Out and About Magazine Issue 10 Vol. 2 by Out and About Mag

Issue 10 Volume 2

Dec 2020- Feb 2021

HOLIDAY

TREATS TO RELISH THIS

FESTIVE SEASON

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

WITH MISS TEEN UNIVERSE,

BIBYANA MORALES

Beauty Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Level Up YOUR ENERGY:

3 ways

Beat the

HOLIDAY BULGE 1

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Editorial

Editor in chief

Marsha Fry

marsha@outandaboutmag.com

Editor

Shella landayan

info@outandaboutmag.com

art

Art director

nakul thanekar

nakul.thanekar89@gmail.com

advertising

sales & marketing director

Andre Marshal

+971 50 127 8820 sales@outandaboutmag.com

general enquiries

On this month's cover Interview: Mustafa Khawaja

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www.outandaboutmag.com

Photographer: Mykyta Poluliakh Styling: Mustafa Khawaja

Published by Out and About FZE (Registered at Fujairah Creative City)

“ Let love, joy, hope and peace be the guiding lights during this holiday season.” ~ Debasish Mridha

WELCOME

EDITOR’S

The holiday season is here and the end of the year is near. There are still good reasons to celebrate, despite the challenges and unexpected events of our time. We held on; we stayed, we persisted; it is without a doubt that our grit and determination have made us stronger, too. So here’s a toast to all our hard-earned successes, however great or small, and to the caution and wise judgment that we have all exercised: we shall move forward, stronger and better, to continue the lives that are given to us and to spread the love that remains in our heart. Remember: when something ends, a new beginning is on the horizon. Out and About Magazine wishes you the sincerest happiness and love for you and your family. Let us see through the end of this year with hope and courage to prepare for the next battles of our lives.

Features and Highlights For this Edition, we give you a Special Feature: an Exclusive Interview with Miss Teen Universe Bibyana Morales. An article that will give inspiration and lessons to our young readers out there. In our Fashion Feature, we interviewed Sophia London - owner of Category London - a brand dedicated to showing what true beauty is. Diversity and inclusion buzzwords circulating the fashion industry lately, but what do they really mean? To learn more, read: Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry. Looking for gifts for this holiday season? Here are Beauty Gift Ideas for the Holidays to help you. We want you to look the best, so we gave you Common Essential Oils: An Essential Beauty Guide. All of these helpful articles in our Beauty section. In an exclusive interview, we introduce a serial entrepreneur and investor featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and Gulf Business AE: CEO Mustafa Khawaja of Khawaja Holdings. Khawaja Holdings is an investment and hedge fund entity in New York, which has invested into more than 40 companies ranging across tech, marketing, nutrition, real estate and other sectors. Find out more about his journey and successes in our Behind the Brand feature.

outandaboumagofficial

Are you in the hotel and management industry? Watch the interview of Mahmoud Sakr in our Taking Lessons feature where he narrates his journey towards success. In our Talent Pool feature, we have Albert M. Carter, a successful man in the music industry. Get inspirational and upbeat lessons to learn from his life. If you’re feeling down, here’s the right article for you: Level Up Your Energy: 3 Ways. As we know, change is the only thing constant in the world, Embracing Change: How It’s Different for Everyone will give us ideas on how to cope with it. Acceptance and confidence are needed for us to be the best version of ourselves, read on Body Positivity: The New Movement for A Better Us and get lessons from the people with the same vision. Snacks for your loved ones? Check out 5 Holiday Treats To Relish This Festive Season and try these amazing recipes you can try! In our Fitness feature, we give you an article that will help you stay in shape, especially needed after celebrations. Beat the Holiday Bulge will definitely help you with this. If you’re going to travel, check Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and see if this will be your next destination. All of us are having a hard time with all the distractions around us. Focus: Now will help you to achieve what you want. Looking to develop yourself? Read Step into Self– Centricity and learn how to grow and nurture with the help of your own self. We listed the best books for you in 5 Books on Our Release Radar for you to read and learn lessons from. Love and Hope - for the next chapter of our lives The true meaning of the holiday is love and hope, and may these timeless human experiences remain in our hearts as long as we live. Stay in touch with our loved ones and remind them that we have each other no matter what. Out and About Magazine, with the team that made this Edition possible, wishes everyone a blessed and peaceful celebration, wherever you are out and about.

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CONTENTS Dec 2020- Feb 2021

SECTION 1

FEATURE 9 SPECIAL • Exclusive Interview with Miss Teen Universe, Bibyana Morales

SECTION 2

10 FASHION

• Fashion Feature: Sofia London, Category London • Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry

SECTION 3

27 BEAUTY

• Beauty Gift Ideas for the Holidays • Common Essential Oils: An Essential Beauty Guide

SECTION 4

36 BEHIND THE BRAND

• Mustafa Khawaja, CEO of Khawaja Holdings, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor

SECTION 5

44 TAKING LESSONS

• Mahmoud Sakr, Managing Director of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

79 TRAVEL

SECTION 6

• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

48 TALENT POOL

SECTION 9

• Albert M. Carter, Culture Shifter

85 FOR THE CULTURE

SECTION 7

• Focus: Now

57 LIFESTYLE

• Step into Self-Centricity • 5 Books on Our Release Radar

• Level Up Your Energy: 3 Ways • Embracing

SECTION 8

Change:

How

It’s

Different for Everyone • Body Positivity: The New Movement for A Better Us

70 FOOD

• 5 Holiday Treats To Relish This Festive Season

76 FITNESS

• Beat the Holiday Bulge

Out and About Magazine tasks no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material. The photographs in this publication are for illustration purposes, unless otherwise specified.

Special feature

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MISS TEEN UNIVERSE

Bibyana MORALES

Photos: Bibyana Morales (@bibyanamarquez) Interview location: Ghaya Hotel, Dubai

1. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO ENTER A PAGEANT?

It’s actually a pretty long story because when I first started back then, I had never thought about being in a pageant. I had never really looked into the modelling world, until one day, I met the owner of a local store where I live. She was the first person to encourage me to take part in a pageant. I said, “Well, I’ve never modelled before, I’ve never had an experience like this before, but sure!” And she was the first person to believe in me when nobody did. So today, I want to give her a big hug and a big thank you because today, that’s why I’m here.

2. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE PRESSURES OF PAGEANT LIFE?

Well, I am actually homeschooled, so that does help me a lot because I take my school wherever I go. It balances a little bit because I’m not in a regular school the whole day. This gives me time to get ready for my pageants and work on my hobbies, like designing, which I love to do.

3. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE?

A lot of people do think you have to act a certain way, but honestly, I am just myself—I love being myself. I think that’s something very important that we have to teach a lot of people because nowadays, with social media and all of this going on, people are trying to be a certain way. They think that if you don’t look a certain way, don’t act a certain way, dress a certain way, you won’t fit in. But I think the complete opposite. I think that ‘different’ is awesome. So just always be yourself no matter what.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF BEAUTY?

Many people think beauty is always ‘the outside’: a pretty body, a pretty face. But I think beauty is your inner beauty because outer beauty will one day fade, and that will go away at some point. I think there isn’t someone more beautiful than someone who is kind—somebody who inspires other people, somebody who does not have to step on others to feel better about themselves.

5. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE BULLYING?

Just always—always—believe in yourself no matter what. You know, I was bullied for some time in school, and that was something that really did affect me at some point.

That’s actually the reason why I started homeschooling. This is my third year. That really changed my life. But I think everything happens for a reason. If I had not started homeschool, I would not have started pageants; I would not have started the modelling. So you know, I think everything happens for a reason and just always give it your best, always believe in yourself. I think bullying is something that we have all faced, or some people do get affected more than others. But I think it all starts at home; their parents have to talk to them. They have to teach them as little kids because sometimes, a lot of the kids don’t think about it. They don’t think of the emotional damage they could cause somebody. So I think parents have to talk to the kids as they’re growing up. You’re not going to get anything out of bullying. Somebody’s making somebody feel bad about themselves. It all starts at home, and I think schools should also talk to kids about that.

WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE, AND WHY?

Definitely my mom. I have to say it’s my mom—like for real because she’s a person that’s always there for me every step of the way. And you know, she always supports me. I remember when I first started pageants. She said, “Oh, no, if you want to do it, go for it. I’ll be there for you all the time.” And here she is.

7. HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? Actually, as I mentioned, I am homeschooled. So I have gotten used to that. But I know a few people who are going through depression, because they are not seeing their friends, they can’t go out. But the best advice I could give you is to try to focus on something else, try working on future projects, and work on yourself. Don’t get sad because this is going to be over at some point. Just keep being positive and don’t think about the negative.

WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY?

WHAT’S NEXT?

“Be somebody who always makes somebody feel like somebody.”

Well, Miss Teen Universe will be held here in Dubai next year, So that makes me so excited to be able to crown the next Miss Teen Universe success right here in Dubai—because Dubai is amazing!

FASHION Sofia London Company name:

CATEGORY LONDON www.shopcategorylondon.com categorylondon

categorylondon

FEATURE 13

Sofia TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I am gifted to lead, nurture, and celebrate the existence of individuality, beauty, and femininity through fashion. I am a creative yet left-brain dominant. I’m an intuitive, passionate, and empathetic observer. I seek to continuously empower through transparency, collaboration, and establishing organic relationships with my partners and consumers.

London

My bond with fashion started as an escape from a feeling of being inferior. I hid a lot of my insecurities through a facade of confidence. Through my own journey, I learned the power of fashion to assist in developing confidence and as a way of being authentic through self-expression. My personal style constantly changes and evolves as a representation of my evolution throughout life and my journey of self-discovery. My journey into the fashion industry began as a model manager. I have managed and coached women in their aspirations of becoming professional models. As a proud graduate of Wade College, I gained a strong background in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Design and have worked in all aspects of retail, wholesale, and manufacturing. As boss babe of Category London, I currently reside in Abu Dhabi, with my largest market being in Dubai. Balancing these two worlds has been rewarding and humbling. I am proud to represent the state I was born in—Louisiana—and the city dear to my heart: Dallas, Texas.

TELL US ABOUT CATEGORY LONDON AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START THE BRAND. Category London is a modern fashion brand that aims to empower authentic individuality through fashion. The name of the brand is inspired by my own identity, leaving my personal mark in the fashion industry using my last name—‘London’. Our assortment is curated by US & International brands. My mother and grandmother are my purest inspirations. They instilled in me the importance of beauty starting from within and moving outward. Category London’s slogan is Good Fashion, Good Vibes, which truly represents the balance of beauty from the inside out.

WHO WEARS CATEGORY LONDON?

Modern women are conscious and aware. They know what they want, what they deserve—and they get it. Category London is proud to attract the modern women of today and provide them with products that serve their desires to be the best versions of themselves. Category London pushes self-love, beauty, and positivity from within and outwardly. It is a brand that creates a broad range of pieces to cater to those with a flexible sense of style, or to those looking for something more specific. We do our best to cater to a variety of styles, body shapes, and even personality types for every social occasion and provide retail options at a range of price points, offering both practical and luxury items.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE BRAND?

It is clear that Category London is not only a fashion brand because we are on a mission. We seek to cultivate a normalisation of looking your best on the outside and inside equally. We are dedicated to supporting our subscribers and followers in celebrating their individuality, authenticity, and inner beauty. We have some new developments we are working on to continue to support our customers in remembering to cultivate beautiful minds, bodies, and spirits. This December, we will be launching our app which will send users monthly affirmations and reminders, as we all need them from time to time. The app will, of course, house our amazing assortment where users can purchase directly to gain rewards and in-app discounts. Users

will also be able to tap into our lifestyle sessions, view bestsellers and new arrivals. We are loving the current Future is Female movement and have partnered with some amazing female-owned brands. We have recently begun an IGTV series where I speak with female business owners, talking about fashion and good vibes. Never forgetting our masculine and much-needed counterparts, we currently offer some men’s and unisex tees and styles and are dedicated to broadening this category.

WHAT’S THE BEST AND THE HARDEST PART ABOUT HAVING YOUR OWN FASHION BRAND? My role as boss babe includes scouting brands and planning our assortment. It is the best and hardest part of owning a fashion brand. I partner with brands from Los Angeles as well as New York and decide which styles will be best for my consumers. This process is done 6 to 9 months prior to the launch of a garment. This is a difficult task and very critical to the success of the brand. So far, the fashion gods have been on my side and worked in my favour.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR? The best thing about being an entrepreneur is the amount of impact I can have on my customers, people that I work with, and those that work for me. It is rewarding when a customer speaks highly of the brand and it makes the long work hours worth it. Everything that I do I view as a gift, my gift is not for me to hold but to share and give back. Therefore, I use every opportunity to do just that to make an impact.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR?

The most challenging thing about being an entrepreneur is that every day is not a “win”. As an entrepreneur, you will learn quickly that despite any mistake that you will make, you must continue. You will learn to not internalise setbacks and to take them as lessons “earned”. You will learn that the mistakes are not the opposite of success, but they are a part of success.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

I think most entrepreneurs could agree with this; there is a consistent urge and push to move forward despite the inevitable setbacks. It is hard to explain, but it is a very real push feeling. It’s an unexplained inkling that doesn’t really go away. For some, it could be influenced by past experience, by a family member, or mentor. For me personally, it would be all of the above. I have had consistent support in my life, for the most part. I can say that once you begin the journey of entrepreneurship, you must have that inner power to continue. Many times, there is little to no support from outside sources. I depend on myself daily on a spiritual level when things get difficult, and I frequently self-motivate through meditation and positive affirmations. Visually keeping my vision in mind and in sight has also contributed to my motivation.

WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE, AND WHY?

My life’s purpose to inspire and build inspires me to know that my vision and goal is not only about me. I am very much inspired by liberal arts and humanities such as music, astronomy, literature, and culture. Music ignites me, speaks to me, and is a part of my daily routine. These activities awaken me and keep my morale and spirits high.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? I would advise my 20-year-old self that it is okay to be different, to have different goals and to

like different things than those that are in your current environment. I would tell myself that the world is enormous and there are people you will find along the way and you will vibe with. Don’t settle and don’t change. I would give myself permission to walk in the strength of authenticity and strive to not fit in.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

I believe looking after our mental health has been at the forefront during this pandemic. I am happy to see this topic gain more transparency in our community. We all deal with negative selftalk and negative beliefs of the future based on fear and uncertainty. Actually, our first topic in our new IGTV series was on normalising positive self-talk. It takes effort to control the inner dialogue. It takes a level of discipline to train and retrain your thoughts. Personally, I use meditation, prayer, journaling, and music quite often. It is important to own our own growth. We must be responsible in conditioning and nurturing our minds through mindful activities; our bodies, on the other hand, through regular exercise and healthy lifestyle; and our spirits by connecting with The Most High regularly. It is equally important to speak out when you need help, and when you are struggling. There are many people that are suffering during this time that are having to deal with situations in a way they never had before. I encourage anyone in this position not to give up because better days are ahead. If you haven’t ever tried meditation or journaling, I would encourage you to do so. As my favourite author says: Tears are words that need to be written.

WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY?

I will give you another quote from my favourite author, Paulo Coelho. I have many, but this is the one I live by : The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.

FASHION 21

Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry

Diversity and inclusion are buzzwords that are circulating lately in the fashion industry scene. In fact, the terms have been overused by brands and companies eager to show their support in these modern movements. Consumers nowadays are ready to call out and cancel brands that fail to show diversity and inclusion within their branding. Victoria Secret is one of those popular brands that have fallen behind in the movement. VS cancelled their annual runway show after their marketing Chief Ed Rezak told Vogue in an interview that he did not think that transgendered models had a place in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and claimed further that there was no TV interest for plussize runway shows. Other ‘woke’ brands like Savage X Fenty strive to have runway shows and campaigns that cater to all different shapes, sizes, gender identities, races, and religions. The important question looms before us, nonetheless: do most brands in the fashion industry take steps to be more progressive in implementing inclusivity and

diversity in the long-term, or do they hide behind short-term campaigns and buzzwords to stay relevant?

WHY ARE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IMPORTANT IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?

Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world that capitalises on creativity and selfexpression. Fashion isn’t all about textiles and garments; it’s an industry that prides itself in selling self-esteem and self-identity. Without diversity and inclusion, fashion cannot truly appeal as an art form. The industry has a longstanding reputation of discriminating against race, size, gender, and religion, often depicting the ‘perfect model’ as tall, fair, and slender. Due to this old way of thinking, the industry needs reformation in terms of inclusivity and diversity. But to ensure accountability, there must be clarity in what those two words mean for the industry. The words “inclusion” and “diversity” are often used interchangeably without a clear definition. We must understand and focus on the definition of each word.

DIVERSITY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Diversity is the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders or even religions. Diversity in the fashion scene can easily be just for show and gimmicks. For example, on catwalks and in campaigns, it has become increasingly in the norm to see a diverse range of models. Since promoting a healthy body image has become popular in fashion media, designers began to hire plus-size models to walk the runway among their lineup of size 0-2 models. This flaunting of diversity has also become a fad when it comes to hiring black models. High fashion brands that include a diverse lineup of models often get a plethora of media coverage. However, the diversity behind the camera is different. When discussing diversity, we have to dig deeper than runway shows and campaigns. To consider a brand diverse, we must ask these questions. How many people of colour are included in the creative direction? Is there a make-up artist on set that has experience with all skin tones, or a hairstylist that can work with afro hair, braids, and protective styles? Does the photographer understand the lighting needed to capture an array of skin tones properly? Although diversity is showing up at the forefront of the fashion industry, we think that it still lacks behind the scenes. According to the Fashion Minority Report in 2019, only 11 percent of jobs in the UK fashion industry are held by black and minority professionals.

Unfortunately, it's alarming that brands still neglect to hire a diverse range of professionals.

INCLUSION IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Inclusion is a climate in which diverse individuals come together to form a collective whole, enabling and empowering individuals to make contributions consistent with their beliefs and backgrounds. Diversity of abilities, cultural backgrounds, gender, race or ethnicity positively correlates with increased productivity and innovation. Many brands might hire people of different races and feature them on the catwalk or in campaigns; however, that is just one aspect of diversity. Inclusion is not just about how much diversity you have, but having an influential voice in the company and fashion industry overall. Again, we need to dive deep into inclusion and ask further questions. Do every single one of those models feel safe, appreciated, and happy? Do they feel comfortable? Are they paid the same as their younger counterparts, who are white models? Will the models work with the brand again? In 2019, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) gathered top industry executives at a half-day conference to talk through the issues the fashion industry is facing. They concluded that an inclusive work environment would enable individuals to comfortably express who they are, without downplaying their differences. Their voices are heard and recognised, and ultimately, this culture of inclusion “empowers diverse individuals to make their best contributions and do their best work”. Diversity is not enough on its own, but we must include diversity

and inclusion hand in hand to have an effective industry that truly promotes creativity and self-expression.

designers have ever won a CFDA or CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award.”

DIVERSITY VS. INCLUSION

When it comes to the marriage of diversity and inclusion, we believe that the fashion world must take a stand to be more progressive. Having the token POC models isn’t enough anymore. As consumers, we must hold these brands accountable to make the changes needed.

Looking from the outside, some consumers may think that diversity is enough, but it’s not. We must hold the fashion world account able to have diversity at the forefront, as well as an inclusive working environment for all industry professionals behind the scenes. A seat at the table for the minority group isn’t enough—their voices need to be heard. There has been an increase in diversity in the past couple of years. In The Fashion Spot’s annual survey, they found out that 34.50% were people of colour out of the 529 models featured in Spring 2019 fashion campaigns. In the Spring/Summer 2020 New York Fashion Week, 47% of models walking the runway were POC. This is more than double the number of POC participants when The Fashion Spot started the survey in 2015. But these findings still lack diversity when it comes to plus-sized models. Despite that, fashion campaigns seem to be moving in the right direction when it comes to diversity; however, there is still slow progress when it comes to inclusion. In an article featured by The Cut, ‘What It’s Really Like To Be Black And Work In Fashion’, the author noted that “there have never been more than one or two black editors-in-chief of any major U.S. magazines, and only one black designer leading a major American fashion brand”. Moreover, in August 2018, ”no black photographer had ever shot the cover of Vogue”. The author also noted that “only 15 of the 495 CFDA members are black, and only ten black

WHAT’S NEXT?

In the briefing Inclusion & Diversity in the American Fashion Industry, CFDA has committed to holding themselves and others in the fashion industry accountable to both realise that change is necessary and that there are actionable steps to effect that change. They realised that there is an urgent need to address inclusion and diversity in the current state fashion and they need to do better at embracing differences and change. Along with CFDA, consumers have the power to bring about change. We cannot be satisfied with flashy campaigns. We need to research brands and what they stand for before investing our money and support. But we can’t stop there—we also need to support POC brands and POC designers. Real change happens when we look past the surface of these brands and demand the fashion industry to show consumers what diversity and inclusion really means.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MONIQUE L. SPEARMAN is a freelance multi-faceted writer, curator and creator. Blending a passion for content creating, social media marketing, photography and travel, Monique created her blog website RaineyAmore.com in the spring of 2017 as a hobby. Raineyamore.com is a lifestyle, fashion, beauty and travel brand that encourages men and women from around the world to live their best lives, out-loud. Inspired by the aesthetics of different cultures, Monique wants to show the world, "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it!" 25

In Living Colour Model: Eszter Ludvig Photo: Jozsef Balogh Retouch: Anna Petrova Makeup: Liv Rideg Assistants: Imre Nemeth and Zsuzsanna Kiss Location: Studio Madison, Budapest, Hungary

BEAUTY

Beauty Gift Ideas for the Holidays The holiday season is around the corner, and this is a special time of the year when some of us want to surprise our loved ones with thoughtful and nice-to-have gifts. Aside from classic gifts like sweaters, watches, jewellery and boxes of chocolates, perhaps so-called ‘beauty gifts’ are wondrous items that are sure to put smiles on our loved ones’ faces. Everyone in the family can benefit from items that stress the importance of skincare, personal care, hygiene and self-confidence! We have compiled recommended beauty gift ideas for the holiday season to help you decide on the best giftable items and packages to find this wonderful time of the year!

Perfume Gift Sets, Sephora The season of giving is full of amazing surprises in fashion and beauty stores like Sephora. Brands find this season a perfect time to package limited edition perfume sampler sets that may contain different exclusive fragrances from reputable brands or perfume houses. Most gift sets sell out fast, so make sure to find good, giftable ones. It would be thoughtful to low-key ask or research the scent preferences of the person you’d like to gift a perfume set. Nonetheless, most people like having a perfume collection! Sephora Favorites Newness Perfume Sampler Set is an impressive sampler set containing perfumes from Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana and other perfume houses. Perfect For: Everybody in the family (except babies and kids!) Cost: Around 200 - 300 AED

Makeup Gift Sets, Sephora

Not only is this powerhouse beauty store offering perfume sets, but also nice-to-have beauty sets ranging from makeup sets, makeup brush sets, serum collections and skincare packages. Makeup gift sets tend to sell out fast, so if you find one worth buying, grab the opportunity! Every woman deserves a makeup collection that is sure to enhance her features and highlight her beauty and individuality. We especially love this Mini Lip and Face Set in Bomb Baby from FENTY BEAUTY, as this aluminising set is perfect for Middle-Eastern skin tone that dazzles under the sun! Perfect For: Working Moms, Sisters and Aunts Cost: Around 110 - 150 AED 27

Gift Bag Set, Bath and Body Works A luxurious scent can be packaged in creams, lotions and even shower gels, so we love seasonal or limited edition gift sets of Bath and Body Works as they are perfect for gifting to family and friends without spending too much! Check out Vanilla Bean Noel Gift Set from Bath and Body Works, as well as other limited edition sets that are just amazing for the holiday season. Perfect For: The Family Cost: Around 210 AED

Bathroom Accessories Set, Amazon.ae

Many are thinking of gifting bath or toiletry sets, so why not complete the package and make it even more festive? Amazon has many good bathroom accessories set to choose from. Surprise your Mum or Aunts with an elegant, classy-looking set perfect for their holiday hoard of bath soaps and lotions! Perfect For: The Family (especially Mum) Cost: Varies (Budget around 100 - 400 AED)

Modelling with Private Photoshoot Session Rarely do we get presents offering to treat us to an amazing experience of posing for a private photoshoot session, so this time might be a good opportunity to treat a special person or a loved one! You will be surprised that many people would like to do modelling or beauty poses with the right kind of guidance and professional intervention involved. Great studios can easily accomplish this and it can be a great experience to remember. Don’t forget to treat the expenses for the photographs, photobooks and frames, too! Perfect For: Couples, Loved Ones, The Family Cost: Varies (per studio)

Self-Makeup Course

Another useful and much-appreciated gift would be to treat the women you love and cherish to an amazing selfmakeup course! Women love watching makeup tutorials online, so why not treat them to a real experience of learning it with the hands-on guidance of a makeup artist or beauty expert? Not only will they learn advanced

makeup techniques, but also gain an experience that will boost their self-confidence and appreciation of their individual aesthetic. Perfect For: Couples, Loved Ones, The Family Cost: Varies ( per makeup artist)

Celebrate the holiday season with gift-giving that promotes the appreciation of individual beauty, wellness and self-care! Nothing makes us happier than seeing the special people in our lives happy and well. Holiday or not, make others happy even with small things, thoughts or actions. A beautiful holiday season to you and your family!

Liv Rideg is an award-winning professional makeup artist and hairstylist with 21 years of experience in the beauty industry. She is currently based in Europe but has worked across the globe, including a spell in Dubai. Liv specialises in bridal, beauty, glamour, creative and fantasy makeup. She has also been teaching makeup techniques and different styles since 2010. 29

Eternal Beauty Model: Judit Laszlo Photo: Jozsef Balogh Assistant: Robert Hajdu Hair and makeup: Liv Rideg Dress: Manually Made Photo Props Location: Studio Madison, Budapest, Hungary 30

Femme Fatale Model: Eszter Ludvig Photo: Jozsef Balogh Assistant: Zsuzsanna Kiss Retouch: Anna Petrova Hair & Makeup: Liv Rideg Location: Studio Madison Budapest, Hungary 31

Common Essential Oils:

An Essential Beauty Guide Essential oils are becoming more popular again, owing to the many trending movements promoting the use of natural ingredients and normalising DIY beauty solutions. These wonder oils from nature are derived from botanical extracts. An essential oil is termed as ‘essential’ because they purportedly contain the ‘essence’ of the very plant it is derived from. These volatile compounds can be used in many cosmetic, herbal and aromatherapy preparations and products. There are many methods to extract essential oils. Popular ways include distillation via water or steam and cold pressing. Once the plant’s scent or flavour has been extracted, a ‘carrier oil’, which is used for diluting, will be added. Essential oils can be pure, therapeutic-grade, or diluted for use in massage therapies, aromatherapy and as room scents that are diffused via diffusers or humidifiers. Some essential oils may not appeal to some individuals. As these oils can be quite concentrated, their heavy scent may be too much for some; and for some, however, it brings great comfort and enjoyment.

Common Essential Oils and Their Benefits

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

The scent of this herbaceous perennial is one of the most familiar scents in the world. It has a distinctive, versatile aroma that feels freshly green in a calming background of flowery notes. It is probably the best-selling essential oil, with many people claiming that this oil can aid in sleep and relaxation. In aromatherapy, this is purportedly an essence that can soothe and calm the mind and body.

TEA TREE ESSENTIAL OIL

Tea tree oil has a strong, characteristic woody, camphor-like scent that can also be described as medicinal and acrid. The prized qualities of tea tree oil is its antibacterial and deodorising properties, which makes it a good ingredient or additive for antibacterial facial wash and serums, as well as deodorants. Pure tea tree oil can be very strong and offensive to the nose, so there are diluted preparations that can be readily used on the face and body, as well as deodorise smelly household items like shoe racks and inside cabinets.

3. CITRUS ESSENTIAL OILS, LIKE LEMON OIL AND SWEET ORANGE OIL

The essential oils of citrus fruits are mostly obtained from the fruit peels which contain an abundance of natural oils. Citrus oils have a general characteristic of being vibrant, bouncy, and fresh. Lemon, in particular, smells clean and tangy, making it a popular scent for household cleaning products, air fresheners and dishwashing liquids. Orange, lemon’s sweeter cousin, has a rich, lively, fruity citrus scent that is also used in perfumes, air fresheners and soaps. Some people claim that citrus oils can relieve headaches and improve the mood. Orange oil, in particular, can also be used as a tummy soother.

ROMAN CHAMOMILE ESSENTIAL OIL

The scent of roman chamomile oil is often likened to the sweet aroma of apple, but with a fresher, herby flavour. Roman chamomile, like lavender, is also known to improve mood and aid in relaxation. Some people also use it for putting children to sleep. Others claim that this oil can be used to treat or alleviate indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. In some countries, women use it to cure morning sickness and dysmenorrhea.

5. ROSE ESSENTIAL OIL

The rich, floral notes of rose oil are perhaps a quintessential perfume chord that evokes passion and romance. Rose oil, besides being widely used in fragrances and other botanical preparations, has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Rose essential oil is also a popular skincare ingredient as it can aid balance moisture levels in the skin, reduce the appearance of skin imperfections, and promote an even skin tone.

ROSEHIP ESSENTIAL OIL

Rosehip, as distinguished from the rose plant itself, is the edible fruit of the wild rose plant highly sought for its anti-inflammatory properties and high vitamin C content. Pure rosehip oil can help in lightening and diminishing the appearance of age spots and scars caused by acne, burns, surgical operations and stretch marks. This ‘miracle oil’ also contains vitamins A, C, beta carotene and essential fatty acids that can improve skin elasticity, speed skin healing and recovery, as well as combat uneven pigmentation.

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL

This popular oil is mainly used in fragrances, massage oils, balms and other soothing remedies against colds, sinuses and flu. The scent of eucalyptus oil is potently medicinal with a woody, green character. It also leaves a cool, calming sensation when inhaled, which makes this inexpensive oil ideal for soothing balms that decongest clogged airways due to cough or colds. Eucalyptus also has antibacterial properties, as it is used in disinfecting wounds. Some people like to diffuse eucalyptus oil in households to ‘clean’ the air and repel insects.

PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL

Another familiar scent or flavour that many of us have encountered or are using in our everyday items is peppermint, a plant that belongs to the mint family. Peppermint is the characteristic ‘toothpaste’ flavour that we all know, which smells cool, clean and refreshing. Pure peppermint oil has a strong menthol odour, and it can also be used in a variety of medicinal preparations other than toiletries and food flavouring, such as topical applications for conditions like skin itching, muscle pain and headaches.

CITRONELLA ESSENTIAL OIL

Perhaps the most common use of the citronella oil, which is extracted from the citronella grass plant, is to repel insects, most especially mosquitoes. Citronella oil is an ideal, natural insect repellent that can substitute chemical ones, which are mostly harmful to human health. The scent of citronella is highly aromatic and green, with lemony, earthy notes that blend well with the climate of the tropics and hot, arid regions.

10. VANILLA ESSENTIAL OIL

Another ubiquitous essence that finds its way in our food, fragrances and beauty products is the wonderful, comforting scent of vanilla. Vanilla has a complex, luscious scent that can also be described as sweet, warm and homey. When we think of vanilla, what comes to mind are delicious desserts like ice cream, cookies and cakes. However, aromatherapy practitioners also use vanilla oil or its essence to promote sleep, relaxation and happiness. Technically, there is no pure or 100% essential oil of vanilla due to the laborious process involved in extracting its oil. Vanilla oil or essences in the market are mostly food-grade (2% and below) or simply vanilla pods or extracts distilled in ethanol.

We recommend the use of these wonder oils that are naturally derived from botanicals to supplement your beauty and wellness routine, but always consult your doctor if you have any sensitivities to oils and essences. Some essential oils with highly strong essences should be used sparingly or must be diluted with carrier oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E oil. When using essential oils topically, make sure to do a skin patch test for 24 - 48 hours to confirm that you are not allergic or sensitive to these oils.

Royal Beauty Model: Kamilla Kiss Makeup: Liv Rideg Dress: Milla Sonja’s Couture Location: Studio Madison, Budapest, Hungary

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with CEO of Khawaja Holdings,

Mustafa

Serial Entrepreneur and Investor

Khawaja

Company name: Khawaja Holdings stafakhawaja

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Location: Paramount Hotel, Dubai 37

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

My name is Mustafa Khawaja. I am turning 31 this month, on New Year’s Eve. I was born and raised in New Jersey, which is right next to New York. Many people don’t know where it is, so I just say, New York. I am an entrepreneur.

2. TELL US ABOUT YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY.

I started at a very young age, and honestly, I just followed my passions. Since I was 15 or 16, I was very big into working out, lifting weights, and taking supplements. I used to go to the same store every month with my brother. I tried to convince my father; I said that we should open up the same store that we go to. I forgot the name, but it was like a franchise. My father, being an immigrant from Pakistan to America and working 9-5, wasn’t a business-oriented person. But after much convincing, he helped me open the store, and I opened the store when I was 17 years old. I was going to college at that time. I was studying forensic accounting, but I was also interning on Wall Street. I’ve always been a numbers guy—I’ve always wanted to work with numbers, stock markets. I was always good at maths; I think that was my best subject in school. And I guess you can say I liked money at a young age. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that. That was the era when Amazon got really big in the States, going back 13 or 14 years ago. Amazon was becoming huge. We started selling on Amazon the same products we’re selling in our store. My store was in a very small town, which I think was only one mile long. There are only so many people you can cater to in a small town, so we took advantage of Amazon and started listing all our products there. I remember that my store was right across the street from the post office. At one point, we were getting so many orders on Amazon, that we were doing more business in one day on Amazon than we were in a month at the store. I was in my late teens, carrying these big bags of orders to the post office.

Two years later, I decided to close the store because we were beyond that at that point; you know, as a business, you’re constantly evolving. I think we evolved into more than e-commerce; I also started doing many exports using Amazon International. As a Wall Street guy, I noticed that if I’m selling something for $30 in the States, I can sell it for £30 in the UK and I was making money on currency exchange when you convert it. I started doing that and finished my degree, and continued to work on Wall Street. But at 20 or 21, I decided that this is not the life for me. Too many hours and travelling from New Jersey to New York—it was too much. I promised my father that I would finish my education because as Pakistanis, education is the biggest thing for us. I promised him I’ll finish that, and once I’m done, I still want to do my own business. So I did that. And at 22 or 23, I sold that company—the import-export company. I sold it for seven figures. From there, I think I really started on my entrepreneurial journey.

3. YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A “SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR”, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

To be honest, I don’t like these names. But I do call myself a ‘serial entrepreneur’ just to help people and for them to understand what it is. For me, a serial entrepreneur is somebody who is constantly starting new businesses or investing in new businesses. You know, an entrepreneur is somebody who starts one journey and sticks to that journey, and that’s okay. For a serial entrepreneur like me, thankfully, I have an amazing team. When I start something or invest in something, I go solely by myself—I focus on it—it’s my baby. Once it’s ready to walk, I’ll pass it on, and I’ll delegate it to my team. So to me, that’s the life of a serial entrepreneur.

4. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT COMPANIES/PRODUCTS TO INVEST IN?

When I’m investing, I categorise it into two sections: a company and a person. If it’s a company, we look at the financials—at the health of the company, and as to why they need investment. I like to stick to a certain scope. Health and beauty are big, but now I’ve ventured off into technology, and real estate; I have some but I don’t really like to focus on it.

5. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?

The definition of success to me, I think, is very different from other people. There’s nothing wrong with equating success to financial goals or materialistic items. But for me, success is— honestly—just to be truly happy. Since I’ve started my journey when I was 17, I’ve met thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of entrepreneurs—some of the most successful people in the world, to be honest. I don’t want to be somebody who equates success to a materialistic item or a dollar figure because I know so many people who are constantly wanting. For example, for a million dollars they’ll work; however possible to gain a million, then they would want five and then 10; eventually, they want 50. It’s a never-ending journey. The next thing you know, you’re 90 years old, and let’s say you’re on your deathbed—did you really enjoy your life or live your life? To be successful means to be truly happy with what I have, with the people around me, and with caring for my mental health.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH FAILURE?

When you get on this path of being an entrepreneur, you have to be ready to fail. It’s not like you’re going to become an overnight millionaire, or whatever your goal is—that is just not going to happen. It’s reality. That’s why it just goes back to your passion. When you’re passionate about something, you’re going to have bumps in the road—it’s inevitable. And if you think it’s not going to happen, then you shouldn’t start this journey. Failure is something that you have to be prepared for. Being an entrepreneur is not just a word. It’s not just having a business—it’s a lifestyle, you have to be prepared for a 24/7 job, and working for yourself is sometimes very difficult. You’re taking care of employees, you have a lot of responsibilities, and you’re going to fail. But when you fail, you learn from your mistakes. And when you learn from your mistakes, you fix those mistakes, you fix the business and you evolve. Humans, businesses— we’re constantly evolving.

7. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? To be honest, I don’t think that I would give the 20-year-old me any advice, because the man I am today at almost 31 is a combination of everything

that has happened to me in these past 11 years: the good, the bad, the in-between. There’s been a lot of good, but there’s also been a ton of bad; there has also been a ton of in-between. The mentality that I try not to stress about are the bad things going on, because it’s out of our control. When something bad happens on a daily basis, I just try to figure out what happened, what I can do to fix it. To be an owner of a business, you have to be a leader. And when you’re a leader, you cannot stress, because you have so many people looking up to you, their livelihoods. That’s one thing that many people who work for me—even my younger brother—actually tell me: that I never stress. Inside, I might be stressing out, and I might be panicking, but I cannot show it. You have to be able to adapt quickly to change, even right now with what’s going on with the market due to COVID. It’s affected a lot of businesses, and if somebody says it didn’t affect their business, they’re probably Amazon. You know, that’s the only company I know that is doing well, as well as Walmart in America. But businesses have to adapt, and if you don’t adapt, unfortunately, it’s just going to hurt.

8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR STARTING OUT?

Always follow your passions—don’t do it for fame or do it to put on social media. Don’t act like you’re better than anybody; pursue entrepreneurship because you’re honestly passionate about something. When you’re passionate, you won’t give up. It’s a tough journey, and there’s gonna be so many times that you want to give up because you’re not going to make money for a while. You know, it’s constant work. It’s constant effort at the end of the day. So, my number one advice—always—is do it because you believe in something or you want to help someone. For me, health and wellness was my first business, I still focus on it. It’s my passion. Secondly, it helps people—you’re bettering their lives, whether it’s a vitamin or supplement. I give advice on social media. To be honest, I don’t use social media to make money. It’s a platform where I can actually help people through the lessons that I’ve learned on my journey because to be an entrepreneur is a self-discovery journey. You honestly figure out so many things about life. It’s beautiful, at the end of the day.

WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE AND WHY?

I draw my biggest inspiration from my parents, with the more significant influence coming from my father. It’s not easy to move to a different country and be an immigrant. When my mother got pregnant two months later, he went to America. For two years, he didn’t see my mother, or my sister, even. My parents risked their lives for us, their children—having to move to a country when you’re 30, or 35, and you have to work from the bottom. You work these odd jobs and you leave your family behind, similar to what I am doing right now. My family is in America, and I’m here in Dubai.

Every day as a child, I saw my father waking up at 5 in the morning, driving two hours to his job, and coming home at 7 or 8 in the evening. I don’t come from a super-wealthy family, middle class for sure. My father worked hard, and now that he’s retired, he’s depressed because he’s a man that’s used to working. My parents are my biggest supporters. They’re my biggest fans, and I just love it.

10. HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

There’s nothing wrong with going and seeking help. I highly advise it, and there’s nothing wrong with it. People, sometimes, have too much pride and ego like, “Hey, I cannot go speak to somebody.” For me, personally, it’s hard. There’s this constant stream of challenges in life. It’s not easy. It’s not just the title— there are responsibilities attached to it. My mind is always working, always thinking. Maybe that’s why I don’t sleep much at times, too, but exercise helps me a lot. I actually like to go on walks every night. I try to leave my phone and go on a walk for an hour. It’s not necessarily for the cardio or the exercise—it’s just that it relaxes me. Mental health is definitely—extremely—important. And you need to just be able to balance everything in life, the

good and the bad. Make time for yourself. It’s okay—you have responsibilities, you have businesses. But I think I got much better at this a few years ago, when I started believing in spending time with myself, so I like to be alone sometimes. To be honest, I work so much during the week, and I’m constantly in meetings. On the weekends, I don’t even respond to my phone sometimes. I like to stay in, while everybody’s going out. But I love to stay in, to spend time with myself. And I think self-love is very important.

11. WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY?

I don’t have a quote that I live by, but I have a motto that I live by. My personal motto, which I always tell everyone, is that: “If you give me 100%, I will give you 200%.” I like to live my life with no regrets, whether it’s spending my time for a friendship, or a relationship, or business, or family. When I’m passionate about something, I will give 200% of what I have. That way, if it doesn’t work out— whether it be about business, friendship or relationship—I move on with my life peacefully because I have no regrets. I know that as a human being, I did everything that I can on my part. And that’s it, because life, to me, is a book. When you close one chapter, you move on to the next one. When you read a book, you don’t read it backwards, right? Yeah, you keep going on. I leave that chapter there and I move on to the next one, and then to the next one; this way, I can sleep peacefully at night knowing I’m a good person, and I gave everything in my life 200%. As I said, my biggest motivation comes from my family. The number one thing about me is that I’m very familyoriented. I’m a very simple guy. People might think differently because I have businesses, and this or that, but for me, I’m a simple guy, with a simple life. ‘m just very family-oriented, and my parents mean the world to me. My biggest accomplishment in life is the fact that I’ve been supporting my family. I bought my parents a house when I was 25 or 26. So, the biggest accomplishment in my life is the fact that I can make my parents happy and proud of me—that’s it. And that’s what keeps me going.

Exclusive Interview with the Managing Director of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

MAHMOUD SAKR www.jumeirah.com

jumeirahgroup

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Location: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai 45

1. TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY?

I have 34 years of experience. I have managed over 2,500 rooms, suites, and villas; 80 restaurants, spas, water parks, facilities; and over 6,000 employees. I've really got a long journey with my hospitality experience and I'm proud of being very passionate. I love what I'm doing.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY WITH JUMEIRAH.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS?

I joined Jumeirah under the pre-opening team of the magnificent Burj Al Arab in November 1999. I have been there for eight years. I took on my first General Manager position in Madinat Jumeirah Mina A'Salam, then five and a half years as a Resort General Manager of Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi. Afterward, I became Cluster General Manager for city hotels. Now, I am Regional Vice President and Managing Director of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.

My secret to success is engagement, learning and development, consistency, and attention to detail. Engagement—we engage to improve to know where we can improve or where we need to improve, and we'll always celebrate achieving the improvement; learning and development, to learn to know to understand how things can be better. Consistency, to ensure that whatever we learn, whatever we implement, are consistent. And then, the attention to detail in every single thing we do to create a difference; for us to note and to feel a difference, we have to look into all the very small details.

4. WHAT SETS ZABEEL SARAY APART FROM OTHER LUXURY HOTELS IN DUBAI? We're not just a luxury hotel, or like any. We are proud to manage one of the most remarkable family resort in Dubai, located in the iconic Palm Jumeirah. And when I say family, I mean the entire team, we look into families—the parents, the kids, and of all ages.

From the number of restaurants we have—nine different restaurants that can take you around the world; from the different types of rooms, villas, and suites; from the best spa, in the Middle East—all 8,000 square metre of luxury space with 42 treatment rooms; and we have the best hospitality staff that engage with you all the time to improve; all of these make us really different.

5. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN QUALITY OF SERVICE IN A LARGE PROPERTY? Actually, we train and reward our colleagues to ensure constant service 24/7. We train them to be proactive in anticipating guest needs and ensure that not only would we meet the guests’ expectations, but also surpass them.

6. HOW ARE YOU USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE GUEST EXPERIENCE? In our resort, we're using the EButler services, like WhatsApp, where our guests would have access 24/7. This platform will have dedicated staff to answer and meet any guest request 24/7. This is the latest usage of technology in our resorts.

7. THE HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN A BIG HIT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, HOW DO YOU BOUNCE BACK?

Actually, I'm happy that you noticed that we bounced back. And we really did it. I have to say that things are really doing well. Luckily, we are in Dubai. If there is a place in the world that will bounce back sooner than most, that would be Dubai. We noticed the increase in demand. I don't want to sound like I'm exaggerating but the same level of business activity as last year is coming soon this festive season—Christmas and New Year. I'm very happy and we celebrate almost every day now: the pick-up, the business; every morning we celebrate, every evening we celebrate, and before we go home. And I'm actually proud of being here in Dubai, and I have to say the ‘bounce’ is real as you noticed.

8. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE HOTEL? The future is innovation. That's what makes Jumeirah different. As one of the leading management companies worldwide, we have to be innovative, we have to be creative. There's no copyright in the hospitality industry, so sometimes guests would push other hospitality companies to implement our ideas. We have to stay on top of things, we have to be innovative, to create everything new to make it more attractive for our guests.

WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY?

I’d rather say the ideals I live by. Keep going, keep running, and nothing would stop you. If you make a mistake, do it—and do it quickly, please. But keep learning from your mistakes. Also, not taking a risk is a risk in itself.

LBERT ARTER

TALENT POOL

Albert M. Carter www.albertmcarter.com berto_brown

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TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE UAE?

I had a program in the states called The Hip Hop University. We ran our programs in Charlotte, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Initially, the idea was to expand the youth-based portion overseas. Since the UAE is such a diverse place, what could be a better place to extend our horizons? Furthermore, the UAE is in the Top 3 of the best places on earth to live. I didn’t really know anyone prior to moving here, but after a few Google searches and looking via social media, I was sold.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

I actually used to rap back in the day. I had one song that was marginally successful in my neighbourhood that was featured a few times on a ‘Hot or Not’ segment of our local radio station. Then, I had my first show and totally bombed it—in a bad way. It was at that point that I decided to completely take the back seat from the performance side of things and work in the background. Plus, my personality is more low key, and I prefer to stay out of the spotlight. I also used to set up rap battles for my friends and work with some of the hottest local acts from Philadelphia. From there, I got into management and managed a few musicians and producers from Philadelphia. I also have a few writing credits under my belt from a few songs I worked on with artists. While I was in college, I did an internship at one of the best recording studios in Philadelphia and met many artists. From there, I was able to build valuable relationships within the music industry. I moved to Charlotte, NC and began working with musicians and once again started managing acts. I founded Hip Hop University with my friend, Reginald LaRoche, and we had a few well-known artists come through there to speak to the youth. I’ve always had great relationships with artists in whatever city I’m in. My whole mentality is figuring out how to help, and add value to them and that’s pretty much how I got my start.

YOU REFER TO YOURSELF AND A ‘CULTURE SHIFTER’: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? To be a culture shifter is to change people’s beliefs, behaviours and outcomes. I like to use the term because I’m not a person that will sit around and complain about things. I will literally do whatever is in my power to change how things are done. I’m a problem solver by nature. If things are wrong, I feel that if I can create something to make the situation a little better, then I should do that. You can use problem-solvers, change-makers—they all fit the idea. But being deeply ingrained with hip-hop culture, I try to turn the negative aspects of hip-hop into positive spins; therefore, shifting the culture.

TELL US ABOUT EMIRATES MUSIC SUMMIT AND YOUR RECENT EVENT. Emirates Music Summit was an idea that was created to connect the dots in the music industry in the UAE. I sat down with countless artists in the region and discussed various problems that they faced in the scene. Going back to the idea of culture-shifting, I decided to make a list of the problems and find various solutions to these problems. I met a gentleman by the name of Ali, who was looking to work with international and local musicians, who had at the time launched STR8UP Entertainment. We decided to partner with Emirates Music Summit. We reached out to the key decisionmakers to showcase and discuss what they are doing for the scene. These key decision-makers come from private, semi-government and government entities. Musicians, people within the music industry, and people looking into breaking into the music industry can learn, network and understand the music industry here in the UAE. We provide a safe space for artists to come together and learn from experts in various fields on what they can do to grow their career.

TELL US ABOUT AUDIOSWIM AND WHAT IT AIMS TO DO FOR MUSICIANS.

AudioSwim is a boutique music distribution and royalty investment company. Our goal is to put money in musicians’ pockets while maximising their exposure and allowing fans to get in on the action, so to speak. Essentially, we get music onto DSP’s such as Spotify, iTunes, TikTok, and other platforms, and help artists find people who are willing to invest in their music for a percentage of their royalties.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? We get one life to live and only one time to live it. The only thing that we know for sure is that we should try to make our mark on the world while we are here.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? Network and build relationships. The thing that people don’t understand or don’t realise is this whole world is built of relationships of some sort. The best thing we can do is leverage those relationships by adding value. They can also check out my podcast called “Str8 Up Podcast” dropping every Tuesday. Learn about what it takes to make it in the music business from internationally recognised musicians.

WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE, AND WHY? I look at Jay-Z as a reference point. We come from similar backgrounds, went through similar experiences, and overcame similar challenges.

To make it from these environments is something that most people don’t understand. He is one of the few people who really inspire me.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

Honestly, I journal a lot. I even wrote a guided journal for young men in urban environments called The Urban Journal. I also meditate, and I have a solid group of friends who I’ve known for over 20 years, and we talk every single day.

WHAT LEGACY ARE YOU BUILDING? I want my name to be on buildings and streets globally for the impact that I want to have on this world.

WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? “Make decisions that would make your mother proud.”

LIFESTYLE LEVEL UP YOUR ENERGY:

3 WAYS

It was one of those Sunday afternoons when I was lying drained on my sofa, fighting to stay alert throughout the day, and struggling to finish my house chores. I did not have any single drop of energy; I felt plainly exhausted, depressed, and powerless. Instead of enjoying my hardearned rest, my willingness to move has begun to fade away, just like my enthusiasm and vitality to life. I had my high-demanding corporate job where I spent over 16 hours a day and had to give out tons of my energy to satisfy the high-net-worth clientele. During my weekly time off, I could only call food delivery or alternatively drive to the petrol station and collect something from the fast-food counter while getting my car refuelled. I love Dubai's convenience of getting everything done to satisfy the growing demands of a sophisticated consumer, and

I took full advantage of it. Despite the easy lifestyle and getting everything done at my comfort and ease, my energy levels were constantly down, so I knew it was time for a change! One day, a friend introduced me to a lady running a workshop on power routines. I was very sceptical at first as I thought I knew it all, but since she extended a complimentary invite to me, I decided to give it a try. I was introduced to a programme of simple yet insightful exercises to be followed daily, promising to deliver incredible energy results after 90 days of disciplined routine practice. Not only I did follow the system, but it became a habit for life. In this article, I would like to guide you through some of my top advice and exercises to increase your levels of energy and stay in this flow throughout the day.

THE BASE CAMP OF ENERGY

As in every journey where preparation starts from the base camp, here I would like to remind you of a couple of well-known generic rules before we venture on exploring our energy peaks.

RESTFUL SLEEP

WHOLESOME FOOD

Lack of sleep depletes your strength. Adequate sleep improves your mental and physical energy, your immune system functions, and positive thought process. The basic feeling of restfulness and relaxation is interconnected with the ability to have a good quality sleep.

2. EXERCISE

As a friend of mine famously said, exercise is like the energy of love, the more you do it, the more you feel it. I am not talking about pushing yourself above your limits but following simple recommendations such as walking, swimming, and dancing daily for a minimum of 30 minutes will increase your energy quantity. When you make a move, your energy quantity will shift upward too.

Food rich in fibre like grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables will give you more vitality for an extended time. Avoid food with empty calories such as sugar and alcohol as it gives that buzz or ‘sugar rush’ for a short time, and then very soon, you will feel the depletion of energy.

4. WATER

Sometimes, the reason why you feel low on strength and vitality is simply because you don’t have enough water in your body. Stay hydrated, and consume less caffeine and alcoholic drinks. Track your daily water essentials. The extended benefits of drinking water can help eliminate headaches, promote healthy skin, and increase metabolism, thus helping with weight loss. 58

5. LAUGHING

Laughing gives you positive energy that also affects people around you. Watch something funny, read funny books, laugh with your friends, and create more occasions to be happy. Laugh provides excitement and keeps you motivated. Having fun stimulates your brain in a way that improves energy levels.

6. BREAKS

Taking more breaks in the form of little naps, meditation or simply sitting quietly and listening to music will elevate your liveliness. It seems counterintuitive; however, taking a break from work can actually help you get more work done. It is proven that the brain is actively processing all the information supplied throughout the day during the rest periods and while sleeping. After a rejuvenating break, you can grow in power and focus working on your task.

NEGATIVE PEOPLE

Be mindful who is in your circle and avoid negativity. Numerous studies have proven that there is a direct link of a positive outlook on life to your overall physical, mental, and emotional health that increases your resilience to any hardship in life and sets you toward bigger goals. Share ideas with the people that are on your path of purpose, so you have as many allies as possible to fight negative distractors on the way. 59

DEEP-DIVE FOR MORE ENERGY RESOURCES

space to come completely out of the state.

Let us take a deep-dive into the power of our conscious and subconscious mind. Learn a few techniques that are directly ordering our energy genie to supply more of the most essential life force.

This anchor will be instilled in your system and body, and every time you apply the technique you will gain use of your power resources even quicker, and each time it will be more effortless and clear for you.

1. TAP INTO A POWERFUL STATE OF MIND.

2. EMOTIONAL FREEDOM AND ENERGY MEDICINE IN ONE.

A powerful NLP technique called The Anchoring can help you associate a move, gesture, or a symbol to a positive state of mind that you can use when you feel low and depleted on energy. For example, your grandmother’s fresh-baked cookies are bringing you to a relaxed and blissful state of mind. These experiences occur due to the power of association in our minds that are picking on from the environment and relating the sensation to an experience. By learning how to create a positive anchor, you can increase your energy stream every time you require. Think of a time in your life where you felt loads of buoyancy and high-spiritedness. You can also think of a word that you can associate with that state, could be some phrase from a favourite song or movie, a love name your partner is using or simply a word like vibrancy, greatness, strength. Now, we are going to install one more physical trigger into you; either you are going to press your thumb and the index finger together or grab your wrist and hold tight into it or clasp your hands together. It is important to create a physical association with that state and use it while saying your power command. At this moment, I would like you to close your eyes and take a deep breath. Perhaps you want to stand up, move, dance, or simply relax on the floor, just follow your body. Be in that state when your energy is growing to that maximum, notice what is going on around you, apply the physical trigger you chose, and say the trigger word. Hold that for several seconds and release. After you let go of the physical trigger, look around yourself and take a couple of seconds out of the power state. Repeat the same exercise. Once you are done, open your eyes and look at the

This technique takes about 5-7 minutes, and it is required to stand up and move away from your desk to shift the state you are in. You will be activating both your left and right brain with this exercise. Start with light tapping with your fingertips under your eyes between the hollow and the bonny part and let go of all that overwhelms you and no longer serves you. Continue your tapping motion on your chin and move over to the collar bones using still the tip of your fingers or the whole palm to tap. Move slowly down to your thymus or the place in the middle-upper part of your chest above the heart level. Place 4 fingers and either tap or keep pressing this area for 5-10 seconds. This point is known as the sea of tranquillity. While pressing, you will sense your heartbeat that will allow you to recharge and reconnect with yourself. Keep your fingers here for one or two minutes, and you will become aware of a refreshing sensation. Following that, you can move your hands under the shoulder bone where the collar bone and the shoulder bone are connecting. Press or tap your fingers exactly in the hollow point and experience a sense of “letting go” of all your tensions and heaviness. Remember always to breathe while pressing, release the air that is stuck and stagnant and bring new air, rich in oxygen and serenity. From here, you grab your left shoulder with your right arm and slide down your fingers to your right hip and do the opposite way. These diagonal slides help you criss-cross your meridian energy and activate the left and right brain functions at the same time. You can perform this move 10 times, and while you cross your left side with your right and vice versa, the energy is moving and shifting already, which will bring you to a balanced state.

FINAL ENERGY ZIPPER TECHNIQUE

Finally, from a standing position, bend forward with your hands hanging freely in the air and go down as much as closer to the ground while breathing out. Hold on for a few seconds and slowly rise to a straight pose shaking your body softly right and left while coming out of the posture back to a standing pose. Once you are up interlacing your hands and place them on the forehead and slightly pull them to the side, reaching with your fingers to your temple. Continue doing this pulling motion one step higher on the top of the head sliding as if you want to stretch open your head to receive more energy. Do this with full focus till the back of your head. Once you finalised the motions till the back of the head reaches to your shoulders. Grab your shoulders with both hands simultaneously and with a swift motion, throw away and shake off everything that feels heavy from your shoulders down to the ground. With this movement, we take out the old and welcome the new energy that we need in our body. To complete the exercise and stay in this capacity, lift any hand up from the pelvic floor level to the chin as if you close up an imaginary zipper and when you reach the chin close an imaginary lock and throw away the key. Do this zipping motion several times and remain energetically protected.

Throughout the years of human existence, these techniques were proven to deliver amazing energy results by using a more holistic mind-body approach. In ancient times, traditional cultures practised tools and methods to increase and maintain the energy using simple and natural remedies and resources. These practices are used to maintain the needs of the body and mind into balance and optimal performance. As much as they are simple and easy to understand and follow as much, they are relevant in today’s changing world. Through commitment and consistent practice, they deliver as a byproduct the benefits of happiness, health, positive outlook to life and peak performance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

VYARA TOSHEVA

Wellness, Spa and Retreats Business Consultant In over 19 years, Vyara Tosheva has gained professional experience in hospitality, leisure and wellbeing. Vyara graduated in Tourism Management and holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, as well as internationallyaccredited certification courses in Hospitality and Spa Management. She travels the world to enhance her expertise through further certifications in Ayurveda, Wellness and Fitness Consultancy, Coaching and Psychology.

visiting master practitioners, energy workers and doctors combine their knowledge with fitness, spa and beauty professionals to deliver transformational retreats.

She is a certified NLP and EFT master coach and Reiki practitioner. She also led the opening of The Retreat Palm Dubai, the first wellness retreat resort in the UAE and GCC, as well as the Rayya Wellness and Poli-clinic Centre. She created and managed the first holistic retreats in a hotel environment where in-house and

Vyara’s mission is to empower busy executives to create or enhance their business models geared toward a wellness lifestyle on both professional and personal levels. Her vision, on the other hand, is to create worldwide wellness and health retreat centres that provide premium services for its employees, guests and visitors.

As a consultant, she advises and consults hospitality and spa executives on the creation of wellness projects and their execution.

EMBRACING CHANGE:

HOW IT’S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE Some changes we plan for, while others sneak up on us without any warning. In both cases, change is difficult and requires some perseverance and determination. Change that is unexpected is just as natural as the planned one. It is important to acknowledge that it is a natural part of life and often something we might not necessarily want or be ready for, but we certainly need. It creates an opportunity for growth, opening our eyes to new ways of life or approaching things. Change can transform your life in big ways; the impact of the change will depend on how you are processing the change. There are a few ways to manage unexpected changes. First, let’s keep in our mind moving forward that change is bound to happen, and we might not know when, but we should expect it. Cultivate perspective and curiosity – these two will help you navigate through this more smoothly. Gratitude will help you focus on things that you have and place things in perspective in any given situation. Curiosity will force you to look for opportunities amidst change and unravel a part of excitement about what the future might hold. Questions you might ask yourself in these times are:

•

What are some things that I am grateful for right now?

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What opportunities might be there for me?

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How can I take advantage of this change?

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What is the worst-case scenario? Can I overcome it?

The first step here is to accept the fact that a change is happening, and it might actually bring some new possibilities. To respond positively, you must be open to look at things in a new light and from a different perspective. Take a moment to see the possibilities. Ask yourself the following: • What am I not seeing about this change that might be beneficial for me? •

What is the short-term/immediate picture here?

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What can I do now from where I am not right now?

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Where do I want to be moving forward?

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Who do I want to be moving forward?

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What is this teaching me?

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What needs to change for me to adapt?

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What am I gaining from this? Losing from this?

•

What are the options for moving forward?

By exploring answers to these questions, it will give you a good overall perspective on the situation and possible responses that can be implemented. From here, you can work on your action plan to manage the change in a positive way. The key is to start – with small daily action that leads to big results in the long term. From neuroscience, we know that our brain processes change in small bites. We can implement this by introducing

small actions daily, which is easy for us to implement and allows our brains to process the information easily. One of the major changes we are currently experiencing is the way we work. With the future of work on our doorstep, we must transform in the way that we approach work. We are forced to embrace this change, and again the choice is ours whether we are going to make the best of it or try to resist it, only hurting ourselves at the end. It is important to look at ways we can maintain our productivity while implementing new changes in the way that we work. While working from home can be highly productive, it can equally be detrimental to one’s work and organisations. Without a proper office setting, a schedule to follow, and team surroundings, it can be easy to be distracted and lose productivity. Here are some things you can implement to make the most of this change: • Creating a protective working space in your home Invest in a comfortable desk set-up or even a stand-up desk. This will help lessen lower back or hip pain and promote better health in general. I don’t mean you should stand all day. Move around your house. Make sure to find times to sit throughout the day and push your shoulders back to ensure that you are sitting with good posture.

• Maintain productivity Maintain a normal routine as much as possible. Act as if you are going to the office - wake up at the same time as you normally would during working days. Avoid staying in your “home clothes” and maintain work attire; this goes a long way when it comes to productivity. Being creatures of habit, our brain might associate being at home as being in a relaxed state of mind, therefore, by following the same morning routine and wearing clothes that are not sweats or pyjamas, will help our brains maintain the right mindset while working at home. • Manage social disruptions and family interactions during working hours For example, if noise is an issue at home, maybe from kids or spouses, then investing in noise-cancelling headphones are a must. Set a schedule to let your family know, “I am going to be working from 8 am to noon, then taking a break for lunch.” This helps ensure you can focus without the nagging questions. In addition, you may need to set up some structure for the family to have activities or tag team working with your partner. Is social media a distraction? Then limit it by disabling the notifications that pop up, only keep essential ones on. • Taking ownership of your new normal When working from home, you are now the boss of you (in the physical space so to say). You need to be able to plan your day, set your tasks and ultimately manage priorities for yourself including work and home responsibilities. I find Outlook or Google Calendar

helpful in this case and timers to keep from spending too much or too little time on a particular task. Try to also manage your energy level and recognise when you have the energy to do the big heavy tasks versus the smaller ones which require less energy. What works for many is focusing on high energy tasks first thing in the morning for best focus. Finally, you might be under the impression that working from home establishes more work-life balance but be careful with that assumption. Working from home can also feel like being at a casino — you can get so caught up in your activity, in a relaxing environment, that you lose complete track of time. Make sure to take frequent breaks so you don’t burn out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELENA AGARAGIMOVA Managing Partner at Bessern and Talent Development Specialist

Elena is an entrepreneur, talent development specialist, and education advocate with a deep interest in neuro and behavioural sciences. She is known for her ability to drive change within individuals and organisations that are looking to reach their potential and maintain their competitive edge in the business world. She has started her career in higher education, having worked across various institutions, departments and regions. In her recent years, she dove into business and joined Bessern, as well as founded a learning and developing consultancy, as well as several other projects within the talent development arena. She is an engaging skilled trainer and talent development specialist, credited with combining operations, education, and international expertise to design and deliver programs for diverse audiences. Elena has a strong passion for L&D, promoting creative and engaging workplaces and all about optimising performance through the development of others. As a career coach, Elena has over ten years of experience working individuals across different generations, supporting them in achieving their professional and personal goals. 64

BODY POSITIVITY:

THE NEW MOVEMENT FOR A BETTER US Bodyweight can be a sensitive topic. In an age and era where we are glued to our phones more than ever before, it's easy to be influenced by what we see on social media. We compare our bodies to celebrities and influencers. We have become overly concerned with our natural physique and visage, and to a great many, this phenomenon has become a source of insecurity. Body Positivity Movement is a social movement with the goal of making everyone accept their body

form, physique and imperfections in a positive way. In other words, it's about the acceptance of one’s individuality and promotion of inward and outward selfconfidence. The message of this movement is clear and concise: we need to love our bodies and accept ourselves for who and what we are. The Body Positive has its origins when Connie Sobczak and Elizabeth Scott founded The Body Positive in 1996. Connie had bulimia, an eating disorder that

started at the age of 15, which was a result of the body shame and body hatred she was experiencing at the time. Connie founded the body positive in honour of her sister, who had also had bulimia. She thought that she needed to change the world. Being body-positive necessitates body confidence. It is not only expressed in the way a person feels about his or her looks, but also in his or her appreciation of the self leading to true happiness and contentment.

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR BODY CONFIDENCE? 1.

SHOW YOUR BODY SOME LOVE.

We spend so much time focusing on what we hate about our bodies. It's important to flip the script. Focus on the things you love about your body and appreciate them for what they are.

CONTROL YOUR MEDIA USAGE.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY.

By reducing the amount of time you spend on social media, you will start controlling the information that reaches you. You will find that this will help you regain your body confidence as you won’t have to compare yourself to anyone.

TELL YOURSELF AFFIRMATIONS.

We all need a reminder of how amazing and beautiful we are. Affirmations can help with that. Tell yourself, “I am beautiful. I am thankful for my body. I am wonderfully made”. The few minutes you spend in front of your mirror reciting your affirmations can create a huge difference in the way

Practise kindness with your body. This will, in turn, influence how you feel about it. Don’t starve yourself; it is important to eat a balanced diet so that your body can get all the nutrients it needs. Taking care of your body also includes pampering yourself every now and then. A hot bath or a massage will leave you feeling better about your body.

It's really important to remember that beauty standards, most of which are unrealistic, are all always changing. Stop trying to fit into the box that society has created for you. We, as a society, also have so much work to do in terms of our definition of beauty. Beauty comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and we should all be able to live without fear of judgment. Remember, you are worthy!

SHOW OFF YOUR WARDROBE.

Try to wear clothes that flatter your body and stop trying to hide it behind baggy clothes. If you look good, you will feel good. Plus, play around with colours when dressing up. It’s fun. Different colours are known to lift up one’s mood; for example, yellow is known to make people feel happy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mutazindwa N. Amirah, a budding writer and blogger, currently studies at the Amity University Dubai. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is interested in fashion, food and travel and dreams of being a news anchor in the future. She believes in sharing the wonderful and diverse stories of people, and this led her to choose a career path of a writer and a journalist.

Al Huwelat Street, Villa No 15 - 4 Al Bateen , Al Falah St - Abu Dhabi, Tel: 02 666 0175

FOOD 5 HOLIDAY

TREATS TO RELISH THIS FESTIVE SEASON

‘Tis truly the season to be jolly; surrounded by loved ones, giving and receiving gifts, and most importantly coming together to enjoy a festive treat (or two). The holidays, whilst joyous can be filled with a variety of hustles and bustles; those stellar holiday deals soon

nullified by how fast they’re cleared, leaving the lavish seven-course meal in one’s head incomplete. However, there’s no need to fret; following are five recipes serving holiday classics, some with a festive twist that won’t have your kitchenware working overtime.

1. GINGERBREAD COOKIES This is the ultimate sugar cookie for the holidays; featuring warm spices, molasses and brown sugar that take an integral part in creating these toasty and chewy-centred sweet treats. Preparation Time: 4 hours Bake Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes Makes: 24 four-inch cookies Ingredients 10 Tablespoons (2/3 cup; 145g) softened unsalted butter 3/4 cup (150g) light or dark brown sugar, packed 2/3 cup (200g) unsulphured molasses 1 large egg, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3 and a 1/2 cups (437g) all-purpose flour (levelled) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon ground ginger 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves Optional, but totally worth it: royal icing or cookie icing

Instructions • Beat the softened butter in a large bowl with a stand mixer or hand-held mixer till it is smooth and creamy; this should take about a minute at medium speed. Add the molasses and brown sugar and beat them in on a medium to high speed until they’re well combined and creamy. If there’s any butter mix around the bowl, scrape it down, then, on high speed, beat in the vanilla extract and egg (the butter may separate, but keep going!) • Next, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together in a separate bowl until well combined. Then, gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until homogenised. The result should be a slightly sticky and thick cookie dough that should be further divided in half and separated into pieces of plastic wrap. Each half should be wrapped tightly and flattened into a disc of medium thickness. They are ready to be chilled (yes, it’s mandatory); a minimum of 3 hours is recommended, but overnight is best. The cookie dough can be kept refrigerated for a maximum of 3 days. • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. Take out any 1 disc of the chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator and flour a work surface, the rolling pin and your hands. As this dough is quite sticky don’t be shy with the flour; be generous with it as needed. Roll the disc out until it is a 1/4-inch thick, grab your cookie cutters and cut out some shapes! Gather and re-roll your dough scraps until all your dough is used. After, gently place the shapes an inch apart from each other on the lined baking sheets. Bake the cookies for approximately 9-10 minutes, if the cookies are smaller than 4 inches, 8 minutes is best, if they are bigger than 4 inches, then 11 minutes should do the trick. Be sure to be vigilant as the heat in the oven varies in intensity across its surface. • After they’ve baked, give the cookies a 5-minute cool-off time on the baking sheet, and then transfer them to a cooling rack. Before you think of devouring them plainly, consider dressing the cookies up with some icing, to give them a creative flare; it also makes a great activity to involve others in customising their cookies.

2. HERBED CHEESE BALLS In the words of Country Living this delectable savoury treat is ‘delicious, looks great, and serves a crowd. What more could you ask for?’ This recipe is an elegant nibble, serving smooth cheeses tainted by green filaments of fresh herbs.

Makes: 12 - 16 servings Total time: 2 hours Ingredients 8 oz./ 1 cup goat cheese, at room temperature 8 oz./ 1 cup cream cheese, at room temperature 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts Sliced baguette, for serving Instructions • With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together, the goat cheese, cream cheese, parsley, chives, thyme, and lemon zest, till thoroughly homogenised. It usually takes about a minute or two. • Season to your liking and fold in the salt and pepper. • Chill the cheese mixture, unformed, until it is slightly firm, approximately half an hour. • Place the pine nuts in a shallow dish and form the cheese mixture, with moderately wet hands, into a ball. Afterwards, roll the cheese ball in the pine nuts, and ensure that it is fully covered to secure the cheese inside. • Thereafter, refrigerate it until it is completely firm; an hour or two is sufficient. • This tasty treat is most enjoyed alongside a toasted, sliced baguette.

3. SNOWMAN BREAD AND ONION DIP These snowmen are almost too cute to be eaten, but their complimentary onion dip makes resistance unbearable. Here is a mouth-watering treat that brings two comforting edibles together in the most inviting way.

Makes: 8 single servings Total time: approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes Ingredients 12 frozen dinner rolls 8 oz/ 1 cup softened cream cheese (225 g) 1 cup sour cream (230 g) 1 medium sweet Vidalia onion, diced 1 cup shredded white cheddar (100 g), divided Salt and pepper, to taste 16 small tomato slices 8 small carrot pieces 32 whole black peppercorns Instructions • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). • Defrost the dinner rolls, split four of them in half then form them into small balls (one-half of larger balls and another of smalls to make the head and body of the snowmen). • Place them on a greased baking sheet, cover with a kitchen towel, and let them leaven as the dip is being made. • For the dip: Whisk together the cream cheese, sour cream, onion, ¾ cup (75 gram) of white cheddar, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture into a greased pie dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining ¼ cup (25 gram) of cheddar. • Bake the dip for 30 minutes, then remove it from the oven and top it with the dinner rolls; the larger ones border the bowl with the smaller ones inside. • Embellish the rolls, by firmly pressing in; pieces of tomato for the scarf, a piece of carrot for the nose, and peppercorns for the eyes and buttons. • Pop it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Once ready, carefully take it out and serve! (Or start ripping directly from the dish).

4. PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE Served appropriately with a peppermint stick, is this holiday-themed renditioned of one of the most beloved beverages, hot chocolate. Absolutely rich and velvety in texture, with a fresh intonation of peppermint to declare one cup as too little. Makes: 4 servings Total time: approx. 20-30 minutes Ingredients 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 quart/ 4 cups milk 3 oz./1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 7 peppermint sticks; 3 crushed (1/4 cup), 4 left whole A pinch of salt Instructions • In a medium saucepan, pour the cocoa powder and gradually whisk in the milk until all the cocoa has dissolved. • Follow in with the chocolate chips and crushed peppermint. Simmer them over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, with occasional stirs, until the chocolate and peppermint have melted. • Once it boils, remove it from the heat, add a pinch of salt and ladle the beverage into mugs. Serve it timely with a festive peppermint stick.

5. STRAWBERRY SANTA’S For a fruity close to this recipe discourse, these brilliantly red strawberry santa’s fit the festive theme to a T. Easy preparation, sweet results.

Makes: 15 santa’s Total time: 15-20 minutes Ingredients 1 box strawberry, fresh is preferred, but frozen can work too 1 tube icing, or even better; whipped cream for a creamier santa mini chocolate chips, as needed Instructions • Slice the tops off the strawberries so that they can sit flat, as well as the tip of the strawberry to make Santa’s hat. • Squeeze some frosting or whipped cream on the strawberry and top it off with the hat. • Decorate the rest with frosting or whipped cream by adding buttons or white tips to the hats. •

Thereafter, add the mini chocolate chips for the eyes.

• According to a couple of reviews, strawberry santa’s are a bit troublesome, and tend to disappear into thin air! Make sure there are enough for family and friends!

Boutique No.8, Aswaaq Center, Al Badaa, Al Wasl Road, Dubai. Boutique 13, Building 8, Golden Mile Galleria, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. www.mokha1450.com

FITNESS

BEAT THE HOLIDAY BULGE

The holiday season is fast approaching. For many, that means a period of excessive eating and drinking and minimal activity. With all the celebrations happening at this time of year, the temptation to indulge is greater, and failing to plan for a healthy holiday can often lead to unwanted weight gain. With only 10 days away to Christmas, here are some tips to help minimise the damage from the excess of the festive season.

AVOID GOING HUNGRY TO PARTIES Eating a meal or snack that is high in fibre and protein before going to a party can help to reduce hunger and increase satiety, without being heavy on the calories. The less hungry you are, the less likely you are to snack on high-calorie party food. If eating beforehand is not an option, try to start off with some healthier options before indulging in the Christmas pudding or pavlova. Foods such as fresh fruit, nuts, olives, quality cheeses, salads, lean meat, fish, seafood & eggs are all good options over the sweets, chips, bread, potato bakes, pasta salads, crackers & dips.

CREATE A CALORIE DEFICIT If you know you are going to have a bit of a blowout on Christmas day, you can create a calorie deficit throughout the rest of the week. By eating less than normal or fasting on the days before, after or both, you can reduce the impact that a day of feasting can have on your diet and waistline. This can also be done on a daily basis. If you have a planned Christmas dinner where dessert, alcohol and other calorie-dense foods will be enjoyed, you can reduce the size of meals or have a fasting period before the event. If you’re going to have a big dinner, eat a lighter lunch. If it’s a big lunch, plan for a light breakfast and dinner. Try to limit the extra intake of food to special meals, as there may be only one or two.

EXERCISE It is highly likely that you will consume more calories around the holidays due to the parties, large meals, and gifts of chocolate, sweets, and alcohol. Therefore, continuing to exercise is just as important throughout the holidays as at any other time of year. A high-intensity exercise session can burn off those extra calories, speed up your metabolism, and also help you deal with the added stress that sometimes comes with the season. In addition, you may be less likely to overeat knowing that you worked so hard at the gym that morning. It doesn’t necessarily have to be structured exercise either. It can be as simple as going for a ride or a walk while your kids are on that new bike that Santa brought them, getting involved in a game of backyard cricket, or going for a swim or a play with your children while at the beach or pool. Kids love when adults join in and play with them. Make the most of the extra leisure time that usually comes at this time of year. Getting outdoors can also give you a healthy dose of vitamin D, which is beneficial for healthy metabolism and body composition.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER Drinking enough water will keep you looking, feeling and performing better throughout the holiday season. Staying wellhydrated can help boost your metabolism and make it easier for your body to burn unwanted fat. It can also help to fill you up, preventing you from overeating and can help to minimise the effects of a hangover.

LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL Parties and alcohol often go hand in hand this time of year, but if you are trying to be health-conscious, limiting your alcohol consumption is a good place to start. When drinking, it’s not only the extra calories in the alcohol you need to be worried about but also the food you eat whilst drinking. Your body can’t store calories from alcohol as it does from food, so these need to be processed first, essentially pausing the metabolism of your calorie intake from whatever you’ve eaten. Also, it’s generally not the celery sticks and hummus you’re reaching for when having a drink either. Often, it’s the bowl of chips or the late-night souvlaki you’re having when drinking. If you are having a drink, try alternating alcoholic drinks with a drink of water. This will help to keep you hydrated and may also lessen the after-effects of a heavy drinking session. Not all alcohols are created equal either. White spirits such as vodka and gin are generally less caloriedense than darker spirits, beer, and wine. If you are looking to minimise the caloric impact of your drinks, vodka or gin with soda is a good option. HAVE A PLAN If you are the type of person that has to eat whatever is on their plate, try using a smaller plate instead of a full-size one. Fill your plate once, and don’t go back for seconds. If you don’t love it, don’t eat it. How often do you take a bite of food and it’s not that good but eat it anyway? What wasted calories! Try not to keep treats or “problem foods” in your environment if you have trouble controlling your intake, or at least, hide them. You can always re-gift that box of chocolates if you think they will undo your healthy eating. 78

While it can be good to indulge and have a good time this time of year, it’s best not to throw your health out the window completely. Remember that Christmas parties and family dinners are not all about food and drink; they are about the people you love and want to celebrate with. If you already have a healthy eating or exercise regimen, try not to change it too much just because it’s the holidays. Think of your accomplishments throughout the year, is it worth undoing those for a week of indulgence? Maybe. That’s up to you to decide. Try not to “fall off the wagon” completely. If you do, the new year is just around the corner—the perfect time to build a new one.

TRAVEL

CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND

The resort welcomes guests to relish in the brand new ‘The Muraka VIP Experience’

In the spirit of an eternal summer aesthetic, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island welcomes guests to spend a relaxing time in paradise. The resort guarantees a trip to remember, filled with the finest dining, contemporary accommodation, and moments of revitalisation, set against an extraordinary backdrop. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island expresses an accord of form, function and innovation in driving hospitality trends that have set the benchmark in its style. Rejecting trends in design to create a space that invites and inspires with a distinctive design that sits in perfect harmony with the natural environment. The resort, truly a class of its own, is an inspirational backdrop featuring intuitive service, infinite connections and a distinctive mix of once-in-a-lifetime experiences making it an extraordinary destination for couples and families to discover paradise. “As the world's first undersea residence with pioneering accommodation, both above and below the surface of the water, The Muraka is a breathtaking destination for a completely unique immersive journey into nature that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” said Carla Puverel, the new General Manager of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. “Through a range of enchanting offerings, we aim to bring memorable travel experiences to our cherished Middle Eastern guests.” For larger families travelling from the Middle East, the resort boasts newly redeveloped Deluxe Beach Villas that have been architecturally designed to sit in harmony with the natural surroundings.

Each of these villas features a spacious living area illuminated with natural light, a signature outdoor shower and have private access to the resort’s palm treefringed beach. Designed as a celebration of Maldivian culture, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is the perfect place for couples and families who want to enjoy a heavenly paradise vacation with adventurous opportunities to swim with manta rays and whale sharks, delve into local culture and embark on soul-enriching discoveries designed with meaning and purpose. In addition to the competitive offers of the resort, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island participates in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s distinct hotel brands. Guests can use their points to upgrade their stay or book one of the resort’s incredible Water Villas. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors mobile app. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is located In Rangali Island, Maldives. To book a reservation at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, please call +960 668 0629 or visit conradmaldives. com. To see the latest updates and conversations about this island getaway, visit Instagram @conrad_maldives, Facebook @conradmaldivesrangaliisland or conradmaldives.com.

SAADIYAT ROTANA RESORT & VILLAS SAADIYAT ISLAND, ABU DHABI UNITED ARAB EMIRATES T: +971 2 697 0000 | F: +971 2 697 0123 84

FOCUS:

FOR THE CULTURE

What are you paying attention to? In a world where the fight for our attention is fierce, it is very hard to focus. For the next three to four minutes, I am asking you to focus on reading this article. Believe it or not, that might not be easy for a large number of people. Our ability to focus has been obliterated by the constant flow of information coming at us from every angle. If you are reading this article from your mobile phone, then you are even less likely to be able to focus on what you are reading, because the urge to keep scrolling might just be stronger than you can control. In this article, I hope to offer you some good reasons why you should focus on being able to focus on some techniques to help you improve your ability to focus. I also hope to outline some of the benefits of focussing on one thing at a time. If you are able to read to the end, then I have a challenge for you. WHY SHOULD WE FOCUS? People’s ability to focus and do deep work is so rare nowadays that it has become more valuable. We are constantly being distracted, and our attention span has diminished to a minuscule percentage of what it should be. When was the last time you shut everything

out and focussed on the movie you were watching, the conversation you were having, the book or article you were reading? Many people use the excuse that they are multitasking, but science has proven that multitasking is a myth. When you are trying to do many things at the same time, your attention is split, and something will be affected in the long or short term. There are only two states; you are either focussed or distracted. Multitasking used to be seen as an asset in many circles, but people are coming to the realisation that multitasking is actually not a strength. Adverts for jobs used to ask for people who are good multitaskers but this is increasingly becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays, your ability to focus is becoming more and more valuable, and I see it becoming an essential skill for many job adverts in the very near future. Cal Newport, (one of my favourite authors) in his book Deep Work states that professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration or focus that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit create new value, improve skill and are hard to replicate. Being able to focus on one thing at a time for an extended period of time is becoming the new superpower. 85

FOCUS BY DESIGN I decided to call this section of the article focus by design because I wanted to highlight the fact that, to be able to focus on what you are doing, you will have to become very deliberate. Remember, I told you earlier that you are constantly being distracted. In fact, many of the things which distract us were designed to do so. When you have time, you can read more about the effects that constantly scrolling through social media has on our brains. In order to ensure that we are able to focus, we must design every aspect of our lives to be as free from distraction as possible, start by clearing some of the apps from your phone which you find most distracting, turn off all notifications except the ones which are essential. Do you really need to know when your friend posts something new on Facebook? Create a distraction-free zone in your home. This should be a space in which no electronics are allowed, for me, this is my bedroom. In my bedroom, I do not have a television or any electronic devices; this means that when I am there, I can find the space to focus on reading, thinking, sleeping etc. DEDICATE TIME TO FOCUS. When we are at work, it might be hard to focus on just one thing. We are often required to pay attention to several things at the same time, but this does not mean that we should neglect the need to focus. It simply means that we might have to schedule time and space to focus. DECLUTTER YOUR MIND. When we are bombarded by thoughts, it is virtually impossible to focus, this may take some practice, but being able to focus our thoughts is key. Meditation helps with this, especially if we have a very busy mind. My personal favourite thing to do is to write down the thoughts that keep bombarding me and that way they are out of my head and down on paper. The next step might be hard for many but try to declutter your physical surroundings. Remove anything that does not serve you. Clear your desk and make it as clean as possible, only keep the most essential things on your desk. This means that when you sit down to work, there is very little to grab your attention. This goes for both your physical desk and your computer desktop. While we are on the topic of the computer, if you are like me and you have several tabs open at the same time, try only to have a maximum of one or two tabs open at any given time. If you want to store tabs for future use, simply bookmark them. 86

HARDCORE FOCUS CHALLENGE I promised that if you read to the end, I had a challenge for you, so here we go. Delete all social media apps from your phone (yep you heard me right). A few months ago, I realised that scrolling in social media was taking way more time out of my day than I cared to admit but thanks to advanced screen time reports, it was hard for me to deny, as the evidence was right there in front of me. I decided to improve my ability to focus by scheduling social media usage to after work hours and for an hour at most each day. I also committed to being more of a content creator than a

content consumer. This gave me a more productive purpose for being on social media. Ready to become even more hardcore about focusing? Download this resource. The cost to your productivity, ability to focus and general well-being can be staggering. This app gives you control. It is a paid service with a free version that is perfectly fine for individual use. There are also other similar services out there that do the same thing, so do a search for the one that suits you. Block out distractions and focus!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR LEISA GRACE WILSON is an

educator, entrepreneur and blogger. She currently lives in Abu Dhabi with her seven-year-old twin boys and husband. Leisa is passionate about personal development, entrepreneurship, finances and the world of education. You can connect with Leisa by visiting her blog www.leisagrace.com or connect with her on Linkedin https:// www.linkedin.com/in/leisagrace/` 87

STEP INTO SELF–CENTRICITY

Have you stopped to look at yourself lately? Are you honestly content with yourself? What about appreciation; have you given as much as you deserve? Are you bombarded by the noise created everywhere? Is it getting on your nerves? There are countless reasons to hold on to things that may give us problems. We might feel emotionally insecure, socially awkward, or even culturally disconnected. Everyone has their own emotional, social and cultural problems. We all have the right to our own expression and conceptualisations. They are important to one’s 88

existence and purpose. Remember to be comfortable with what you are and avoid acting what you are not. Other people might misunderstand you but to whose expense will it be if you refuse to get out of your own way? Everybody has a self to maintain and develop. Being what you are is important, especially nowadays when everybody seems to want to be somebody else. The concept of being you is gradually fading, but this should not hold you for showing what you are. Focus on developing and growing yourself. Don’t be distracted by what you see and let go of the baggage that

is keeping your true self hidden. You are the universe; you aren’t in the universe. - Eckhart Tolle Your self-development depends on how much you can disassociate yourself from others. It is a sad reality that most are looking at others to give themselves a definition. It is clear that he is implying to trust yourself. You are the best when you are contented enough to appreciate your good and bad side. Nobody can value your worth but yourself. Sometimes, you have to be selfish to be selfless. - Edward Albert The idea of being selfish is known

as a bad thing, but there are times that we need to think of ourselves first to grow. Once you develop and nurture yourself to the best, you can then help the people around you and give them what you think your purpose is. Selfishness is not living your life as you wish; it is asking others to live their lives as you wish.- Oscar Wilde People have a natural instinct of taking what they can from other people to survive. Selfishness is then can be used for other people to strive for themselves. Be eager to let yourself grow. Being self-centred is then a positive way to promote self-expression, worth and dedication.

I love myself, but it can do what it wants whenever it wants, I don’t mind… One day at a time, the sun gon’ shine. - Kendrick Lamar It is important to note that loving yourself is the highest kind of love. The world is always at war with itself. Everybody has a voice, yet nobody will listen. Loving yourself will give you emotional stability. Don’t let others dictate you on how you should feel loved or why you should be loved. Give yourself the right to be the best version of you. Let go of the negative mindset around you. Believe and accept what you are. Be self-centred and love yourself to the fullest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JEROME DOUGLAS Jerome Douglas is a new dad, trained teacher, poet and writer from the beautiful island of Jamaica. His personal philosophy is “If it is for me to be, then it is up to me.” He attended the Catholic College of Mandeville in Jamaica. Additionally, he is a community builder and humanitarian who volunteers his time to help with the academic and social well-being of people in his Central Jamaica community and surrounding areas.

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BOOK REVIEW 5 Books on Our Release Radar The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph

In The Black Friend, Frederick Joseph looks back on the racism he experienced as a transfer student in a predominantly white school and considers how he might handle such situations now. On top of his own experiences, each chapter includes a section written by activists or artists which scrutinise everything racismrelated, from white privilege to microaggressions to cultural appropriation and much more. The book also includes an encyclopedia of racism, which offers more detail on historical events and clears up the terminology—a necessity for anyone looking to improve their awareness and to be actively anti-racist. Publication date: Dec 1, 2020 91

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant

Hitting our shelves in February, Adam Grant’s forthcoming book, Think Again, questions the validity of how we assess intelligence, proposing that it’s our ability to unlearn what we know and rethink our opinions that is the mark of true smarts. More often than not our default is defence mode, where we live in bubbles and surround ourselves with those who Publication date: February 2, 2021

The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende

Bestselling author Isabel Allende meditates on what it means to be a woman and how feminism has shaped her throughout her life. As a young woman coming of age in the late 1960s, she rode the second wave of feminism. Among a tribe of like-minded female journalists, Allende for the first time felt comfortable in her own skin, as they wrote “with a knife between our teeth” about women’s issues. She has seen what the movement has accomplished in the course of her lifetime. And over the course of three passionate marriages, she has learned how to grow as a woman while having a partner, when to step away, and the rewards of embracing one’s sexuality. Publication date: March 2, 2021 93

The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics by Tim Harford

Tim Harford untangles statistics for the average reader with the easy rules to help you better understand what all the numbers mean and how to use them in your life. Today we think statistics are the enemy, numbers used to mislead and confuse us. That’s a mistake, Tim Harford says in The Data Detective. We shouldn’t be suspicious of statistics—we need to understand what they mean and how they can improve our lives: they are, at heart, human behaviour seen through the prism of numbers and are often “the only way of grasping much of what is going on around us.” If we can toss aside our fears and learn to approach them clearly—understanding how our own preconceptions lead us astray—statistics can point to ways we can live better and work smarter. Publication date: February 2, 2021 94

Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa Genova

Neuroscientist Lisa Genova explores how memories are made and how we retrieve them, explaining why we remember, why we forget and how to help protect our memory. In Remember, neuroscientist and acclaimed novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them. You’ll learn whether forgotten memories are temporarily inaccessible or erased forever and why some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds (like a passcode) while others can last a lifetime (your wedding day). You’ll come to appreciate the clear distinction between normal forgetting (where you parked your car) and forgetting due to Alzheimer’s (that you own a car). And you’ll see how memory is profoundly impacted by meaning, emotion, sleep, stress, and context. Once you understand the language of memory and how it functions, its incredible strengths and maddening weaknesses, its natural vulnerabilities and potential superpowers, you can both vastly improve your ability to remember and feel less rattled when you inevitably forget. You can set educated expectations for your memory, and in doing so, create a better relationship with it. You don’t have to fear it anymore. And that can be lifechanging. Publication date: March 23, 2021 95

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