior to a big night out to ‘compensate’ for the calories they would consume later. Some gym goers feel that by exercising regularly, they had earned the right to deviate from controlled diet plans. Many hit the gym to earn ‘brownie points’ prior to a night’s partying. Who hasn’t had a guilt inspired exercise session anyway?

December 2013 | 77

Editorial Features

Bal Masqué Costumes & Fancy Accessories Your one-stop shop for your costume needs Ever needed a costume to attend a party and didn’t know what to wear and where to buy it? Sometimes you just try to mix and match bits and pieces from your wardrobe or from different stores in an attempt to create your desired costume, other times you might end up not going to the party after all. But now, you’re definitely going to rock any costume party you’re invited to with Bal Masqué Costumes & Fancy Accessories.

At Bal Masqué, you can find costumes and accessories for Halloween or costume parties all year long.

Products:

•Themed costumes for men, women and kids •Fancy accessories and wigs •Themed party supplies Whether you are looking for a fun Halloween costume or a sassy party costume, Bal Masqué is sure to have the variety in sizes and styles. From infant to plus size, they only have one piece from each item to ensure individuality.

Contact them via their facebook fanpage: Bal Masqué - Costumes & Fancy Accessories

Photography by: Tarek El Soofy

Nutrition

Why Eat This?

Chestnuts… warming winter snack

• Chestnuts are a good body builder food and recommended in cases of emaciation (wasting away of body tissues).

• While all nuts are calorie dense, chestnuts are lower in calories than any other common nuts. While 100 grams of walnuts have 691 calories, chestnuts have only 170.

• The leaves are used as remedy in fever.

• Chestnuts are used in convulsive cough such as whooping cough and in other condition of the respiratory organ.

• Chestnuts aid in the care of the teeth and treatment of pyorrhea.

• Chestnuts improve the brain function.

A 3-ounce serving contains 21 percent of the recommended daily value of B-6, 15 percent of folate, 14 percent of thiamine and 9 percent of riboflavin.

• Chestnuts are the only nuts that are

Super Food...

Cloves • Cloves provide relief from toothache and this is one of the main reasons why you will see them listed as an Ingredient in 99% of toothpastes.

• Cough and bad breath can be cured by consuming cloves.

These are very common problems that we all face and can be very well treated by the consumption of cloves on a daily basis.

• Common cold can be treated effectively by drinking a lukewarm mixture made with ten drops of clove oil and honey.

Drink it twice or thrice a day.

• Cloves do not contain any cholesterol. It is packed with lots of Vitamins and one can get Vitamin-A, C, E and K 80 | December 2013

a significant source of vitamin C. In fact, three ounces of chestnuts supplies almost half of your daily vitamin C requirement.

• The nuts are an excellent source of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc, besides providing a very good amount of potassium (518 mg / 100 g).

• Cooking tip: To prepare marron glace or glazed chestnuts, the nuts are soaked in water, then dipped and heated in gradual concentration of sugar-vanilla syrup for several days. Thus, candied nuts are then subjected to dry under heat/sunlight before packing.

• Tip: Try pureeing them for soup; use them to make sauces and dressings, slice them onto vegetable dishes; use them in pesto; or make a chestnut mousse.

5 Word Answer

What are the best foods for healing cuts and scars?

Oranges, papaya, carrots, almonds and sweet potatoes

by its intake.

• Clove oil can be directly applied on forehead and temple to reduce headaches caused due to cold and migraines.

• Cloves are found to be beneficial in reducing blood sugar levels.

Intake of 1 or 2 cloves daily can be beneficial for type-2 diabetes.

• Cloves help alleviate vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal gas and stomachaches. Just be careful; since they are strong, they can also irritate the stomach.

• Clove is also an aphrodisiac, its fragrance eliminates exhaustion, and fatigue related thoughts.

• Use clove oil to massage sore muscles; some also use it for arthritis and rheumatism.

Beat cold and flu this winter!

Fix with Food

Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can help keep your mucous membranes moist so they are better able to trap viruses. Then you can either blow them out your nose or swallow them so your stomach acids destroy them before they have a chance to make you sick. Not only can this help prevent colds, but it is just as useful if you are already sick.

Also, eating lots of citrus, whether that entails digging in to orange and grapefruit slices, or using lemons and limes in recipes, will provide plenty of this powerhouse nutrient. Do not worry about overdoing it, since it is very hard to overdose on vitamin C.

Sharing JOY.. Sharing U.S BEEF ! ‫ البهجة و فرح المشاركة‬..‫اللحوم األمريكية‬

U.S. Beef is the Shining Star in Holiday Gatherings and Festive Season Celebrations

‫ غنية وصحية‬،‫يلمع نجم اللحوم األمريكية في والئم األعياد واإلحتفالت ويتألق في أطباق متقنة‬

Start A New Season with A Selection of Glamorous U.S. Beef Roasts & Steaks ‫مختارات باهرة من قطع الستيك الفاخرة والروستو للموسم الجديد‬ Unlimited cuts that set the standard for trust and taste ! ‫مجموعة واسعة من القطعيات الشهية جديرة بالثقة‬ T-Bone

Find USA Meat on the Web! www.usmef.org | www.usameat.me

Ribeye Steak

/USAMeat

Top Round

@usameat

Addresses: U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colorado | info@usmef.org Agri Marketing International – Cairo, Egypt | info@agrimarketingint.com

Chuck Roll

Nutrition

Detox this Holiday Season BY: SHERINE EL SHIMI

T

he holiday season is quickly coming up and we all want to hurry up and get rid of that bloated feeling. We want to be ready for the holiday spirit and fit in that dress from last year. It would also be a good motivation that would encourage us to add a new exercise routine to this New Year’s resolutions.

Here is a simple detox plan which includes some easy soup and juice recipes that would only take 20 minutes to prepare (so no excuses). To start any detox plan you should consider the following tips in order to put you in the right frame of mind.

Portion control The most important tip is to control your portion size.

Choose the small salad plate for your main meal instead of the usual larger plate. Try to maintain your calories at 1500 per day.

of fruits per day and one of them should be berries to increase the antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants are the best immunity against cancer.

Say goodbye to sugar White sugar would automatically increase the saturated fat percentage in your body, so it’s better to stay away as long as you’re detoxing.

The vegetarian side of protein Include at least 45 grams of beans, lentils, chickpeas or kidney beans with your daily vegetable intake. The essential amino acids in those legumes would boost the metabolism, which in turn would make you lose weight faster.

H2O I can’t repeat this enough. It’s very important to drink water and fluids. The body needs at least two liters per day. The fluid intake can include vegetable and fruit juices (natural of course) and soups.

Na free Make sure that there’s no addition of salt of any kind to your meals, as that would increase water retention.

Five servings of fruits To get the maximum nutrient intake, add five servings 82 | December 2013

Go herbal Increase the amount of lemon-ginger tea as it helps dissolves fats and cellulite.

Here are a few recipes that would increase the fluid level in your body: Carrot, ginger and coriander soup

Ingredients: • • • • • •

1 onion ½ kilo of carrots 1 tablespoon ginger 2 tablespoons coriander Vegetable broth Pepper

Method of preparation: Cook the onion. Add the carrots, coriander and ginger. Add the vegetable broth and bring to slow simmer. Transfer the soup to a blender. Then add the pepper. The combination of carrot, ginger and coriander is a definite metabolism booster.

Roasted carrot and parsnip soup

Ingredients: • 10 carrots, peeled and cut • Parsnips, peeled • 1 onion, quartered • 5 tablespoons olive oil • Pepper

Method of preparation: Heat the oven. In a large roasting pan, combine the carrots, parsnips, onion, 3 tablespoons of the oil, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Spread the vegetables in an even layer and roast, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden brown, for about 45 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a blender and purée with 3 cups of water, adding more water if necessary, ¼ cup at a time, until smooth. Rewarm in a pot over medium-low heat, if necessary.

For those of you who are more adventurous and own a blender! Try the apple, parsley, carrot and spinach juice (the green juice).

Here’s what you need: 1 apple, 3 carrots, ½ cup parsley and 1 cup spinach.

Just make sure you place the parsley and the spinach in the middle of the blender to get the maximum juice out of them.

The benefits of this juice: It contains carrots, which would nourish your skin and improve your eyesight. The parsley and spinach both have anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidants, which would help lower blood pressure.

The green juice also contains almost 111% of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C and 500% of the RDA of vitamin A. December 2013 | 83

Nutrition

Your New Anxiety Busters BY: NOURA HASSABALLA

How many times have you felt anxious just by standing in line at the supermarket, getting stuck in traffic, or even through a lame conversation with a friend of yours? I guess we all go through this on daily basis; let me rephrase it “Anxiety has become a part of our daily life.”

What now? Are you going to go pop some pills like everyone else is doing? Seek help? Or you’re just going to take it out on food? Well, you actually can take your anxiety out on food, but not any type of food; it’s the good stuff that helps you calm down, relax, and take a natural chill pill.

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry examined the dietary habits and levels of depression and anxiety of over 1,000 women over 10 years. The women who ate a “western” diet of fast food, processed foods, refined grains, sweets and beer were more likely to be depressed or anxious than those who ate a more “traditional” diet – vegetables, fruit, whole grains, meat and fish.

Hellooooo!!!!! High intake of sugars, carbs, alcohol, caffeine will not relax you and make you feel better; unfortunately that’s what a lot of people think, it just makes it worse. So, are you going to start panicking thinking, “Oh My, what on earth have I been doing to myself ?” Shhhhhhh… take a deep breath, lay back and read what I’m about to tell you…

First of all, you have to make sure that you›re not eating foods that contribute to anxiety. Like I said these types of foods include fried foods, high glycemic carbs, sugars, and alcoholic beverages. Other foods depend on how much you understand your own anxiety. If you have panic attacks, you may want to avoid coffee, because coffee can increase your heart rate and trigger an attack.

84 | December 2013

Now what are your anxiety busters? Here we go: Whole grains Whole grains are rich in magnesium, and magnesium deficiency may lead to anxiety. They contain tryptophan, which becomes serotonin; a calming neurotransmitter. In addition, they create healthy energy while reducing hunger; both important for anxiety. Did you memorize the name Whole Grains? Ok, let’s move on.

recutita) bind to the same brain receptors as drugs like Valium.

Green Tea Some researchers have found that green tea helps control heart rate and decreases feelings of anxiety, thanks to L-theanine, an amino acid in green tea that gives you the Calm Effect. No wonder why Japanese Buddhist monks could meditate for hours, both alert and relaxed.

Blueberries They are not just a fruit. Many consider blueberries to be a superfood. They are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that are considered extremely beneficial for relieving stress.

Almonds Almonds are an underrated food. They contain zinc, a key nutrient for maintaining a balanced mood. Zinc deficiency can in fact cause depression as well. They also contain the healthy fats that our body needs especially our brain.

Healthy fats like omega 3 and omega 6 if taken in moderation can help decrease signs of anxiety and depression.

Chocolate Not your average chocolate bar, I’m talking about dark chocolate. Without the added sugars or milk and containing at least 75% cocoa, it is a great food for those living with anxiety and stress.

Chocolate reduces cortisol; the stress hormone that causes anxiety symptoms. There are also compounds inside dark chocolate that improve the mood.

And of course I will always tell you to eat your daily recommended intake of your fruits and veggies because it will unquestionably help you not only to calm down, but also to stay fit, and by staying fit you will not be anxious or depressed.

Wait, I’m still not done…

Have a Great Calm Day…

Chamomile If you are nervous or have a jittery moment, chamomile tea will definitely help calm you down.

Some compounds in chamomile (Matricaria

Sincerely, Your Nutritionist

Cooking

For your Christmas Banquet

Creamy Smoked Salmon, Leek and Potato Soup Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

large knob of butter 2 large leeks, halved and finely sliced 1 bay leaf 1kg floury potatoes, diced 1l chicken or vegetable stock 100ml double cream 200g smoked salmon, cut into strips small bunch chives, snipped

Directions: Heat the butter in a large saucepan and add the leeks and bay leaf. Cook over a low heat for 8-10 minutes or until the leek is really soft, then stir through the potatoes until coated in the butter.

Pour over the stock and cream and bring to the simmer, then gently bubble for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are really tender. If freezing at this stage, slightly under-cook the potatoes, then defrost and bring back to a simmer to finish cooking them and continue the recipe. Add two-thirds of the smoked salmon, stir through and season. Serve with the remaining smoked salmon and snipped chives on the top.

Mini Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tarts

Ingredients: • • • • •

1/2 sheet puff pastry 3 tablespoons butter 1/4 pound mushrooms, sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (If you don’t have goat cheese, feta is a rather tasty substitute) • 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions: Preheat an oven to 200 degrees C. Lightly grease a baking tray. Lay puff pastry out on a lightly floured surface and cut into 8 squares. Prick the squares in several places with a fork. Place the puff pastry squares on prepared baking sheet. Bake the puff pastry squares for 7 minutes. Remove tray from the oven, flatten the squares using the backside of a spatula. Return puff pastry to the oven to bake until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over high heat. Cook and stir the mushrooms and garlic in the butter until mushrooms are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Top the baked puff pastry squares evenly with the mushroom mixture. Crumble goat cheese over mushrooms and sprinkle with parsley.

86 | December 2013

Broccolini with Lemon and Garlic Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

1/2kg broccolini or “baby broccoli” 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin 2 cloves garlic, slivered 2 tablespoons water zest from one lemon juice from 1 lemon 1 pinch sea salt 1 pinch pepper

Directions: Rinse broccolini thoroughly. Cut of stem ends and peel thicker stems to get off any tough skin. Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic cloves, and turn the heat to medium. When garlic begins to color and becomes fragrant add broccolini and sauté for 3 minutes. Add water to the pan, cover and let steam for 3 minutes or until broccolini becomes crisp-tender. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Taste for seasoning and serve warm or at room temperature.

Turkey Tenderloins Ingredients: • • • •

1/2kg turkey tenderloins 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon-style prepared mustard 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed

Directions: Place the turkey tenderloins in a sealable plastic bag and set aside. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, mustard and rosemary. Pour over turkey, seal bag and shake to coat.

Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 4 hours shaking once or twice. Preheat oven on the broiler setting. Remove the turkey from the marinade and place on the rack in the broiler pan. Broil 4 inches from the heat, turning once, for 20 to 22 minutes or until meat is cooked through and when pierced with a fork the juices run clear. Slice and serve with Cranberry Chutney. >> December 2013 | 87

Rib-Eye Steaks Marinated with Fennel and Rosemary Ingredients: • • • • •

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary 4 teaspoons ground fennel seed Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper One 2-bone standing beef rib roast (about 2.25kg), chine bone and fat cap removed, cut between the bones into 2 rib-eye steaks

Directions: Combine the oil, rosemary, fennel seed, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Set about 6 tablespoons of the marinade aside. Put the steaks in two shallow baking pans. Pour the remaining marinade over the steaks. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 2 hours, turning every 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 425°F. Remove the steaks from the marinade, scrape off the herbs, and pat dry with paper towels. Season each steak with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat two 12-inch (30cm) ovenproof skillets (preferably cast iron) over high heat until hot. Turn your exhaust fan on high. Cook the steaks, undisturbed, until a deep brown crust has formed, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the steaks and brown the other side, 3 to 4 minutes more. (Alternatively, heat one skillet, sear one steak at a time, and transfer to a baking sheet for roasting.)Put the skillets in the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a thick part of the steaks registers 115°F to 120°F for rare, or 125°F to 130°F for medium rare, about 20 minutes for rare and about 25 minutes for medium rare. Transfer the steaks to a large cutting board, tent them loosely with foil, and let them rest for at least 10 minutes. To serve, carve the meat from the bone and then cut the meat across the grain into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush the sliced meat with the reserved marinade and serve.

Classic Potato Gratin Ingredients: • • • • • • •

1kg russet potatoes, peeled 3 cups whipping or heavy cream 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Generous pinch of freshly grated nutmeg 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed 3/4 cup finely shredded Gruyère, Emmental, or Comté

Directions: Heat the oven to 400°F. Using a very sharp knife or a mandoline, carefully cut the potatoes into 1/8-inch (0.3cm) slices (no thicker). Put the potatoes in a large heavy-based saucepan and add the cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and garlic. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat until the cream is boiling, stirring occasionally (very gently with a rubber spatula so you don’t break up the slices). When the cream boils, pour the mixture into a 2-1/2or 3-qt. baking dish. If you don’t want a tender but garlicky surprise mouthful, remove and discard the garlic cloves. Shake the dish a bit to let the slices settle and then sprinkle the surface with the cheese. Bake in the hot oven until the top is deep golden brown, the cream has thickened, and the potatoes are extremely tender when pierced with a knife, about 40 minutes. Don’t worry if the dish looks too liquidy at this point; it will set up as it cools a bit. Before serving, let the potatoes cool until they’re very warm but not hot (at least 15 minutes) or serve them at room temperature.

88 | December 2013

Christmas Spiced Friands Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

200g unsalted butter 6 egg whites 75g plain flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon pinch grated nutmeg pinch ground ginger 200g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 140g ground almonds

Directions: Heat oven to 200C. Place the butter in a small saucepan and heat until foaming and browned. Remove from the heat and pour through a sieve, then leave to cool. Discard the white solids, leaving only the melted butter.

Grease 10-holes of a friand or muffin tin with a little of the butter. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until just frothy. Sift over the flour, spices and icing sugar. Scatter with ground almonds and pour in the cooled butter. Fold into the egg whites and mix until smooth and lump-free.

You can chill the friand mix at this stage for 2 days before baking. Fill each hole with some of the mix and place the tin or tins on a baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the friands have risen and are golden and springy to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Eat slightly warm or completely cool, but the friands are best eaten on the day of baking.

Dust with icing sugar before serving.

Berry Pavlova Ingredients: • • • • • • •

6 egg whites 1 1/2 cups (315g) caster sugar 2 teaspoons white vinegar 1 tablespoon cornflour 300ml thickened cream Mixed berries, to serve Icing sugar mixture, to dust

Directions: Preheat oven to 120°C. Trace a 20cm circle onto a piece of baking paper. Line an oven tray with the baking paper.

Use an electric mixer to whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well until thick and glossy, and the sugar is dissolved. Add the vinegar and cornflour and fold with a large metal spoon until just combined. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared tray.

Using the traced circle as a guide, use a spatula or pallet knife to shape into a 20cm disc. Bake for 1 to 2 hours or until dry to the touch. Turn off oven and leave, with the door ajar, to cool completely. Use an electric mixer to whisk cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Transfer pavlova to a serving plate. Top with cream, berries and icing sugar.

December 2013 | 89

Cooking

Wok Fried Lobster Tail with XO Sauce A specialty of 8 Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza BY: CHEF SHUHUA HOU

Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

5g salt 5g sugar 5g potato flour 5g chicken powder 1250g lobster tail 100g XO sauce 500g vegetables 50g oil

Makes: 5 portions Directions: 1. Slice the lobster tail into small pieces.

2. Wok fry lobster tail and add XO sauce in the fryer.

3. Place it on the plate and put vegetables as garnish.

90 | December 2013

Editorial Features

“8” Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

A

The Perfect Balance of Food, Ambiance & Service

s one is greeted and escorted to the dining space at 8, one begins to realize they have started to embark upon a pretty special culinary journey. The welcome is genuinely warm, the surroundings are atmospheric, the menu is stimulating and the overall ambiance feels creatively composed.

Chef Shuhua Hou, the Chinese tycoon at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, brings his passion to the opulent 8 restaurant to entice the palates of the hotel’s discerning guests. What originally attracted Chef Shuhua to the kitchen? “Aromas, colors and creativity are the three key elements,” said Shuhua about his passion for food. A Chinese native, at a very young age Shuhua realized there was more to food than just eating it, and he was determined then to become a chef.

Chef Shuhua skills and learning were perfectly gained in Paris with the renowned 3-star Michelin chef, John George, where he began his experience as a chef 11 years ago, after graduating from the Professional Cooking School in China.

We thank our lucky stars for tasting the most delicious Dim Sum; a Chinese appetizer of steamed dumplings containing various fillings. If you don’t try dim sum very soon, you’re definitely missing out. The Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Bamboo Shoots, Steamed Scallop Dumplings with Assorted Vegetables, Deep-Fried Kunafa Shrimp Roll, and Deep-Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls were a guarantee we would go back to 8 every now and then. The hot Roast Duck with Dried Scallops and Bamboo Shoot Soup was a great beginning for getting ready to the mouthwatering dishes that followed. Our favorite was the Vegetable Fried Rice; a must-try! We also loved the Barbecue Duck with Jelly Fish, Hong Kong-Style, Angus Beef with Black Pepper Sauce and the Braised Eggplant with Beef Fillet in Black Pepper Sauce. Ah, we can’t forget the wide array of sauces served to complete the authentic experience of the Shanghainese cuisine. They included fresh ginger with vinegar sauce, sweet and sour sauce, garlic sauce, chili sauce and soy sauce. Last but not least, the fruit platter with its elegant presentation where the fresh assortment of fruits was served on top of crushed ice.

For unconventional dessert lovers, you can choose the Crispy Creamy Egg Yolk Puffs, Hong Kong-Style or the Baked Mini Egg Tarts.

A main characteristic of 8 is that guests can decide how private they wish their dining experience to be. The main hall leads off to five Nile-side semi private dining rooms, perfect for groups, romantic couples, or business guests.

For reservations, call: 202-2791 7000

Love & Relationships

Commitment Phobia, For Her!

When you hear the word commitment phobic you instantly think of a man.

However, it is time to acknowledge that some girls do hold severe anxiety towards commitment. One of the most prominent movies, Runaway Bride for Julia Roberts, reveals her obvious fear of commitment where she decides to commit several times, but run immediately when walking down the aisle. Julia Roberts, however, finally ties the knot with Richard Gear, but come on, it is Richard Gear for God’s Sake! Who wouldn’t tie anything with him? Let us get real, it is a fact that we have no Richard Gears and a fact that some girls need help, and the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. If you reading this are one of those afraid of commitment, what are you so afraid of ? Are you afraid to commit to a relationship for fear of losing yourself and your freedom? Did you suffer from several past bad relationship experiences or even one that traumatized you? Was your father a bad example and you are afraid you will wind up as your parents did? What is it? What is it that makes you shut the door and flee at every commitment possibility?

Signs of a Commitment Phobe According to Author of Kiss and Run, Elina Furman, these are the 10 signs of a commitment phobe: 1. You have a long and elaborate list of requirements for your ideal mate.

2. You go from one short-lived relationship to the next.

3. You have a habit of dating “unavailable” men.

4. You consider your married friends’ lives boring and think they settled for less.

5. You stay in relationships that are rocky and offer little hope of commitment.

6. You back out of plans at the 92 | December 2013

last minute and have trouble setting for dates.

7. You cultivate large networks of friends at the expense of a single romantic relationship.

8. You have a lot of relationship trauma in your past.

9. Your career is very important to you and you often choose work over relationships.

10. You are constantly blowing “hot” and “cold” in your relationships.

Reasons Women Fear Commitment 1. Painful past experiences (parental divorce, bad breakup, a violent relationship, a physical health problem, rape or abuse during childhood, etc.)

2. Fear of not having the skills to make a relationship work.

3. Worries over loss of freedom and identity.

4. Fear of being hurt or abandoned.

5. Uncertainty about current partner.

Now, how to get over it?

1. Admit you have a problem, realize the real reason, and work on it.

2. Stop overanalyzing your relationship.

3. Make friends with your anxiety.

4. Avoid toxic friends who have a stake in keeping you single.

5. Stop dismissing men because they do not fit your criteria.

6. Seek therapy. If you cannot

trust your friends and family to help you, then a therapist is your answer.

Can a current partner or a potential lover help a commitment phobic?

The answer is, yes. However, a commitment phobe should not depend on someone else to get all her package set. If a man tries to help you, it is because he is a good person and he is in love with you, not because it is his “duty.� So, do not act as if he should fix you, if you think that way then solve your issues on your own until you are ready to handle a good man. What your man can do for you is give you space to figure out your

issues. He could also let you know that everything is okay and it is normal for one to have doubts. He should be supportive and create a pressure-free zone.

Now the problem is this, if a woman with commitment issues finds such an almost perfect guy, she would sabotage the relationship, flush him down the toilet, and drive him up the wall running crying to his mama. That is why it is best for her to solve her own problems then enter a relationship fresh, clean and ready to put that ring on.

No one said commitment was easy.

Yes, there will be many arguments.

Yes, you have to work on improving

it everyday. And yes, he might really be in love with you; do not let that go! It is okay to be afraid. Well, actually you would be insane if you are not, because a relationship is scary and full of responsibilities; instead of taking care of yourself, you are taking care of someone else too. It is very hard, but it is OKAY. Just think of it that way, you will be spending your life with someone else rather than yourself, someone who loves you for who you are, someone who for some reason all your shields break down in front of him, and someone who brings the absolute best in you (a person you thought vanished a long time ago).

When you find that person, instead of holding on to your fears, for a change, hold on to his hands.

December 2013 | 93

Mother & Child

Are you the parent your child needs you to be?

BY: BETTINA HEMMINGSEN

A

strong, healthy attachment between parent and child makes parenting much easier and reduces the odds that the adolescent will suffer from emotional stress, have suicidal thoughts or behaviour, engage in violence or abuse substances. So how do we improve our parenting and learn how to avoid the power struggles? How do we regain connection when we have temporarily lost it and how do we maintain confidence amidst those parenting storms that make us feel completely helpless?

94 | December 2013

Being in charge Many parents believe it’s important that their children see them as their friends. But in truth, children need us to be the Captains of their ships. Parents should not be in control of their kids but rather they need to be in charge. There’s a difference. Control is an attempt to compensate for feeling powerless or afraid. Being in charge means that we’re capable of keeping calm even when the seas are rough or our kids are pushing our buttons, defying our requests, or melting down.

The Captain of the ship If you’re a passenger on a cruise ship, you want the Captain to be the guy who oversees the smooth sailing, steering the ship through storms or around icebergs. You want to be able to depend on the Captain, whether or not you like him or understand everything he’s doing. It’s a hierarchical relationship, with the Captain assuming his rightful role as the one in charge, and the passengers relaxing in the sense of safety that comes from knowing they can rely on someone to competently steer the ship through calm and rough waters.

Staying calm Imagine our reaction as passengers if we saw the Captain completely lose his overview upon discovering that his vessel had a leak. If our Captain were incapable of dealing with reality, it would significantly undermine our sense of security. If he responded to rough waters by running through the ship, shouting out in panic, “Oh, no! I can’t handle this!” we’d be very worried. In the same way, when we refuse to deal with reality as it is, such as our child’s anger toward his sister or our teenager’s use of alcohol, we leave him without the sense of comfort that comes from knowing he has someone capable of getting him safely through whatever crisis he might be experiencing. When our children perceive us as steady and calm -regardless of their moods or behaviourthey can relax, knowing they can rely on us to get them through the challenging moments of their lives.

Setting the course We want a Captain who anticipates where the rough waters might be, who adjusts his course to avoid bad weather when possible, and who stays cool when things go wrong. If there is a storm, we are far more comforted by a Captain who takes charge, calling out directions to his crew with authority and issuing instructions to the passengers about where to go to stay safe, than we would with one who cowered in a corner or jumped off the ship. Similarly, when we fully inhabit the role of Captain of the ship of our

home and family, we set the stage for providing the quiet and comforting authority that our children so profoundly need.

The six roots of attachment Attachment is the most primal need of the child, surpassing even hunger in its importance. So how do we build and maintain a strong emotional connection with our children?

The bonds of deep attachment begin to form when the children are little. While some parents may find it relatively easy to build a connection with a younger child, it’s vital that if the relationship begins to break down they take steps to regain that all important connection.

The six roots of attachment develop during the first six years of a child’s life, in a certain order. If they somehow fail to develop during this time, they can be cultivated at any time in a person’s life, in any order.

1. The first root is through the senses. Babies during their first year of life hold on to their parents through seeing them, hearing their voices, feeling their touch, smelling them and tasting the food they are fed (breastfeeding provides all of these). In the second year, children become mobile and have a venturing-forth kind of energy.

2. In order to stay close to their parents, nature provides a second root: sameness. This is when you see your child imitating you. He also wants to play with your belongings; your hat, shoes, keys, mobile, glasses, etc. If he holds your mobile, he is holding on to you! This is the key to learning language, as the child imitates his parent’s speech.

3. However, by the third year, he develops a third root: belonging. Since the child needs more room to express his growing individuality, he can remain close to you when he is not the same as you by possessing you. You are now “my mommy” or “my daddy.” On the heels of belonging comes loyalty.

This is when you hear your child say, “My daddy is the strongest” or “My mommy knows the most.”

He will now do your bidding and do his best to please you.

4. This still doesn’t leave enough room for the child’s own thoughts and ideas, so nature comes to provide a fourth root: significance. The child needs to feel that he matters to you, that he is special in your eyes, that he is important to you. “Mommy, look at me!”

“Daddy, see what I can do!” are familiar expressions of seeking to matter at the age of four. Now even if he doesn’t agree with you, he is special to you. >> December 2013 | 95

5. If all goes well, the fifth root will develop at the age of five: love. The child falls in love with you. He gives you his heart. He draws hearts and flowers for you, he wants to marry you and live with you forever. We must cherish this and realize that we have a great responsibility to protect his soft heart.

6. The last root is to be celebrated: being known.

Now the child wants to share with you all that he has in his heart. He wants to tell you his secrets.

This creates psychological intimacy. These six roots need tending and cultivating for the rest of our lives.

This is the key to giving the child the secure base he needs, the womb in which he can develop and become the fully mature and wonderful individual that he potentially is. Children grow older, but growing up is not guaranteed. If we are mindful of tending these six roots for all the years our children need our guidance and understanding, they have the best chance of truly growing up. And then their connection to us becomes eternal.

Promoting healthy attachment Here are a few ideas for strengthening the parent-child relationship by using the six stages of attachment:

Proximity: • Sit nearby when they are busy playing or focused on video games or emailing friends. Be available in case they turn to you to share a comment.

• Ask your child to teach you something he’s good at: drawing, downloading music, making a soccer goal, etc.

• Offer a back or foot rub or have family pillow fight.

Sameness: • Play a game you both enjoy.

• Share a meal (at home or at a restaurant) of the foods you both drool over.

• Listen to music or watch movies that you both enjoy.

• Let your child know when you agree with the opinions he expresses.

• Do something you both like doing: sports, hobbies, collecting projects.

Belonging/loyalty: • When your child is overwhelmed with homework, make him a hearty snack or rub his shoulders, letting him know you’re here to help support him.

• Allow him to hear you explaining to someone else how impressed you are about something he’s done or tell him directly.

• Thank your child for ways he’s helped you out, appreciating his loyalty.

• If your child has a teacher problem, deal with it in a 96 | December 2013

way that doesn’t pit you and the teacher against him. Make it clear that your involvement is about helping to solve the problem and that you’re on his side.

• Make sure you alongside your child if he’s misbehaved, communicating that you want to see the situation calmly and through his eyes so you can best help him meet his needs in a healthy and acceptable way.

Significance: • Tell him the story of how you chose his name.

• Look your child in the eye, when he least expects it, and tell him how glad you are he’s here.

• Surprise your child with a card highlighting some of the countless things you appreciate about him.

Love: • Tuck a loving note in the lunch box or under the pillow or text it.

• Say “I love you” randomly without also asking him to do homework or chores.

• Slow down and take in any tokens of affections he shows you, fully taking in those moments.

• Tell him how thankful you are to be his parent.

Being known: • When your child speaks, make sure you listen, or let him know when you’ll be able to, if you’re busy.

• Refrain from offering advice without first letting him say what he needs to say.

• If he reveals a problem, stay open and maintain the sense of being his ally, rather than reacting in ways that might discourage him from opening up to you again.

• Thank him when he’s shared his heart with you.

• Fortify connection in all the other stages of attachment.

Keep up the good work and stay cool, calm and connected.

Sources: • “Parenting Without Power Struggles” by Susan Stiffelman • “Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers”

by Gordon Neufeld

Features

Old or New but All Must Have Beautiful Blues BY: Nivine Mukhtar Turquoise, Tanzanite and Blue Topaz are December birthstones that all share the color blue but with different characteristics.

Turquoise Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones known to mankind. Ancient Egyptians were mining turquoise in Sinai as early as 5,500 BC.The word “turquoise” is derived from the French, which means Turkish stone for it originally was thought to be a product of Turkey. The fact is that turquoise found its way to Europe through Turkey from mines in Persia or Egypt. Others thought the name was derived from the Persian word of turquoise “ferozah” or “firozah”, which means victorious since Persia had been a major source of this gemstone for thousands of years.

Turquoise is always opaque and the color varies from sky blue to various shades of green. It might also have veins sometimes called “spider web.” Colors and preference with or without veins vary from region to another but the most valuable turquoise is medium blue with no veins.

Turquoise had a special value in many ancient cultures. The Ancient Egyptians used it in their jewelry pieces and for burial mask. The most well known use of turquoise by the Ancient Egyptians is the burial mask of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. Many cultures were convinced that turquoise could protect the wearer against the evil eye. The Aztecs in Mexico used turquoise for their fine mosaic art which was used to decorate their ceremonial and reglious masks because they believed that it was a holy gemstone reserved only for gods. Some of those masks and other Aztecs turquoise mosaic art are in display at the British Museum. Turquoise can be found in China, Iran, Tibet, Mexico, USA, Chile and Australia.

Tanzanite A newly discovered gemstone in 1967, Tanzanite is often referred to as the “Gemstone of the 20th Century.” It is one of the rarest of all gemstones as it is mined only in one place in the whole world. Tiffany 98 | December 2013

and Co. was impressed with the beauty of the gem and named it “tanzanite” in honor of the country of its origin Tanzania.

Tanzanite color is blue surrounded by a delicate hint of purple. It has an optical phenomenon called “Pleochroism” which means it can appear blue from one angle and violet or violetish-blue from another angle.

Blue Topaz Blue Topaz is one of the top selling gems.The most usual Blue Topaz colors are London Blue, Swiss Blue, and Sky Blue that are ordered from deepest to palest in color. London Blue Topaz is the most valuable color.

The main sources of Topaz are Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia, Australia, Africa, Mexico and Pakistan.

Editorial Features

Where Art and Culture Meet Business

T

he Semiramis InterContinental Cairo has conceived a unique place to inspire today’s business community that has flourished from generations of Pharaohs and at the Semiramis for more than a century.

Semiramis Pavilion is created to honor and celebrate Egypt’s history through a modern venue, seamlessly embracing all the 21st century comforts and conveniences. Inspiration is the heartbeat of Egypt’s culture, triumph over adversity, inventiveness and renewal. Around the facility, you will find sculptures carved from stone memorializing Egypt’s great philosophers which gives you a sense of heritage and sophistication.

The venue harvests the use of advanced technologies, which adds a unique dimension to the facility, with state-of-the-art AV equipment, such as virtual flip charts, voice recognition and flat screen monitors designed to maximize the power of the presentation experience. The space can also be easily transformed into a memorable celebration event venue.

The venue thoughtfully combines the Semiramis standard of impeccable hospitality. Daring to break away from the traditional, the venue seeks to engage clients in a less formal, yet sophisticated space specifically designed to bring people together in a more relaxed and inspiring environment. The service style is crisp and contemporary, intuitive, discreet, more understated with a passion and unparalleled ‘make it happen’ attitude. Semiramis Pavilion will make any event memorable, rewarding and engaging.

The Pavilion chefs expertly engage each client with the sensory experience of freshly prepared healthy foods, fresh baked pastries and an array of international flavors in the visually appealing à la minute gallery kitchen. The open space and communal aspect of the gallery kitchen allow clients to linger or, if pressed for time, they may select from the wide variety of amuse-bouche.

“Semiramis Pavilion is unique. It’s a conference and meeting venue that reflects sophistication through its design, art and the latest technology.

You simply fall in love with the space once you step into it. It smiles at you,” said Nabila Samak, Director of Marketing Communications at Semiramis InterContinental Cairo.

The Best, The Top & the must do!

YOUR GETAWAY Andorra Andorra, the tiny mountainous country between France and Spain, is the perfect country for your holidays. Hotels, restaurants, skiing, spa, adventure sports, shopping, excursions, culture, cuisine, etc. Many activities and experiences await you in Andorra. Andorra’s ski resorts have something for everyone. Beginner, intermediate and advanced runs are available. Other attractions at the resorts include restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and even transportation to Andorra la Vella for the shopaholics. Its tax-free shopping is also a huge impetus for visitors. Its monumental heritage like churches, chapels and bridges also make it a cultural site.

NOT TO BE MISSED! Maybelline New York is Now in Egypt Maybelline New York, the number one makeup brand worldwide, has finally made it to Cairo. Maybelline’s mission is to give women a unique confidence boost to achieve their personal best while taking trends from the catwalk to the sidewalk. Maybelline is the accessible brand that is committed to bringing quality, innovation and creativity to women around the world with a modern, inspirational New York vibe. Maybelline’s products are moderately priced without compromising quality.

Did You Know!

Santa has different names around the world Kriss Kringle in Germany, Le Befana in Italy, Pere Noel in France and Deushka Moroz (Grandfather Frost) in Russia.

MUST TRY! Vatika Two New Variants of Enriched Hair Oils Dabur International, one of the most trusted and recognized personal and healthcare companies in the world, has announced the recent Middle East launch of Garlic Enriched Hair Oil and Black Seed Enriched Hair Oil, the two new light variants of its Vatika range of hair oils. Fortified with natural ingredients that have been in use in the Arab world for ages, the new variety of the Vatika Enriched Hair Oil have been specially formulated to treat common hair problems including hair fall and breakage, and weak and dull hair for women living in the region. Vatika Garlic Enriched Hair Oil prevents hair from breakage and fall, boosting healthy and long hair. It is enriched with garlic, which is known to uphold natural hair growth being a rich source of mineral and vitamins. Vatika Black Seed Enriched Hair Oil revitalizes dull, dry and weak hair to make them healthier, thicker and shinier. The black seed herb is known for its healing properties worldwide for thousands of years and is widely regarded as the “Seed of Blessings.”

102 | December 2013

Reviews

album

“Loved Me Back to Life;” Dion’s first English language album in 6 years Celine Dion is putting out her first English language studio album since “Taking Chances” in 2007. Entitled “Loved Me Back to Life,” the album will feature songs from the singer’s popular Las Vegas show “Celine,” including a duet with Stevie Wonder, which is also a cover of his 1985 hit “Overjoyed.” R&B singer Ne-Yo will also be featured on the song “Incredible,” making this his second time working with Dion.

movie

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire;” a bestselling novel comes to life The movie is based on the second book in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series. It chronicles the life of Katniss Everdeen after she emerges from the 74th Annual Hunger Games victorious, but far from safe. Even as she becomes an unwitting symbol of the rebellion mounting in the districts, Katniss never loses sight of her commitment to protect her family.

book “Guinness World Records 2014” is out!

Guinness World Records 2014 brings together thousands of the planet’s most awe-inspiring people, pets and products, including new record-holders such as a skateboarding goat, a 15-metre-long robot dragon, the world’s furriest cat and a king-size drum kit that needs five people to play it! Packed to bursting with new and updated achievements, Guinness World Records 2014 features an all-new design and more images than we’ve ever had before, including over 100 all-new original photographs you won’t find anywhere else.

Available at Diwan Bookstore for EGP 240 104 | December 2013

restaurants & Cafés

“Yood;” a new café & restaurant in Heliopolis Yood has recently opened in Ammar Ibn Yasser in Heliopolis. The place is comprised of two floors and it has both an air conditioned area and an open area. Their menu includes a variety of local and international cuisine. Shisha smokers can enjoy different shisha flavors at the terrace of the 2nd floor overlooking the garden. Customers can also watch the news, football matches and fashion channels through the LCD screens. Yood is open daily from 10:00 am till 02:00 am.

Yaris 2014; a car for everyone Developed under the concept of “Value beyond Belief,” the new Yaris Sedan aims to deliver a world class quality vehicle that will exceed customer needs and expectations. It features stylish design, roomy interior, strong performance and excellent fuel economy.

Simply because the new Yaris Sedan has all what you are dreaming of; sporty-luxurious new shape, spacious interior for cozy rides, an unmatched and exploding acoustic experience, large trunk, superior performance, low fuel consumption, and excellent levels of safety... what else? Yaris has it all.

hot offer

Samsung expands on its children education initiative this year in Bani Sweif Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Egypt, recently announced the outstanding results and ongoing operations on its developmental initiative in Bani Sweif, as they continue to empower the technological skills of Upper Egypt’s children under its campaign “Samsung Hope for Children.” Building on the success of their work on the initiative since 2011, Samsung will continue to inspire Upper Egypt’s children to become active members of the society by providing them with the knowledge and skills to be able to use advanced technologies and interact effectively with each other and the world around them.

EGP 149

The big Friday brunch that stands out from the bunch at Semiramis InterContinental Cairo!

Gather with family and friends on Fridays at Night & Day and relish the one brunch that stands out from the bunch for only EGP 149*.

Their brigade of chefs brings you an array of traditional, oriental and multi-ethnic dishes, sushi, teppanyaki and tandoori, not to mention salads, pasta and desserts. *Taxes and service charge apply For more information and bookings, please visit intercontinental.com/cai-semiramis or call +202 2797 1818, +202 2795 7171, Ext.: 1151

December 2013 | 105

Cross Egypt Challenge 2013 kicks off from Alexandria City Centre With the support of Alexandria City Centre, the Cross Egypt Challenge launched its third rally; starting from the Mediterranean’s largest coastal city of Alexandria and crossing Egypt all the way back to the great Pyramids of Giza.

stores

It’s all about colour at The Body Shop The Body Shop’s new Colour Crush™ collection is a fashion-forward palette of 21 mono eyeshadows in a full array of the season’s must-have stand-out shades.

Beautifully wearable, the lineup ranges from elegant beiges to shocking brights in a mix of pearly and matte finishes. Incredibly blendable and buildable, these intense shades can be applied wet or dry and worn alone, together or layered, creating a myriad of looks from daytime chic to full-on nighttime glamour. Go ahead and play with colour!

For a complete look, hold the perfect handbag by Punt Roma Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend obviously didn’t have the right handbag.

The perfect bag not only accompanies you everywhere but it’s comfortable to wear and matches your whole wardrobe. If you’re looking for this bag then you need look no further than Punt Roma. This season Punt Roma introduces a selection of handbags to die for that will suit any taste.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse star in Bershka’s new capsule collection Bershka presents a capsule collection with the most loved Disney characters. Mickey and Minnie form the cast in this streetwear collection with a color palette in red, black and white. The iconic ears appear on t-shirts, sweatshirts and a beanie creating a playful pop look. Whether you want to dress it up or down, the collection is versatile and easy to wear. Fabrics set the difference which includes neoprene, the key material of the season, giving a modern look to basic garments such as the sweatshirt or the crop top. Tops in sheer add a touch of sophistication in a collection that brings a statement message: fashion is about having fun.

106 | December 2013

Kempinski Nile Hotel Appoints Peter Nast as General Manager

Crédit Agricole Egypt achieves firm growth in all activities; EGP 690 million Pre-Tax Profit for the 9 months ended 30th September 2013, despite the challenging environment.

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan appoints of Jules-Henri Edouard as General Manager for the hotel property.

Fairmont Nile City’s O Bar was selected as the journey’s start point for Heineken’s “Legendary Travelers Wanted” series by “A Night Out in Athens.”

FOUR SEASONS HOTELS IN EGYPT TEAM UP AS BRONZE SPONSOR TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH AT 57357 CANCER HOSPITAL 108 | December 2013

o bar held Halloween’s “Night of Fright” with O Bar’s new resident DJ, Monir Zakhari Tetra Pak Egypt and Chamber of Food Industries participate in IDF World Dairy Summit 2013 Appeal on Food Security Kaspersky Lab Announces New Kaspersky Small Office Security, Bringing Renewed Support to Small Businesses

Flynas Targets 20 Million Passengers by 2020 with New Business Strategy Sofitel Egypt has announced the appointment of Rafic Khairallah as General Manager for Sofitel Winter Palace and Pavillon Luxor.

IHG Academy at InterContinental Hotels Cairo Citystars Celebrates the Graduation of its first Generation of Professional Hoteliers

The Emirates Group revenues reached AED 42.3 billion (US$ 11.5 billion) for the first six months of its current fiscal year ending 30 September 2013, up 13% from AED 37.5 billion (US$ 10.2 billion) at 30 September 2012.

A fabulous Halloween dance party was held at Fairmont Nile City’s Saigon Lounge where guests swayed on the beats of Egypt’s premier jazz entertainer, Ahmed Harfoush.

P&G Wins Best Corporate-NGO Collaboration Award at 2013 Arabia CSR Awards. P&G’s PampersUNICEF collaboration to support vaccination reaches millions of mothers and children.

Professor Dr. Inas Abdel Dayem, Head of the Opera House, and her spouse enjoyed their stay at Sofitel Cecil Alexandria.

Yasmine Sherif Promoted to Multi Property Director of Marketing Communications at the JW Marriott Cairo and Renaissance Cairo Mirage City

Pantene has brought together the country’s top experts: dermatologist Dr. May El Samahi, beauty experts Amina Shelbaya and Joelle Mardinian, hair dresser Kriss, and Editor in Chief of Fustany. com Amira Azzouz.

They all partnered up with Pantene to find a solution for hair fall.

Teradata, the leading analytic data platforms, applications and services company, introduced the Teradata® Aster® Discovery Platform, which is part of a new generation of solutions empowering chief information officers to execute a cohesive big data strategy creating an unfair competitive advantage.

The Ismaili Sporting Club has chosen Sheraton Luxor Resort for the accommodation of their team players who came to the city to play the semi finals for Egypt Cup.

Dirk Mecke New Executive Chef at Conrad Cairo TRACCS Wins PRCA Award for Best International Consultancy outside the UK Passavant-Roediger consortium Wins AED 545 million prestigious Wastewater Treatment Plant deal in Egypt The British Council has chosen Windrose Academy to conduct the tests that are related to Cambridge University.

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences’ management team celebrated with “El Zamalek Tourism & Investment Company” The owning company the several awards awarded to the hotel in 2013 Lamia Assem Appointed as Director of Marketing for Sofitel Historical Hotels in Egypt

Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah has received recognition as the Best Business Luxury Hotel in Egypt in 2013, as awarded by the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Axe, the leading Unilever Mashreq product, announced the details of the final stage of the Axe Apollo Competition.

Three Egyptians qualified to participate in a trip to space namely; Ahmed Khaled Saeed, Ahmed Haggagovic and Omar Samra.

To change the economics of storing and processing data, the leading analytic data platforms, applications and services company, Teradata has presently delivered the Teradata Extreme Data Platform 1700.

Event Republic and Sahl Hasheesh Team Up for Technicolor Weekend

“When Fabric Care Meets Fashion” Bazaar and Fashion show of the season powered by Ariel PODs Featuring Hesham Abo El Ella’s latest fashion amongst Egypt’s top notch designers December 2013 | 109

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

Optimistic Intellectual Adventurous

Element: Fire Positive traits: Optimistic, straightforward, intellectual, philosophical, generous and adventurous Negative traits: Careless, tactless, restlessness, superficial, inconsistent and overconfident Compatible with: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Aries Incompatible with: Pisces, Gemini and Virgo Likes: Freedom of action, alternative ideas, being on the move, food and drink, parties and flirting Dislikes: Disapproval from others, making promises, being too safe, tight clothes and having their honesty doubted Famous Sagittarius: Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Brad Pitt and Christina Aguilera

This month issue could continue with family while you will make good progress at work. Your status would rise despite pressures until the middle of the month. Worry about children and marked rise in ego is possible as well.

You will find some very smart gains from investments during this time. Be cautious about the relationship with your father now.

Sagittarius in a Nutshell Sagittarius seem to be guided by luck, good things happen to Sagittarius and this is usually because of their optimistic outlook and positive disposition which attracts good fortune. Sagittarius have a vibrant, expansive personality that is free like a bird, Sagittarius cannot be contained. They are full of curiosity and they always look forward to the future, never dwelling on the past. Sagittarius are detached from emotions because emotions hold a person back, they do not like to talk about their feelings, they simply experience them and move on.

Sagittarius in Love It is very characteristic of Sagittarius to fall in love and then feel that maybe it is just a temporary thing. What is happening here is that you are naturally in love with your physical and emotional independence, to a degree that you cannot imagine. You keep telling yourself that this one is not the one. You stop yourself from pressing on, and the other person gets the feeling that you are not so into him/her. You need to do the balancing act and experience teaches you how. You teach yourself that the only way to find out if someone is the one, is to try even at the risk of a heartbreak.

Sagittarius and Business Sagittarius are born entertainers and conversationalists. They have no shortage of ideas due to their adventurous lifestyle and exciting life experiences. They make excellent storyteller, comedians, writers, philosophers and actors to name a few, basically Sagittarius are suited to anything as long as it does not tie them down with too much commitment. They like to make the world a better place. They perform very well in business matters but they are at their best when it is crunch time.

Sagittarius and Friendship Sagittarius make excellent friends because of their encouraging, positive nature and their kind heart that will do anything to make sure the friend is happy. They do not expect favors in return, their kindness is selfless. They do not interfere with other people’s plans and they are never possessive or jealous. Sagittarius are excellent conversationalists with a good sense of humor, sometimes their humor is the raw truth, but these people speak their mind and don’t hold anything back.

110 | December 2013

On Spot Quintessentially Prive Hosted Chivas Regal’s 12 YO Brother’s Blend Launch The Kempinsky’s Cloud Eleven was the venue of choice for Quintessentially’s exclusive prive evening with overnight stay in the 5 star venue. Quintessentially invited its premium members to this lavish gathering hosted in association with premium sponsor MasterCard and Samsung. The event witnessed the official launch of Chivas Regal’s 12 YO Brother’s Blend, which was savored by invitees for the first time in a public event in Egypt. Absolut ELYX, the ultimate Premium Vodka, fit right in with the crème de la crème of the Egyptian society.

On spot Azadea Appreciation Event Azadea Egypt, the leading retail company, hosted its yearly appreciation event to reward its tenures and best performers and to celebrate all of its employees. Overlooking the Nile at picturesque Villa Andrawis, guests enjoyed the beautiful weather, delicious catering provided by Nile Lily Banquets, fun games, and the music by Uss W Laz2 Band.

114 | December 2013

On spot Refaat Jewellers

Grand Opening Event at the First Mall Refaat Jewellery has recently opened a new branch at the First Mall. The opening event was attended by teen model Tara Emad and TV talk show host Moataz El Demerdash.

The jewellery featured was a collection of brands including Yoko of London, Tirisi, Utopia and Refaat Jewellers’ very own creations. Dina Refaat, store manager of the new branch and daughter of the eldest Refaat brothers, has described Refaat Jewellers new branch as a new beginning, “This place is where I will start speaking the language of refinement to those who seek it, it is where I will make my mark like my father and uncle had done at other branches, and where I will hopefully start designing my new line under Refaat Jewellers.”

On Spot Marriot Egypt says “thank you” in Global Customer Appreciation Week Marriott Egypt sales and marketing teams celeberated an annual iniative by Marriott International to say thank you to all customers and partners. The Global Customer Appreciation Week aims to emphasize the company’s commitment with partners.

116 | December 2013