Woman This Month - February 2012

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES

FEBRUARY 2012 | Issue 108

The Love Issue The Secrets of Romance Revealed

The Bold and the Beautiful Elie & Jean Lead the Hair Revolution

Your Love Type Our Relationship Quiz

Dinner for Two Those Who Eat Together Stay Together

Nurture for the Future Your Child’s Self-Esteem www.womanthismonth.com

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contents | February 2012

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Shopping 8 This Month’s Most Wanted: Winter Handbag Essentials 10 Coat’s a Plenty: Cool Weather Staples 12 Drive them Wild: Leopard Print Frenzy

Romance Features

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The love issue: 18 Take our Love Quiz 39 10 Tips: Singleton’s Survival Guide 64 The Key to a Man’s Heart? Valentine’s Recipes.

Fashion 20 Fashion Forward: February picks 24 Fashion News Bulletins 26 Dress for Romance Feature

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Beauty 34 News: February picks 36 Beauty Tips: The Brazilian Way 38 Fragrances: Love-ly Scents

Wellbeing 42 Campaign: Reading Matters 44 Feature: Solve your Skin Problems

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Parenting 52 Feature: De-Clutter for Life 55 Column: Show them the Love

Regulars

66 DECEMBER 2011, issue 108 Long Tall Sally brings some romance to the table.

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES

FEBRUARY 2012 | Issue 108

The Love Issue The Secrets of Romance Revealed

The Bold and the Beautiful

6 Write Here, Write Now 66 Travel: Valentine’s Traditions 68 Horoscope: Love Scope!

72 Columnist: Make a Connection

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Elie & Jean Lead the Hair Revolution

Your Love Type Our Relationship Quiz

Dinner for Two Those Who Eat Together Stay Together

Nurture for the Future Your Child’s Self-Esteem www.womanthismonth.com

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| February 2012 | woman this month

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Welcome You Should

Be So Lucky E D I T O R ' s l etter

S

ome people say they are unlucky in love. Although this might be the case in extreme circumstances, I personally believe that this is an excuse for not taking action.

Time and time again we refuse to accept responsibility for the way our lives unfold.

We resign ourselves to fate and hope that the right situation or the right person will magically appear in front of us. And when they don’t, we claim to be unlucky.

It is my strong opinion that if you want something, you need to go out and try your hardest to make it happen. You cannot sit idly by and wait for your dream job, house or Mr Right to grab you by the hand and whisk you into your perfect future. If you want the best for yourself, you are going to have to try very hard to ensure that you are making the best of yourself.

Despite what Hallmark and Hershey’s might have you believe, Valentine’s Day is about more than just spending money on meaningless gifts. It is a day of optimism and it is a day, above all, of action. By celebrating a love that is already in your life, you are not only thanking them for what they are in the present, but you are projecting the message that you wish to continue enjoying their company in the future. And by making a declaration to someone who you have not yet shared a romance with, you are taking an active role in securing something that you want for yourself.

Don’t let Valentine’s Day envelop you in a mood of pessimism and dissatisfaction with the state of your own life. If you aren’t happy, do something about it. Your luck is yours for the making!

Natasha Bird Editor

responsible editor Jubran AbdulRahman

chairman & publisher George F Middleton

publishing director

David M Robertson

editorial consultant Dr Paul Balles

editor

NATASHA BIRD

contributors

Dr Claire McInroy george r vaughan James Claire

staff writers

Elma Bartholomew Maryam A. Toorani ALISON COLDBRIDGE

print production manager Sabu Sebastian

layout & graphics RODOLFO A. REYES JR. Dalal Al-Sabbagh RomEO San Miguel

media coordinator SARAH ANSARI

media executives ESKY Girmay SHANI DAVEL

sales manager Mayukh Majumdar

circulation

FAWAZ AL BALOOSHI

photography editor anil Ravi Shankar

photographers

Shankar Kunhambu Subeesh Kumar NS

printing press

Union Press, Bahrain Contents copyrighted 2004© Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

ISBN No: 1 899348 11 5. Licensed by the Ministry of Information, Directorate of Publication and Press. Code: SWTM 410 woman this month is for women in Bahrain wishing to celebrate a unique cosmopolitan lifestyle and community spirit in an objective and proactive manner.

For subscriptions visit www.womanthismonth.com Advertising rates are available upon request.

Please e-mail sales@womanthismonth.com.

The publication of any advertisement in woman this month is not necessarily an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised.

Although every effort is made to ensure factual information, woman this month cannot be held responsible for errors in contributors’ material, nor do the opinions expressed by individual writers necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. editorial Submission of articles is welcome. Send queries, letters and articles to the editor at the address below. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. bahrain office address Red House Marketing p.o. box: 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain telephone: (17) 813-777 fax: (17) 813-700 email: editor@womanthismonth.com website: www.womanthismonth.com published monthly by Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. P. O. Box 641, No. 1 Seaton Place, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8JJ, Channel Islands, U.K. in association with Al-Hilal Publishing, P. O. Box 224, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

For of the moment news, tips, advice and fun links, follow Woman This Month on Twitter

@WomanThisMonthB 4

| February 2012 | woman this month

Woman This Month is a member of BPA Worldwide

Letters

Write Here Write Now STAR LETTER Thank You

Dear Woman This Month team. I just wanted to say thank you so much for writing and printing that article about Gaynor Morgan’s invention to prevent incontinence.

I have had a problem with this for some years now and have been too embarrassed to get any proper help for it.

I didn’t know there was such a product out there. I think that Gaynor is an inspiring woman who will help many other women out there and I think this article is going to bring some relief to a lot of people looking for a solution to such an embarrassing problem.

I just wanted to bring something to your attention and the attention of the readers, though. There was a mistake in the website address at the bottom of the article. It should say www.incostress.com, not “incostess”. I hope this helps people looking for it. Anonymous, by email.

Interview

From

In-flight to In-vent

role of safety and survival instructor at the same time.

“Gulf Air made me who I am today”, says Gaynor.

“It taught me management skills, which I still use today in my own business. It shaped the way I am now able to deal with all sorts of people from all walks of life”. During her time at Gulf Air she came in to contact with the full spectrum of humankind.

“One day I would be serving a Royal and the next I would be interacting with a labourer who earned about 50BD a month for hours of arduous work”, she remembers. This experience proved entirely invaluable.

“Now, dealing with large retail stores and distributors with C&G Medicare Ltd., I need the best sort of negotiating skills. Living in Bahrain, dealing with tricky customers and haggling in the souk gave me a great head start!”

Unfortunately for Gaynor, although her career in Bahrain had been looking to bear some exciting fruit, the region hit troubled times and her situation changed. Her time in the Middle East was interrupted by the first Gulf War, during which she helped evacuate passengers to safer, nearby countries. “After the Gulf War things were very difficult for everyone in Bahrain,” says Gaynor, “Bahrain changed, leaving many local people jobless. Gulf Air were encouraging Bahrainis to apply for jobs within the airline. All the expatriates holding teaching positions in the safety school were made redundant.” After a stint as an English teacher for the British Council, Gaynor realised that her career in the Gulf was drawing to a close.

Although she didn’t immediately move back to the UK, she still made regular trips back to the place of her roots. It was during one of these visits back that she became inspired to embark on the most important venture of her life. “My mother Carole had started having problems with incontinence around the age of 40. At 45 the incontinence was such an issue she had the TVT operation (a procedure to help women with stress incontinence). Although this worked on a temporary basis, a few years later the symptoms returned”, she explains. Gaynor, witnessing her mother’s embarrassment, set about trying to find a solution.

Gaynor Morgan speaks to Annabelle Godwin of her journey from Gulf Air Stewardess to inventress of one of the most useful female products on the market.

G

aynor Morgan is something of a phenomenon. At the age of 20 she decided to up and leave the safety of the UK to take up a position as a Gulf Air stewardess in Bahrain. Although many women have made similar decisions before her, it is what she did with the opportunity that really strikes a chord among the ambitious and independent women among us.

It is fairly common for women in the Gulf to slip into a well-paid position, especially one with the benefit of travel, and to stay in the same job for a decade without noticing the time pass. While this is a fine idea if it suits you and keeps you satisfied, there are others who use

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these sorts of jobs as a platform or leverage to further themselves even more.

Not satisfied with remaining a member of the in-flight crew, Gaynor decided to look at what else Gulf Air might be able to offer her. “Gulf Air has one of the toughest training programmes for safety and survival”, she recalls. Speaking of this training, Gaynor says, “It taught me a great deal about discipline and self-control”.

Her career progression within the famous airline didn’t stop there, however. Within four years Gaynor was promoted to purser in charge of cabin crew flying on B737 B767 and L1011 aircrafts. She continued in her

| January 2012 | woman this month

WRITE IN AND WIN

Send your letter to editor@womanthismonth. com, by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO Box 20461, Manama. The star letter will get the chance to attend three free classes of their choice at Life-Fit [DASH] the brilliant lifestyle and fitness centre in Budaiya. Choose between Zumba, Dance-Fit, Boot Camp and many more!

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Interview Tell us a bit about your businesses: I set up Sketchbook magazine in 2009, after having worked for a number of luxury magazines, including Vogue China. I just felt that there was something missing in many of these high-end magazines; something that was going unexplored. I think that interactivity is really important and I was getting frustrated by the need to conform to strict word counts and space allowance. I wanted to find a way to marry blogging, social media, art in the city and fashion under one roof, so to speak. I used my experience from my art degree and we got people to draw and sketch some of the most current and respected voices — Susie Bubble, Henry Holland, the Sartorialist, for example. It was creative and, incidentally, it was also one of the cheapest ways we could have chosen to be productive! I think part of Sketchbook’s success is down to sheer determination and persistence. I met with at least five people a day for about a year.

Obai and Hill grew organically out of the process that I had started with Sketchbook. People began requesting the illustrations. They wanted us to make t-shirts, cards, invitations and eventually advertising packs. I saw a new gap in the market and I moved in to fill it. I set up an agency which concerns itself with graphics, illustrations, websites and design consultancy.

How do you think your youth has affected your work?

In the beginning it was really hard. Website designers and illustrators would laugh when I asked them to work for me. I had to do a lot of problem solving. I had to convince hundreds of people to put their faith in me and do work for free. I began emailing people so that they wouldn’t see me face-to-face and underestimate me. I had to be proactive about it and I didn’t let myself get fazed by people not being interested. I’d just say, “Okay, thank you for your time, don’t worry if it’s not for you”.

But I always wanted to do it this way. I know that in my 20s I have the most energy and passion that I will ever have. I needed to set up my businesses quickly so that I could develop the brands and maintain them.

What do you think explains the success of your two businesses?

With Sketchbook, we aren’t in the business of telling people what to do.

We ask them what they would like to do for us. It is about celebrating people’s unique individualities, the talents that make them special. Once you take an interest in someone else’s work, they become incredibly willing to go above and beyond for you. We ended up receiving some of the coolest and most unique content, purely because we took the time to check out their previous work, their blogs and their interests before talking to them.

Obai and Hill is willing to take on all sorts of challenges. We have helped to shape brands, providing them with fun newsletters, advertising packages and web designs. We’ve produced custom t-shirts, put tearaway lyrics on canvas bags. It’s a constantly creative process and it generates a different, interesting impression for companies.

Young, Fun and

Totally in Charge

Woman This Month Editor Natasha Bird chats to journalist, designer and talented entrepreneur Wafa Alobaidat about creativity, social media and the key to early success.

P

ost millennium we have seen a wonderfully steady increase in daring, young entrepreneurialism. This is fantastic because it means that the shape of modern business is continually transforming.

The success of the latest generation of super-youths is largely down to a clever ability to take advantage of new media environments. Social networking, digital artwork, viral advertising — these are the key components of efficacy in the 21st century.

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There is a dangerous trend, though, that sees new media as an exclusively “young” concept. If older businesses are to compete with their younger rivals, they are going to have to get on board, but can you really teach an old dog new tricks? I sat down with Wafa Alobaidat who, in her early 20s, has already set up and oversees popular niche magazine Sketchbook and runs successful design agency Obai and Hill, to talk about her own achievements and the need for better understanding of social networking and digital design in Bahrain.

What do you think of Bahrain’s relationship with online technology?

I still feel that people in Bahrain tend to be relatively uneducated about what PR and social media is all about. They don’t often look past the basics and people see it as a luxury rather than a necessity. There is a bit of a cultural gap. Islam is a very reserved religion and people worry about too much information being disseminated, but there are ways to prevent things being out of your comfort zone and, at the end of the day, if you don’t embrace these sorts of online advances, you’ll be left behind.

Online tools are completely invaluable. Sketchbook is available online, in PDF and in print, we have our own online video channel and we keep track of all our users and subscribers via Twitter or Facebook. Content can be offered in so many different ways, so why not take advantage of all of them? People love new and different experiences — it keeps them hooked.

What do you reckon is the most useful online tool?

Twitter, without a doubt. It gives you the fastest record of response. You can tell very quickly whether an idea is appealing or destined for success. People love to feel like they are being heard. We had a follower who kept sending us Twitpics of her artwork as she developed it. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but it turned out to be dedicated to Sketchbook and we loved it so much we did a whole piece on it for the blog! It also gives you an amazing, direct access to many of your idols and allows you the immediacy of being able to see what other creative people are up to at any time.

It’s not too difficult to get the hang of Twitter. You just have to be willing to give it a go.

Do you think online resources will eclipse print publishing?

No, I think they work hand-in-hand. I read about ten to 20 blogs a day, but I don’t keep them or go back to them. Whereas I love to buy Brownbook, Monacle, Wallpaper or, of course, Woman This Month.

Sometimes you want to collect things and savour them. Print is a different experience — there is an association with quality and durability.

I make room for both print and online publications in my life.

Final message?

The online world has changed, in fact made, my career, My experience wouldn’t have been possible without all the amazing online resources.

So my advice is to always have an online strategy. Don’t be left behind, assuming social networks are just for young people or personal use. Get with the programme!

| January 2012 | woman this month

woman this month | January 2012 |

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The Younger Generation I enjoyed reading the article about Wafa Alobaidat. I think her company sounds very interesting, although I am not sure I completely understand what she offers, but I think the really good thing for her is her age. Even though she is so young, she has achieved and travelled a lot and I think she is setting a good example to other women her age.

I also think that the writer makes a good point about needing Bahrain to become more aware of the resources on the internet.

Although I am not on Twitter myself, I do have a business and I have a Facebook page for it. It is a really good way of getting information to a lot of people and if you use it in the right way it can be a really useful network.

I do think there was a point in the article about the Middle East being behind other places when it comes to this, so I think it is good if we all begin to learn what is out there and catch up. Lana, by email

Encouraging our Children I just wanted to say that Setting your I really appreciate the child apart Woman This Month parenting pages. Both Tips Clare McInroy and Jinan Darwish seem to have some really T thoughtful and wellinformed ideas about child-rearing. I always read these pages with an avid interest and they, more often than not, do give me ideas about activities and methods to use with my own children.

I thought the focus on New Year’s resolutions for children and parents was a really special one. It didn’t just stick to the usual subjects and the clichés that you associate with resolutions, but it encouraged you to think hard about what your child might actually find achievable and what would be good for their development.

Every week I do admire these two experts, because time and time again they are able to approach parenting with a really positive and loving attitude. It makes me happy to think of the children that will grow up having benefited from this sort of advice. Lisa, by email.

Teaching children to set goals and follow them through to completion is all part of growing up.

Millions of women experience incontinence, largely due to insufficient strength of their pelvic floor muscles. Some may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing, while others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount. Many women experience both upsetting symptoms.

Incontinence can range from slightly bothersome to totally demoralising and, for many women, the risk of public embarrassment stops them enjoying many activities and impacts on their quality of life.

Additionally urine loss can also occur during sex and cause tremendous emotional distress.

As incontinence isn’t a life threatening condition, very little money is spent on research. The most common solution offered for incontinence is pads, which only hide the problem but never solve it. Gaynor and Carole were looking for a more permanent solution.

Carole and Gaynor began brainstorming. During one of their discussions about the intricacies of the condition, Carole mentioned that the problem was not so bad when she was menstruating. After some research they discovered that when Carole wore a tampon it went some way to support the urethra and the exerted pressure was able to gently suppress the loss of urine, while not interfering with the normal flow.

Knowing the dangers of using a tampon outside the recommended period they decided to look for a re-usable tampon. There was nothing available, and so they made their first working prototype in 1998.

Testing the design, “she started doing star jumps in the middle of the kitchen,'’ says Gaynor, “and though she had a full bladder, she didn't leak at all. ‘It works, it works!’ she yelled. She wore it every day after that, and started to go out again without the slightest leak.”

Gaynor financed her business with savings earned with Gulf Air. The product they developed grew from strength to strength. What started as a daughter’s attempt to help her mother with an embarrassing condition has now won many international awards [DASH] and has transformed the lives of thousands of others who suffer from incontinence and pelvic floor weakness.

Gaynor works on a personal level with her distributors, ensuring that the right information and advertising is given. She supports them in promotions and raising awareness about the incontinence issue and has been commended by her government for the amazing work she is doing.

For more information visit www.incostess.com woman this month | January 2012 |

• Don't turn New Year's Resolutions into a chore!

What Do Children Learn From New Year's Resolutions?

his is really a “how long is a piece of string?” style of question. Children will learn what you teach them, but it might not be what you wanted to teach them, or thought you had taught them.

The way that children view goals varies from child to child and from goal to goal. Some of it depends on how a child sees time and how he/she views herself in the world. Time is not experienced in the same way by everyone. Consider that one year is 20 per cent of a five year old’s life! If you have spent any time with a five year old, a week is a very long time, so a one year plan is probably too big a commitment.

The things that children will learn from goal-setting also vary. One child might learn to be proficient in making and working towards a resolution, another might get a lesson in delayed gratification. A different child might learn about how best to access new information or pick up a new understanding of how the world works.

Children are endlessly learning new things, helping them to cultivate more of a sense of how adults see the world, but this doesn’t mean that we should forget that their world view is very different. They are still developing skills and control over their world that we

take for granted. They are still learning how to build and attain a goal. What would seem a small goal to an adult can seem huge to a child as he/she is still developing mastery over the process. Learning the process with a very small goal is probably the most appropriate thing to do.

Children with larger-than-life imaginations, for example, will need to begin to see the world more realistically. This can be done through realistic goalsetting. However, some imagination is no bad thing, so it is important not to quash the “dreamer” mentality altogether. Small steps and small goals will lead to bigger feelings of triumph.

If your child takes on a goal that they need your help with, be sure that you can follow through with your fraction of the agreement. If you have agreed to drive the child to Karate lessons regularly, for example, make sure you take this agreement seriously.

Adults and children will experience days when it seems that things are not going to plan. They will need encouragement and rewards. Talk to your child about setbacks and challenges and help him/her to envisage what obstacles might be encountered along the way. When the obstacles do crop up, you can make light of them, empathically, as they are anticipated and part of the process. Remind them of how fabulous it will be when the goals are achieved!

• As soon as your child has made his/her resolutions, make sure he/she takes immediate action. This is an important part of the process as it creates momentum.

• Praise and encourage him/her as they work through the process.

Be supportive when he/she gets discouraged, or hits an obstacle. Help him/her to see that it is not the end of the world, and that obstacles are part of the process.

• When your child reaches an obstacle, this is the time to remind them why they wanted to succeed with this resolution, and to repeat the visualisation of success, just as they did when the list was first made.

• Succeeding with goals and resolutions involves more than just following a set of instructions. It also involves having the right mindset, overcoming negativity, problem solving, and being persistent.

For feedback, comments or questions contact Dr Jinan Darwish via email at: editor@womanthismonth.com

woman this month | January 2012 |

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Shopping

New This Month

Winter Handbag Heading out in the colder months of the year means having to plan ahead. You’ll need a handbag that can fit a world of things in it, whilst still being stylish and chic. We looked around for the perfect February handbag essentials.

Essentials

Massimo Dutti know how to create a lovely scarf or head covering.

Every girl needs a quality-assured leather wallet. This one is called The Lex, by Marc Jacobs.

This Versace bag is a great hold-all for every winter essential.

The low winter sun can be pretty bright.

Protect your eyes with some Louis Vuitton shades.

Sometimes painted nails need protecting.

Pick up these Nina Ricci raspberry python gloves!

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| February 2012 | woman this month

It doesn't rain much, by golly when it does, it really pours. Better have a brolly just in case.

Hoss Intropia.

It's always good to have some flats as back up and they happen to be a neat handbag size. Jimmy Choo.

Showcase Very.co.uk

La Redoute Marks and Spencer

Carolina Herrera

Cosy Cover-Ups A

lthough we all know that Bahrain isn’t exactly Baltic, it can get pretty chilly, especially after the sun sets. So if you are heading out for an evening stroll, or if you are off to dinner somewhere smart, then be sure to pop on something warm and chic. Here are a few of our Winter picks.

Asos

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| February 2012 | woman this month

East

H! by Henery Holland at Debenhams

Monsoon

Shopping

Accessorize

R-r-roar into 2012 Pilot

Top Shop

Leopard is THE print of the winter season. From full-length trench to iPad case, the big cat has travelled everywhere. As you know, February is the valentine’s month and what could be more sexy than having a touch of the feline about your outfit? Whether you are heading to the bar or saving your outfit for behind closed doors, be sure to pick up one of these fab items.

Tod's Bvlgari Christian Louboutin

Dune

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Banana Republic

Happy Valentine's Day!

ROLANDA

CHOCOLATES & FLOWERS TE L : 17 7 15 15 8

Interview

A Woman’s Fight for

Progress

For centuries, women have helped to build the societies we live in today. From the housewife to the CEO and right through to the members of parliament, every woman has made her contribution. It makes no sense, therefore, for women not to receive equal rights to their male counterparts.

T

he Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has been working tirelessly for the last 10 years to improve women’s rights and to instill a sense of gender equality in the region. With more and more women in prominent and important roles in all fields of work, Bahraini women today are upholding a unique balance of their traditional and modern characters, participating alongside men in public dialogue and decision-making processes in the Kingdom.

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Created in 2001 and headed up by her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the SCW became a new advisory body to assist the government in framing policies concerning women’s issues.

Emulating famous leading feminist thinkers, such as the likes of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Antony, the council is made up of 16 head members, all women in possession of major roles in a variety of fields and from all sectors of Bahraini society.

Some of the council’s many objectives have been to empower Bahraini women to assume a greater role in their country's development, promote better awareness of their capabilities, ensure their fair rights are protected and help them tackle problems in all areas.

Steps for change Spending most of their first term developing a national strategy for the advancement of women and also identifying their vision and ambitions, today the SCW is not only considered as a women’s rights body, but a ruling factor in the Kingdom’s economical and social advancement. The real action, though, started after the council’s first term. After this time, several economic projects, aiming at training Bahraini women and empowering them , were launched. One of the most important achievements of SCW was the launching of the National Strategy on the Empowerment of Bahraini Women. This strategy aims to legitimise the female role in different fields, including decision making, the economy, civil society, education and training, family, health and the environment.

Since then, the council has held events to highlight the achievement of women and introduce them to the society as a means to support qualified Bahraini women.

Also under the SCW’s belt is a series of training projects. These have included workshops and seminars, coaching women in job specific disciplines and qualifying them to enter the workforce.

The Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa award for the empowerment of Bahraini Women was also established. The first of its kind in the Arab world, the award aims to encourage government and private institutions to provide equal opportunities for reaching decision making positions. In an effort to change the public’s perspective of women, a number of public awareness programmes were also held. A political empowerment programme was initiated by the Council in co-operation with the United Nations Development Programme to train and educate women to join the Kingdom’s political workforce.

The Council has its own offices in Riffa, which include a secretariat and a documentation centre, where the council’s research is stored along with an extensive library of publications, studies and data related to women’s affairs.

Start of the movement It first started in the year 2000 when the National Action Charter was issued; stipulating that the country would promulgate laws that would defend women and protect families. The establishment of the council a year later confirmed the presence of women and initiated a movement that is still in progress today. Within the following 10 years, the council’s involvement, participation and triumphant efforts moved more women towards academic excellence and important career roles, which may have been limited to men in previous years.

The role of the youth It is undeniable that, though women of all ages need to make themselves heard, it is in the hands of the youth that the future cultural mindset rests.

The special SCW Shabab council for the youth of both genders has been established, with an aim to encourage the youth of Bahrain to positively participate in the growth of society and to respect each other as allies in bringing about the future they desire for Bahrain.

Some of the most important achievements of the youth council include the “I am Bahrain” campaign, aimed to plant the understanding of national unity between Bahraini citizens through holding series of events around the Kingdom. Among their other successful projects were the “We said

yes, we will all work” in collaboration with the General Organisation for Youth and Sports, the “We will build your home” project and the “Be Heard” project, which is the biggest suggestion box for youth in the region; opening the door for the Kingdom’s youth to share their thoughts, ideas, identify their problems and obstacles.

Women’s day event Celebrating the milestone of its 10th anniversary, as well as the Bahraini Women’s Day, — which was launched four years ago bye Princess Sabeeka — the 45 Entrepreneurs Gallery was held.

Aiming to highlight the achievement of Bahraini women, the Women’s Day theme this year was Bahraini women in economic development.

Forty-five young businesswomen aged up to 45 took part in the exhibition, showcasing their abilities in several sectors — service, retail and cosmetics, event planning and food and beverages.

Among the 45 women this year were Bahraini fashion designer Sima Ahmed, interior designer Ghada Al Sayed, lawyer May Showaiter, graphics designer Shaikha Noora Al Khalifa and photographer Fatma Al Mannai, who have all succeeded in establishing their own businesses and entrepreneurial projects.

Though the Council’s successes and achievements for women have been plentiful, there is still a long way to go and they are constantly renewing and reviving their objectives, in order to best suit the changing needs of women in the region. Here are some of the aims for the coming term: Aims of the council To propose a general policy for the development of Women's Affairs in the institutions of constitutional and civil society. l Enabling women to play their role in public life and to integrate their efforts into development plans without being discriminated against. l To activate the principles contained in the National Action Charter and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain with regard to women and to develop appropriate mechanisms for co-operation with ministries and official institutions and civil society institutions. l Monitor and evaluate the implementation of public policy in the field of women and progress with the Council, including the suggestions and observations to the competent authorities in this regard. l To arrange a submission process for proposals to amend existing legislation relating to women and to facilitate the expression of opinion on draft laws and regulations. l Follow-up enforcement of laws, regulations, resolutions and international conventions related to women to ensure their implementation in order to achieve non-discrimination against women and follow up the implementation of programmes that have been adopted in the plans and government programmes for women. l Participation in committees and official bodies formed by the Government on all matters relating to women's issues directly or indirectly. l Facilitate Bahraini women's representation in international forums and Arab and international organisations concerned with women's issues and to engage them in cooperative agreements and joint programmes. l Establish a documentation centre for the collection of information, data and studies on women and conduct studies and research in this area. l Educate the community role of women and their rights and duties and through the use of appropriate mechanisms. l Publish newsletters, magazines, printed materials and electronic data related to the objectives of the Council and its powers. l

woman this month | February 2012 |

15

Interview

Bahrain's

Bold and Beautiful

It was back in the 70s when brothers Elie and Jean took Bahrain by storm with their innovative, chic and internationally inspired hairdressing. Now their successors, the next generation of the family, are ready to step it up a level further.

S

ince 1976, when Lebanon born Jean flew to Bahrain to join his brother Elie in establishing a hairdressing salon, the Elie & Jean brand has gone from strength to strength. They now possess five star salons in the Ritz Carlton, the Regency InterContinental, the Movenpick, another in Lebanon and have opened salon supply stores in Bahrain and Dubai.

The original concept for the Elie & Jean brand was to bring international knowledge, as well as unique and individual talent, to the Middle Eastern region. The dream was to have people perceive hairdressing as an art form rather than just a cultural formality. With training from some of the most prestigious hairdressing empires, including the Vidal Sassoon academy, Elie and Jean soon made a name for themselves.

As we look down the lens of 2012, we can see changes afoot for Elie & Jean. Although Elie and Jean themselves are still very much involved in the brand and the day-today running of the company, their offspring John Luke and Elias have taken responsibility for its forward propulsion into hairdressing superstardom.

John Luke heads up the artistic team, in charge of making sure that the boldest, most beautiful hair styles are introduced to the Bahrain market. “I worked for Toni & Guy’s main company from 1995 to 2000, when it really was in its heyday”, he says of his formal training. “We did loads of really big shows. I trained with their artistic team, which is about as cutting edge as you can get. Then, I went on to work with Anthony Mascolo, who has been at the very

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| February 2012 | woman this month

forefront of the hairdressing industry for the last 30 years and this is how I became so closely affiliated with TIGI.” Indeed John Luke’s relationship to TIGI is really important. Together with the global hair product brand, John Luke and his team have launched the Elie & Jean Academy, a training institution designed to educate up-and-coming hairdressers in the region. It is their firm belief that the more any individual hairdresser learns and trains, the better the whole industry will be as a result.

“As well as being creative director for Elie & Jean”, says John Luke, “I am also the TIGI educational director for the Middle East, which means that we are able to bring international designs, knowledge and expertise to the region as a whole. By educating everyone, even the competition, we feel that the reach and impact of professional hairdressing will grow and grow.” “The shows that we do and the seminars that we teach are also a great way of bringing attention, models and press coverage to the region”.

His cousin Elias, or Lalas as he is more informally known, heads up the Salon Supply branch of the company. “If you are going to be performing the latest techniques and treatments,” says Lalas, “you need to be absolutely sure that the products you are using are really the right ones for the job. This is why we have opened the Elie & Jean Salon Supply, to cater for the needs of all the salons in the area.”

The problem with this region, according to both John Luke and Lalas, is that rumours of new treatments, procedures and styles tend to spread like wildfire, via word of mouth or the internet. Salons in Bahrain and the surrounding countries want to keep up with the trends, understandably, but often don’t have access to the best products and the most appropriate training, to ensure that they are offering the best and most client-conscious services.

“Some of the keratin products available, for example,” says Lalas, “are not altogether in the client’s best interests. Some of them contain a lot of formaldehyde, which can have harmful after effects.” “As the resident experts for the region, we have done enough research to know that the products we use and sell for this treatment — the Brazilian Blowout products, are the most safe and nourishing of the products available.”

All-in-all it seems that John Luke and Lalas have built upon Elie & Jean’s original mission statement. Where once the Elie & Jean goal was simply to pull Bahrain to the forefront of the hairdressing industry, through cutting-edge design, daring and raw talent, the aim according to the next generation is to continue this brave and bold approach, whilst ensuring that it is not just Elie & Jean who can offer the people in Bahrain the best and most highly recommended services. By teaching at the Elie & Jean Academy and by offering top notch products at the Elie & Jean Salon Supply to all hairdressing outlets in the region, Elie and Jean are helping to ensure that the region’s hairdressing industry, as a whole, is nurtured into being the best that it can be. The vision has now gone beyond two brothers on a mission to prove themselves and has become a whole family, backed by an increasingly large and uniquely talented team, wishing to prove to the world that hairdressing is a constantly growing and inspiring art-form. woman this month | February 2012 |

17

Wellbeing

The

Love Quiz

Love comes in different shapes, forms, timeframes and quantities. If yours is the deep and powerful kind — the sort that you know will last a lifetime — lucky you, but that isn’t to say that there aren’t other, just as valuable, perhaps more practical and realistic forms of the emotion. Take our quiz to find out which category your relationship falls into…

The Beginnings When you first met each other…

A. Your meeting was the one all the songs were written about. You locked eyes across a crowded room and something clicked. Your first conversation had you enthralled and you knew almost immediately that you wanted this person in your life for some time to come.

B. You met him with a group of other people. You thought he was charming and interesting, but it wasn’t spellbinding. There weren’t fireworks, exactly, but you found you had a lot in common. He made you laugh, you liked the way it felt to be around him and you decided to give it a shot to find out if there was the potential for something more.

C. Either you, one of your friends or members of your family had known him for a while. He hadn’t really presented himself as a possibility, but over time and with some encouragement from those who had known him for longer, you found yourself giving him a chance. The decision to get together wasn’t exactly yours, nor was it instantaneous, but you trusted the judgement of those close to you.

The Honeymoon Period In those first few months…

A. The initial phase of your relationship feels like a blur. It was a heady rush of laughter, lust and unimaginable closeness.

You realised you had never felt this way about anyone before and you couldn’t bring yourself to be parted from him for any significant length of time.

B. Days passed and then weeks. You saw each other quite regularly and what started off as intrigue seemed to become something deeper. You began to feel drawn to him in a stronger way than you had predicted. There were ups and downs — some days saw you second guessing yourself and wondering if it was really right, but the other days gave you the confidence to pursue it.

C. Knowing that you had been given good advice, you tried hard to give him a fair chance. Over the course of some months you realised that he was a kind, helpful and attentive person, who looked out for your interests and treated you with respect. You became very fond of him, even if you knew it was probably never going to be the stuff of fairy tales.

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Day-to-Day Life A few years on…

A. Life never feels like a chore when he is around. You take on the world together. There are still romantic weekends away, love notes on post-its and breakfasts in bed. You feel extremely lucky because you found the one.

B. Life is so much better than you had expected that it would be. Over time you have grown to love this man more than you could have imagined.

Sure, you argue about the price of milk and you know he is far from perfect — he still drops his wet towel on your freshly made bed — but these things are inconsequential. He has a good heart which you value deeply and you have come to realise that life is just better with him there to share it all with you.

C. Over time your respect for each other has grown and grown. He has worked out what makes you happy and what doesn’t and he does his best to accommodate your needs. There are ups and downs and you still question your decision from time to time, but you have come to realise that his companionship is extremely valuable and you love him for that.

Your Love Type Mostly As – The Soulmate Love

This is the love that little girls dream of and some people wait their whole lives and never experience.

There are those who would say it is unrealistic or a bit fantastical, but if you feel it, then you feel it. It is intense and binding, which means that when it hurts it really hurts, but you know in your heart that it is worth it because you have something irreplaceable.

Mostly Bs – The Growing Love

A love that grows and grows is arguably more powerful or valuable than all the others. It took you somewhat by surprise, which means that you didn’t burden it with the pressure of unrealistic expectations. You love them for who they are and not what you want them to be. You might not be completely certain that they are the only person you could ever love, but the longer you are together, the more you realise that this doesn’t matter, because you love this person enough to never want to go through life without them.

Mostly Cs – The Pragmatic Love

People hate to hear the words “practical” and “love” in the same sentence. We all have this crazy idea that the all-consuming Soulmate Love is the only one worth having. This just simply isn’t true. If you have found someone who makes day-to-day life better, who you respect for their beliefs as well as their kindness and who you would rather be with than be without, then you are lucky, for you have found a team work and a partnership that many will never experience. Love doesn’t have to be the stuff of fairy tales for it to make you happy. woman this month | February 2012 |

19

Fashion

Fashion Fashion Forward Expert Don’t be afraid to be bold and to stand out this February. We’d all rather be remembered than fade into insignificance, so why not let your clothes announce your unforgettable arrival?

Knees Up!

Some of you will have struggled with the over-the-knee style boots that have been around for the past couple of years. On those without skinny legs, they look overbearing and paired with the wrong outfit they have a slight hooker air to them. Luckily for us, the knee-high boot is staging a comeback. Check out Jaeger London’s offerings.

Resident fashion expert Natasha Bird picks her February favourites.

Want It

New sparkle designed by Arik Levy for Atelier Swarovski.

Blinging and beautiful!

What’s Hot

The shoe-boot isn’t going anywhere, but be sure to experiment with unusual shapes and styles.

Shimmer and Shine

The Autumn Winter runways were delightfully dazzling. Everyone from Stella McCartney to Balmain (pictured) had some form of glitter and gold adorning their creations. Stand out at any party by finding yourself some sequins, lamé, glitter, studs and crystals — just be sure to make them gold, bold and beautiful.

Get to the Point

This is not to say that round and square-toed shoes have completely had their day, but their light is dimming as an old acquaintance comes to the foreground. Pointy-toed shoes, like this bronze Casadei version, are back with a bang. They have been recently sported by the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge and Elle Macpherson. How could you not want to follow in such stylish footsteps?

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Bin It

Floral might not be completely over, but there are certainly better things to focus on at the moment!

Unusually Charming

Hats are in, there’s no doubt about it. Abandon the hair clips, the turbans and the fascinators, because a hat really is the only way to go about things this year. For the faint of heart, the usual trilby and fedora styles will do, but for those with more stomach, why not try a pillbox cap in the style of Marc Jacobs AW11?

Be Wild

Everyone’s wearing snakeskin.

There are snakeskin handbags, snakeskin gloves, snakeskin shoes in the shops, but the thing that nobody can keep their hands off are the snakeskin trousers.

Whether you stick to the print version, like these Mango jeans, or you splash out on a metallic leather variety, be sure to have at least one snakeskin item in your wardrobe.

woman this month | February 2012 |

21

Fashion

What the Natas

Stars

ha Bir

d

are Wearing

February is the month of romance and fine dining. What better way to look forward to it than by checking out some fabulous, sensual frocks, as seen on the stars?!

Mary J Blige Mary J Blige sashayed down the red carpet in a nude Michael Kors Autumn/Winter 2011 jersey dress. The crystals seem appropriately bling for such a big event, but we aren’t wild about the fabric or the colour. We would have liked Ms Blige to have stepped outside the box just a little bit more…

Kate Beckinsale The lovely British actress Kate Beckinsale had the pleasure of co-hosting a dinner with FLAUNT magazine at the SLS Hotel in LA and she chose a Michael Kors Autumn 2011 dress for the occasion.

Although black is a little safe, we think the dress looks stunning. She paired it with Jimmy Choo “Esam” pumps, a black satin clutch and Chopard jewels.

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Fan Bing Bing Oriental megastar Fan Bing Bing likes to take risks with her wardrobe. Whilst promoting her latest movie My Way in Seoul, South Korea, though, she chose a sweet, pink Marc Jacobs Resort 2012 dress and paired it with the popular Louboutin “Lady Daff’ pumps that we’ve seen on so many celebrities. This dress is adventurous in shape and texture, whilst still being pretty and feminine. We approve!

Estelle British songstress Estelle, famous for such hits as “American Boy”, graced the Hammerstein Ballroom with her gorgeous presence in a Diane von Furstenberg “Clarice” dress. This is a bolder gown than many of Furstenberg’s, but has been created in the usual wrap-over style. We think the shimmering gold is just divine and looks glorious against Estelle’s beautiful skin.

Florence Welch Singer Florence of Florence and the Machine fame is known for her quirky dressing, which it was nice to see her in something a little bit tame and feminine at the VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul event.

Her Antonio Berardi Spring 2012 dress is sweet and floaty without being sickly or too much. The nude ankle strap pumps don’t detract from her look. An unusually sweet choice for Flo!

Katy Perry You can’t say that Katy Perry doesn’t know how to make an attention grabbing entrance. She appeared at the launch of her new fragrance “Meow” riding on a green and gold trolley adorned with holiday decorations. Unfortunately, we aren’t altogether fond of her pink Moschino Autumn 2011 dress. The satin is just a little unflattering.

The black bow and grosgrain waistband do help though and she looks like she’s got some cool nail art!

Charlize Theron For someone usually extremely stylish — we’ve all seen those amazing Dior adverts — she put together a very weird ensemble for the LA premiere of Young Adult. Her Stella McCartney Spring 2012 dress is ill fitting around the bust and the asymmetric hemline looks a little too rough. Plus, she paired the frock with a fairly harsh looking pair of bondage style Manolo Blahniks.

Elle Fanning Elle Fanning, younger sister to Dakota and actress in her own right, is fast becoming a fashion icon. The outfit that she wore to the New York premiere of We Bought a Zoo Today is no less stunning than her usual choices.

The Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 dress is an ethereal, origami-esque creation. The pleats, the organza and the laser-cut sections are unusual, but totally beautiful.

woman this month | February 2012 |

23

Fashion

Fashion News Bulletins

As last month’s news bulletins were so successful, we thought we would bring back the section for a second month running. So, here is the low-down on the latest events hitting the fashion world. The catwalks, the tantrums, the collaborations…read it here first!

The Secret’s Out! Far be it from us to tout the wares of our competition, but we can’t help but appreciate good work when we see it. There is a cute new website out, dedicated to the fashion, retail and happenings of Bahrain. www. mysecretbahrain.com is fresh-looking and has the potential to be a great resource. At the moment its fashion section is still quite small — but it does claim to have a section detailing any upcoming sample sales and designer shows, which we think is an excellent idea. Let’s hope this really gets off the ground and they are able to update it with enough regularity.

The Return of the Supers The supermodels of the 80s and 90s are enjoying a renaissance at the moment. Despite being publicly embroiled in court cases involving violence and illegal diamond trading, Naomi has decided to show the world that her day is not done. She has teamed up with fellow supers Karen Elson, Kristen McMenamy and Daphne Groeneveld to star in the latest Roberto Cavalli campaign, for his SS2012 collection.

The shoot, which took place in New York, features some exciting and bright colours, as well as a lot of flesh-baring from Ms Campbell.

With the well-known Steven Meisel behind the camera lens, this campaign is surely one to watch out for.

Naomi 24

| February 2012 | woman this month

A Cultural Affair Despite its rather odd name — we are pretty sure that January and February form part of the winter season — the Bahrain Autumn Fair, being held at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre has lots of promise. With over 700 exhibitors hailing from around 23 different countries, you are bound to be introduced to something you had never before experienced.

As well as gadgets and homeware, there will also be a fashion section. You are unlikely to be able to pick up the latest Marni shirt or Mulberry handbag, but you might get a look at some of the styles which are currently fashionable somewhere with a lot of cultural heritage, such as Hong Kong or Korea. So why not take a dip into the unusual early this February; you never know, you might find something that suits you perfectly and at a bargain price.

Yet another set of designers have found themselves at the centre of controversy this month. Dolce & Gabanna ignited the fires of revenge in Hong Kong, when a security guard outside the city’s store banned a photographer from taking pictures of the shop’s display window. The suggestion is that D&G claim that the stuff in their window constitutes “intellectual”, rather than “public”, property and is, therefore, protected from being distributed by third parties.

We think this sounds like a load of rubbish and rumour, founded on one security guard’s mistake, but the people of Hong Kong felt strongly enough about the issue that 13,000 of them turned up outside the store to protest and boycott! Dolce & Gabbana are going to have to talk their way out of this one very carefully.

Sanctuary in Jeopardy Supermodel and do-gooder Erin O’Connor is having a bit of a crisis. It all started in 2008 when she set up a non-profit institution called the Model Sanctuary — a place where young models could get advice and receive treatment on an educational, nutritional and general wellbeing basis.

However, she’s found herself in hot water in recent months when the Covent Garden, London location of her centre became subject to a long term lease issue, meaning that it is being threatened with closure.

Erin, convinced by the value of her organisation, is determined to find a new venue to relocate the Sanctuary. Let’s hope she finds just the thing, as it’s always nice to see good work getting rewarded.

Privacy Scandal

A Muse-Off Erin

Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana will be pitting themselves against each other in a competition that they probably never thought they would enter this year. At the 2012 Baftas, both Burberry and D&G’s young muses have been nominated in the same category for the Rising Star award, meaning they are in direct competition.

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones will go head-to-head for the coveted accolade and the winner is bound to bring about even more exposure and hype for the brand they represent.

Both actors and models are extremely gorgeous, we are not sure which one we like more!

How about you?

woman this month | February 2012 |

25

Feature

We

LOVE to dress up

As Valentine’s Day is around the corner, we thought we’d take a look at some fabulous ways to dress up for those LOVE-ly moments.

The Dresses If ever there was a time to slip on a slinky red dress, it’s when you are about to go for dinner with the person you love. Luckily for you there is an amazing selection of red dresses out there — it has been one of the staple colours of the season.

If you are floating on the waves of new love, pick the primary version of the colour for the real “wow” factor.

If your love is way past the initial spasms, why not pick something a bit darker, sophisticated, sensual and knowing?

Hoss Intropia

Carolina Herrera Warehouse

Principles by Ben de Lisi at Debenhams Next

Reiss

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Lipsy

The Lingerie Whether it is a case of buying it for yourself — just to feel sexy in your own skin, or whether you intend to show it to your partner behind closed doors, Valentine’s Day provides a gloriously good reason to purchase some new lingerie.

From black and seductive to pretty and pink, the choices are endless.

Nayomi Babydoll

La Senza

Ann Summers Women's Secret

Nayomi

The Shoes Dune

Jimmy Choo

Ralph Lauren

Dorothy Perkins

woman this month | February 2012 |

27

Feature

Accessories

The only downside to everyone wearing red to celebrate love and romance is that you get a lot of very similar outfits. A great way to differentiate your red dress from those around you is to layer your look with some exciting accessories. From striking box clutches, to Victoriana-inspired necklaces, there are many different ways to stand out.

Accessorize

Hoss Intropia The Accessories Piaget

Salvatore Ferragamo

Miss Selfridge

Marc Jacobs Coast Versace

Nina Ricci

Accessorize

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| February 2012 | woman this month

The Separates If a red dress is just too much clichÊ for your liking, there are other options. How about adding accents of the colour to your look? Try a red skirt with a low-cut, black top or, if you want to be even more casual, pop on a pair of this season’s favourite red trousers and pair it with some matching accessories.

Camaieu

Koton Hoss Intropia

Paule Ka

Oasis

The Home The Body Shop

Next

Red Herring at Debenhams

woman this month | February 2012 |

29

Fashion

GET THE LOOK

N

Nicole

Richie

icole Richie, as a bit of a fashion guru, is not one to shy away from making a bold statement. So it is for this reason that we weren’t particularly surprised when she turned up at the NBC Universal 2012 Winter TCA Press Tour All-Star Party, in Pasadena, California, wearing a pale, striking ensemble. She was a beacon of light, surrounded by muted, wintery colours. Embracing the passion for embellishment that many designers seem to be showing at the moment, she wore a head-to-toe Antonio Berardi ensemble and paired it with Christian Louboutin pumps and, of course, House of Harlow accessories.

Rings

Nicole’s rings are a shining example of her own designing prowess, seeing as they are from House of Harlow, her jewellery brand. House of Harlow is totally chic, if a little on the pricey side. Stacked rings are easy to come by, though, if your budget doesn’t stretch quite as far as hers. How about these lovely opal-esque stacked rings from Accessorize?

Blazer

Her Antonio Berardi asymmetric-hemmed blazer is chic and edgy whilst being ultra-feminine at the same time.

Pale blazers have actually been all the rage this winter as they make a nice change from the usual black and navy styles and they fit well with the minimalist trends. This blazer provides a nice contrast to the busy design of her leggings. We’ve found this excellent alternative for you — a slim-fitting, tailored design from Reiss.

Lower Half

Nicole Richie’s embellished leggings are covered in studs and crystals, which make them really eye-catching. For a look that is even more girly, though, we’ve stumbled across this amazing set from Rover Island. The crop top and mid-length skirt combination is absolutely instyle and reminds us of many of the Miu Miu and Michael Kors looks we’ve seen on the runway this season. And, of course, the set is covered in just as many dazzling embellishments. You’ll have fun with this on!

Heels

Nicole’s heels are a very simple Christian Louboutin design — they are called Bianca, in case you wanted to know — which is exactly right for her outfit. The trousers speak for themselves, so there is no need to try and attract attention anywhere else. We have found these cute peep-toe court shoes from Dune.

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| February 2012 | woman this month

GET THE LOOK

R

Rooney

Mara

ooney Mara has exploded onto our television, computer and cinema screens this year, thanks to her wonderful debut in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

We’ve seen her transformed from pretty girl, to pierced and studded crime fighter and then to seriously noteworthy style icon. Many of her looks are inimitable for those of us who don’t have a tiny frame and relatively flat chest, but here we have picked a more feminine ensemble that anyone can emulate.

Lips

Rooney’s red lips make her look. Without this bold pop of colour, she would risk the ensemble looking dull and insignificant. The stand-out red, coupled with her harsh fringe, make the look one to remember. For a high-fashion look, you’d be best to pick something with a matte finish, such as this “Lady Danger” lipstick by MAC.

Clutch

Rooney herself doesn’t actually appear to be carrying a bag at all; such is the simplicity of her look. However, for most of you women, going bag-free just isn’t an option.

Where would you keep the lipstick for reapplication, for example? So, in keeping with the style of the rest of her outfit, we thought we’d show you this Christian Louboutin “Cleo” clutch. It is simple, but lends a second accent to the red of the lip colour.

Dress

To the Paris premiere of the film, she wore this black Louis Vuitton sleeveless dress from his Pre-Autumn 2011 collection.

The structured, bell-shaped skirt is embroidered with embellishments, which turn it from a plain LBD into something more dazzling. The sweetheart line of the dress before the mesh top covering keeps it nice and feminine, but without being revealing. Happily, we have discovered this extremely similar version from Coast.

Heels

Rooney did an excellent job of keeping her look very simple. Her Balmain strappy sandals are minimalist to say the least, which does mean that the dress gets the full attention of all onlookers. We’ve chosen these Jimmy Choo sandals as an alternative. They are strappy and simple, like Rooney’s, but they do have an added layer of detail, for those of you that don’t like to keep things ultra-simple. woman this month | February 2012 |

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Showcase

Flexible and Fun FLO MOTIONWEAR

A brand new concept in sports clothing — Flo Motionwear is functional, smart and trendy, all at the same time. Wear it day or night; in the gym, to the shops or even in the bar!

Heading to the gym three or more times a week might be a necessary part of your regular routine, but that doesn’t make it particularly fun or exciting. For women who love fashion and trend-spotting, popping on the same, tired sports bra and throwing over it an old t-shirt might feel like a bit of a chore. Luckily for you, a trip to Flo Motionwear might be just the thing to spice up your daily fitness duties.

Flo Motionwear is a unique retail concept, offering functional and fashionable fitness wear to suit a busy woman’s active lifestyle. Flo sources distinctive fitness and leisure-wear from around the world — bringing you the latest in high-performance, comfort and fashion. Flo houses a range of different colours, styles and designs to suit a multitude of activities and with new collections every season, it is easy to stay up to date with the latest trends.

Afraid to show off your curves? Flo’s flattering and comfortable fabrics allow women of all shapes and sizes to look and feel great. Who knew your workouts could also become a fashion statement?

That’s not all, Flo also offers a wide range of essential accessories — ranging from sports bags and exercise mats, to headwear and foot wear.

Flo Motionwear is now open at Uptown Village on Budaiya Highway.

Call 17 590-490 or email mail@flomotionwear.com 32

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The Glam Factor!

BEBE

For a party look that stands out from all the rest, make Bebe your first port of call.

B

ebe is one of the most prominent and well respected women’s fashion retailers globally.

The Bebe woman is said to be indefinable by looks alone — she projects a certain attitude instead.

The Bebe woman is “assertive, sexy and stylish”.

For all you assertive and stylish women out there looking for the perfect party look, your search ends here. Bebe’s bandage dress, emulating the famous style seen on a whole host of celebrities, is available now in store. We suggest you pick up this gorgeous navy blue version.

Bebe is totally prepared to cater for all your accessory needs too! How about a pair of sparkly platform stilettos? Or a boxy, glimmering evening bag?

With the Bebe staff at the Bahrain City Centre store on hand to assist you in any way you might need, planning for your perfect party outfit is sure to be a success!

Call 17 178-670.

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33

Beauty News

Beauty

February is the month of love. Whether you are swanning off to a fancy restaurant with your husband or partner, or whether you are just heading out to meet your girls for some singleton fun, be sure to look your best by picking up one of these great products.

How Cheeky

Gosh Cosmetics have come up with a new allrounder product. A lovely gel in two delightful shades — Back to Nature and Earth Bound — that you can apply to both your cheeks and your lips! How handy!Available at Ruyan outlets, Faces, Beauty Bay and others.

Au Naturel

It is every girl’s dream to find a makeup that will create perfection, whilst at the same time looking as though no makeup was needed at all. Clarins are getting in there early with their Spring 2012 collection, which is awash with nudes, beiges and pretty rose pinks.

Available at Debenhams in Bahrain City Centre.

The Beautiful and the Dark

Guerlain are another brand that are getting their Spring 2012 products out early and we are particularly excited by their collection titles “Les Roses et le Noir”. It is a sensual collection of black and pink, punctuated by a pretty rose motif.Available at leading retailers.

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Lashes -a-Plenty

Revlon have brought out an amazing new product called the Grow Luscious Lash Liner.

This specially formulated eyeliner provides rich, silky colour, while at the same time supporting healthy lash growth due to a rich mixture of botanicals and aloe.

Available at leading retailers.

Metallic Fancy

Sephora have sent us this amazing Cargo liquid eye shimmer that we have all been cooing over in the office. It turns out that Cargo have a whole range of metal-inspired gems, just waiting for you to try them. How about some dazzling, glittery eyeliner, or some sparkly powder to dust over your brow and cheeks?

Available at Sephora, Bahrain City Centre.

Cheek to Cheek

Bourjois have been at it again — finding new ways to nourish your skin whilst providing cover that lasts and lasts. Their new Healthy Balance powder has an exciting twist — it contains Asian fruit extracts which will give your skin the boost it needs.

Available at leading retailers.

Feeling Blue

If the reds of this season are not your thing, then look no further than Dior to fulfil your darker needs. Dior nail varnish for Winter 2011/12 is absolutely to die for. Why stick to one colour, pick your three favourites and alternate between them!

Available at leading retailers.

Did You Say Red?

She’s not Hermione Granger anymore! Emma Watson has transformed into a beautiful butterfly for her Lancôme campaign and now we are all after that amazing red lipstick she wears in the advert. The collection she promotes sports a whole range of lovely reds!

Available at leading retailers.

woman this month | February 2012 |

35

Beauty

The

Brazilian Way

Frizzy, damaged hair is only made worse by hot weather and humid conditions. The Brazilians have the answer, it’s time we followed suit!

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he Brazilian Blowout, although strictly a salon treatment, so not something you can do to yourself at home, really is the answer to your prayers. If you suffer from dry, damaged or frizzy hair, or even if you just want your tight curls to be relaxed, then you should definitely give this treatment a go.

Over the last few years, there have been numerous keratin treatments to hit the market, many of them claiming to be able to smooth out your frizz and relax curly hair. However, the difference between these, along with chemical straightening treatments and the Brazilian Blowout is that the BB products are actually good for your hair!

That’s right, thanks to a specially formulated list of ingredients and breakthrough bonding technologies, these treatments will actually improve the condition and the health of your hair, by forming a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate the frizz and smooth the cuticle.

This protective layer will guard the individual hair strands against the cold, heat and dryness and, amazingly, it will last for up to three months, so you won’t need to sit for hours with the straightening irons for a good long while after you visit the salon.

Here’s how it works:

Through the use of a Brazilian super-nutrient complex and a proprietary polymer system, the Brazilian Blowout products are designed to be painted on to the hair, heat bonded and then last for several months after your salon visit.

At the salon: The first few keratin treatment products to be developed ended up requiring a lengthy process to make them work. Before the Brazilian Blowout products, you used to have to make several salon visits — one to have the product applied and then the second, after a period of a few days, to have it washed out and straightened. This application of this product will take approximately 90 minutes and you will be able to wash your hair the day after you leave the salon, should you need to. l Upon entering the salon, a stylist will shampoo your hair using a special type of product which removes leftover residue from any other products you might have been using. l After towel drying your hair, the stylist will then apply the Brazilian Blowout product by taking sections of hair in turn and painting it on from root to tip. l Following this, the stylist will then blow-dry your hair as straight as possible with the product on it.

After this, he or she will then part the hair into sections and straighten the hair with a flat iron. This heat straightening will help the product to bond to your hair and it is also integral to the smoothing and de-frizzing process. l You will then have your hair rinsed, a treatment masque applied, which helps to condition and seal the product and then you will receive another rinse. l Finally you will have your hair blow-dried again and styled as you would wish and a finishing serum applied. And then you are good to go! Radiant, silky, soft and smooth hair will then be yours for the next few months.

Things to watch for: There are many different keratin products on the market, some of which use very similar names and bottles to the Brazilian Blowout. Be very careful which of these you choose as some of them will not be as healthy as they claim to be. The Brazilian Blowout is one of the most recommended and qualityproven of all the products available so you would do well to look into using this one.

This treatment is available at Elie & Jean hair salons and their products are available for stylists at the Elie & Jean salon supplies shop. woman this month | February 2012 |

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Beauty

Allure

The Scent of

As this is the month of love, we’re looking at the perfumes which exude attraction and sensuality — just the thing to attract the attention of someone special.

Maybe One Day

We never thought we’d be saying this, but Justin Bieber has brought out a fragrance! Okay, so this isn’t exactly one for the grown-up women out there, but our teenage readers are sure to love it! And think about it, he’s called it Someday, which surely means that one day he is bound to get round to romancing you!

Available at Sephora.

Turn Up the Heat

Beyoncé is one very sensual woman and nobody can deny it. If you are looking for raw, physical appeal, then look no further than her signature scent Heat. The fruity, but deep and woody fragrance is sexy and bold, but feminine and mysterious at the same time.

Available at leading retailers.

Take Control

This is the perfume for ultimate seduction. Very Sexy is a sultry blend of vanilla orchid, sparkling clementine and juicy blackberry, with notes of camellia, mimosa and white amber. A delicious perfume for a delicious person!

Available at Victoria’s Secret.

The Classic

Here’s one for you old romantics out there. This scent, would you believe it, has been around since 1984, but has been reconceptualised to keep it up to date. It scent consists of spicy rose, infused with cedar and ylang-ylang. It is a scent for the woman who loves a grown-up classic.

Available at leading retailers.

Sweet Romance

Romance by Ralph Lauren is a girly, ultra-feminine, yet distinct and unusual fragrance. It combines violet, ginger and oak moss, with fresh rose, marigold and musk, to create a sweet, but heady scent. This is the perfect fragrance for daytime picnics for two!

Available at leading retailers.

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10

Valentine’s Singleton’s Survival Guide

It’s that time of year again — that special day dedicated to cheesy romance, gooey candy, expensive flower arrangements and goofy plush toys plastered with big red hearts.

Whether you’re feeling lonely or simply hate the day devoted to romance, we’ve got 10 ways to help you keep your cool without feeling blue this Valentine’s Day. Elma Bartholomew 1. Don’t go it alone.

Go out to dinner with friends. Everyone else in the restaurant may be having quiet, intimate conversations, but you and your lot can be screaming with laughter.

2. Rock your own rules.

Creating your own traditions that you totally adore will give you something to look forward to year after year. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you love and makes you happy.

3. Pamper yourself.

6. Redefine the day.

Instead of thinking of February 14, 2012 as Valentine’s Day, think of it as the day you ran a mile in eight minutes, the day you made cheesecake all by yourself or the day you watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s for the first time.

7. Movie time.

Treating yourself to a nice movie might be just the break you need.

Invite some friends over and plan a movie marathon. You can spend the entire night eating fun snacks and catching up with friends.

One of the great joys of being single is that when you give yourself a gift, it’s something you really want. Get your nails done; follow it with a massage; take a long bubble bath; cook yourself a nice dinner and treat yourself to your favourite dessert. Buy that skirt you’ve been eyeing up or even a diamond ring — go for it! If splurging on yourself is tough, rationalise it this way — if you were coupled, you would be spending that cash on someone else anyway.

8. Throw an anti-Valentine’s Day party.

4. Do some good.

Unplug or hide your mobile phone to avoid the possibility of calling any of the people you are lucky to have out of your life. Do not consider emails either. This is especially important if there is any alcohol involved in your “celebration”.

Volunteer. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind for Valentine’s Day, but it just may be what you’re looking for. You’ll help out your community and leave with a fantastic feeling in your heart.

And what’s not to like about that?

5. Fly solo.

Do those things you’ve been meaning to do, but that no one wants to join in with, such as watching the latest sci-fi thriller, visiting the museum or checking out an art exhibition. Don’t wait until someone changes their mind, just go.

Chances are you aren’t the only person who isn’t thrilled about the holiday. Dress in black if it makes you feel better. If you aren’t in the mood for mushy rom-coms; turn the movie-fest to an Anti-Valentine’s DVD night. Think The Godfather or Pulp Fiction. Cupid piñata is optional, but highly recommended.

9. Don’t embarrass yourself.

10. Get yourself together.

Use the free time to get yourself organised. Clean up your calendar, catch up on laundry, and plan ahead for major projects. It may sound lame at first, but you might be surprised at how good you feel after you’re done. If all else fails, consider sleeping through the holiday.

Enjoy the morning after! woman this month | February 2012 |

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Showcase

Love in a Gift Box RUYAN GROUP

The season of love calls for gifts; the more thoughtful, the better. Gosh is giving back to its most loyal customers throughout February.

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his month, you are in for a treat if you shop at Beauty Bay, Lifestyle and Lulu Hypermarkets. Gosh cosmetics brings you the perfect gift for the season with a bunch of interesting and useful products in an attractively wrapped box at an unbelievable price of BD12. Looking your best this Valentine’s Day won’t be too hard when you are in possession of the contents of this makeup kit.

The velvet touch lambada lipstick adds an intense and lasting shimmer to that pout. Apart from the shiny texture, it offers extra care and protection to your lips as it contains SPF6. As the name suggests, the natural touch cream blusher leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, giving you the opportunity to create a healthy and fresh look with a flawless

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finish. It comes in several basic shades with a fantastic light weight formula. It is also free of preservatives and perfume.

Believe it or not, you also get Oh My Gosh nail lacquer, which has been manufactured without the use of harmful agents like DBP toluene, formaldehyde, camphor and phthalic acid. It offers excellent coverage and an extra shiny finish. Not only does it dry quickly, it doesn’t wear off easily. Also helping you keep those nails in tip-top condition is a brilliant Gosh manicure set.

The final item in the package is a plush heart-hugging teddy bear key chain. It can be a constant companion; after all, it does cling to your heart. Call 17 731-316.

TONI & GUY

The Four Cs of Hair Control

Whatever your hair type, the stylists at Toni & Guy will be able to recommend the perfect solution from their label.m range, which promises to restore, moisturise, condition and soothe your hair.

Filled with all the nutrients and minerals that your hair needs, the label.m line of hair products from Toni & Guy gives you the luxury of feeling the difference immediately. It boasts a wide selection of conditioners, suitable for naturally dry, chemically treated or damaged hair. To get your tresses the complete protection they deserve, simply ask your stylist for a consultation to see which is most suitable for you.

Label.m has been developed for professional stylists under the creative eye of a dynamic international artistic team led by Toni and Sacha Mascolo. Their expertise in creating innovative hair formulations is where fashion meets iconic styling, with a multicultural appeal.

The four wonders Cleanse is the first preparation stage of Label.m’s four Cs. It includes eight shampoos that help to cleanse, repair and maintain colour. The Condition line is designed to complement the former phase. It nourishes and adds shine to your locks and contains hair and scalp treatments. The two ranges are all formulated using natural oils and floral waters, obtained by cold

water extraction, allowing your hair to feel the benefits of natural goodness straight away.

For alternative products, such as a root lift mousse and foam with UV absorption or heat-activated thickening cream and curl activation, look to Create. Whether you want to add shine, hold, control frizz or just keep adding volume, the totally versatile products from the Complete line gives you that expert finish. The label.m styling and finishing range includes sprays, polishes, waxes and balms that enable you to create a fusion of catwalk and street inspired looks, which is the trademark of Toni & Guy. Not only is the range suitable for all hair types, and designed for simple use, it lets you recreate salon styling at home with the versatility of professional products.

Enriched with high levels of certified pure ingredients, its organic products care for hair the natural way. They even offer gift packs that allow you to indulge in lavish pampering sessions or perhaps treat a loved one. Visit the Toni & Guy salon at Seef Mall to find the secret to flawless hairdos.

Call 1700 1700. woman this month | February 2012 |

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Campaign

Igniting the Fire of a

Young Mind

Often, it’s the earliest books that children own that really shape their young minds. A crusade is underway in Bahrain to revive the lost habit of reading.

I

n an age where adults and children tend to spend more time in front of a screen, rather than with a book, it gets increasingly difficult to inspire a reading habit among the young ones.

Recent research in Bahrain has shown that less than 41 per cent of mothers and less than 1 per cent of fathers read to their pre-school children (aged below six) on a weekly basis! The numbers remain nearly the same for mothers and fathers who tell stories to their young children. Conducted by child psychologist and early child developmental specialist Dr Julie Hadeed in December 2010, the study on Bahraini families found that when someone else in the family participated — be it siblings, grandmothers or other relatives — the reading percentage in homes went up substantially from 41 per cent to 79 per cent. Not surprisingly, mothers not only read significantly more than their husbands to their children, they also tended to inflate the reported time their husbands spent reading to children.

In comparison, around 41 to 57 per cent of mothers in the US have been found to read to their children on a regular basis, whereas between 26 to 29 per cent of fathers reported reading regularly to their pre-school kids. The percentage of parents who read to their children rose significantly when family income was higher (above the poverty line) and remains less than 40 per cent when family income was below the poverty line.

Disadvantaged families often reported having unequal access to books and related materials.

Learning starts at home The importance of reading as a gateway to building early literacy development in children has been universally acknowledged. Well documented research shows that reading aloud to children is not only one of the best ways to stimulate language and cognitive skills, but it also builds motivation, curiosity and memory. Children who are read to earlier and more often at home perform better at school all around. They have higher outcomes in reading and mathematics as well as social and emotional behaviours. Their attitudes toward learning and relationships improve as well.

“Equally important to early reading in the home is the quality and style of book reading. What happens during the adult-child book reading interaction is paramount in understanding how early literacy is developed,” notes Dr

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MOCEP volunteers at Salmaniya hospital

Hadeed, founding director of Mother-Child Home Education Programme (MOCEP) Bahrain.

Bahrain may officially report literacy rates of 97 per cent, but the studied population that claimed to be literate was found to perform much lower in terms of comprehension skills and functional literacy — highlighting the need for building a pre-school, homebased enrichment programme.

MOCEP is designed to support mothers of primary school age children (five or six year-old). As an academic and researcher who has spent 35 years training teachers in early child education, Dr Hadeed recognises that a growing percentage of parents cannot afford to send their children to pre-school. With the majority of parents in Bahrain not reading to their children at home regularly, the need for quality early intervention in the home, schools and public institutions cannot be over emphasised, she believes.

Her 2004 book “Poverty Begins at Home” records the impressive impact that a high-quality home education programme has had on families living in poverty in the Kingdom. “Reading aloud is the single most important area that impacts early child development. The nurturing and one-on-one attention from parents during reading aloud encourages children to form a positive association with books and reading later in life,” she says.

Her team at MOCEP, which has been tracking the progress of children long after they finished the programme, found that even 12 years down the line, they continued to enjoy the benefits of this intervention.

Reach out and read This January, MOCEP Wings has launched an early reading intervention programme — “Reach Out and Read” (ROR) — for hospitalised children. The programme seeks to make books a routine part of paediatric care.

The pilot initiative was launched at Salmaniya Hospital, where 13 trained volunteers read stories to terminally ill

children, admitted at the haematology and oncology wards.

Each volunteer was assigned a child between the age of three and six and read aloud high quality storybooks in English and Arabic everyday for a week.

“We would simply like to provide some moments of joy, imagination and, perhaps, give hope where there’s none.

This is a pilot project, but has the potential to be a mainstay in hospitals across Bahrain,” says Dr Hadeed.

The project was launched with support from the Ministry of Health and sponsorship from HSBC bank.

A colleague from Harvard Medical School introduced Dr Hadeed to the ROR programme, which has been a great success in the US since its launch in 1989. The programme runs in 2,948 hospitals in 50 states in the US, with over 2.5 million children benefiting annually from the participation of 44,100 physicians and nurses.

Dr Hadeed would like parents to commit to daily reading routines with their young children in their homes under the ROR programme so that they may promote strong and emotional relationships with the children, while building their language and reading skills. Talking about the stories and events from other times could provide a supportive environment for dialogue and instil the love and appreciation for the written word in a young child.

“The focus here is on parents, since they are the teachers for life. We aim to build parental awareness and understanding about the long term academic, emotional and social benefits of reading daily to their children,” she says.

MOCEP has its roots in Turkey. In 2001, its first intervention programme was launched in Bahrain under the auspices of Bahrain Red Crescent Society and has since covered 2000 families. In 2010, MOCEP was rated the sixth best child education programme in the world by the Qatar Foundation.

To volunteer or donate, write to co.mocep@gmail.com or call 17 292-877. woman this month | February 2012 |

43

Wellbeing

Skin Issues

Through the Ages

Alison Coldridge

There’s no fighting ageing, but with careful consideration of your facial regime you will be able to trick your skin into thinking it is much younger.

The 20s

Growing older is an entirely natural process and however much we dread it, it is going to happen. However, what can cause anxiety is the rate at which the facial skin ages — in fact, many women are concerned that their skin is ageing faster than they are!

There are plenty of ways to help yourself look younger, so even as your body and mind ages you can still look and feel visibly younger. It just takes a certain level of commitment and the right products to beat the most common complexion offenders.

The market is ripe with anti-ageing products, which claim to “transform your skin” so that you instantly look younger — how many of them work is undeterminable, but taking a guess, probably not many!

You need to know which products to use at what point in your life, and to do this you need to get to the root of it all and understand how facial skin evolves and changes as the years pass.

The trick is to focus upon one decade at a time, as all skin ages in cycles. Each decade will bring a gradual change in your facial type, tone, plumpness and elasticity and so you need to adjust your skincare routine to fit whichever “agezone” you are in. Over time, collagen and elastin, the skin’s two main structural components will degrade and it is advisable to know how to help restore them both.

Don’t fear ladies! Woman This Month is here to help you discover that there are many solutions to ageing gradually and naturally whilst still looking radiant and wrinkle-free.

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When you are in your 20s, your skin is youthful, dewy and glowing, but you have to face the flip side of the scale. At this point in your life, hormone levels peak from all of the angst and emotional turbulence experienced during your teens and a considerable increase in oil production will occur. This large amount of oil can lead to enlarged and blocked pores, resulting in the two breakouts that we despise — blackheads and acne.

The primary resolution is to exfoliate. The process will loosen dead skin cells and break down clogged pores. You should also use a product that fights oil without entirely drying out the skin, leaving you with a shine-free complexion.

The solution Clinique Oil-Control Cleansing Mask

The 30s

The 30s brings with it the emergence of the dreaded “w” word — wrinkles. After 30 years of exposing your skin to the sun, it will begin to show the effects. The sun’s rays penetrate the skins surface and physically destroy the tissues of the skin, which leads to wrinkling at around this age. So now is the decade to really start focusing on wrinkle prevention, which is easier to do than you might think.

The first step is to use suncream all of the time. Change your day moisturiser to one with a built in SPF factor and try to use a retinol-based product during the night. The skin surrounding the eye contour will also begin to cause concern during your 30s and fine lines will become visible.

Combat this with a firming eye cream and brightening products.

The solution L’Occitane Very Precious Eyes Serum

The 40s

They say life begins at 40, so don’t let your complexion deter you from seeking this kind of vitality. When in your 40s, skin will begin to lose the glow that it has had up until now, prompting you to start manually boosting your radiance.

An uneven skin tone may also become apparent, caused by the multiplication of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells found in the epidermis. Making an effort to stay out of direct sunlight will help this issue, or if you find this too hard then amp up the SPF factor you use for additional protection.

You can brighten up a dull appearance by cleansing and exfoliating regularly to increase cell turnover and help even out pigmentation. Your face’s circulation will also be boosted, giving you back your glow.

The 50s

As estrogen levels decline in your 50s, skin becomes thinner and drier meaning that moisture is lost. Your face will feel slightly brittle and crinkly, which can be combated with gentle exfoliation — rejuvenating and bringing the younger skin cells to the surface.

Use a concentrated product or serum for an intense restoration effect. If possible, use one that contains hyaluronic acid as it locks in hydration to ensure a healthier and plumper epidermis. Just remember not to use more than advised on the bottle as too much can effectively drown and clog the skin’s surface.

The solution No7 Instant Radiance Beauty Balm

The 60s

The biggest problem when you’re in your 60s is the sagging of the skin. You will notice that around your neck, eyes and jaw-line the skin will lose its tautness. You need to update your bathroom shelf with products that firm, lift and generally restore volume to keep your skin looking streamlined.

Another problem to look out for is patches of irritation; mature skin is more subject to simple irritation as it will have thinned over the years to become more vulnerable. If this occurs, look for products containing anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as bisabolol, to soothe any problematic areas.

The solution Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

The solution Clarins Advanced ExtraFirming Neck Cream woman this month | February 2012 |

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Showcase BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

Healthy Baby

Jaundice in new born babies is common, but for some cases it can be a cause for concern.

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aundice is a condition which presents as the yellowing of a baby’s skin or eyes, caused by bilirubin — a by-product of the normal breakdown of a baby’s extra red blood cells.

“An unborn baby requires extra oxygen when in the uterus so extra blood cells are needed to carry the oxygen around the baby’s body. Once born, the baby needs to get rid of these extra blood cells. These are broken down by the baby’s liver,” explains Dr. Srinivas Akasam, paediatrician and neonatologist at BSH. For some babies, it gets difficult to cope with the amount of bilirubin during the disposal of these extra blood cells, so their levels may build up. This extra bilirubin is stored in the skin giving the baby a yellow or tanned look.

“A very high bilirubin level may be harmful if left untreated. Complications can include hearing problems and brain damage. By testing and monitoring your baby’s bilirubin level we can provide treatment quickly, if the level is too high, to prevent any harm to the baby,” notes the doctor. The Highly specialised BSH team recommends phototherapy, which involves the baby lying under fluorescent lights. “These lights help the baby’s body to chemically break down the bilirubin in the skin so it can be passed out in the baby’s urine and bowel motions.” Intravenous fluids or extra feeds are also considered as treatment, as well as a special blood transfusion for severe cases.

Dr. Srinivas, who is the latest addition to BSH, completed his medical degree in India and has worked in India, Saudi Arabia, Srilanka and in the Maldives before joining BSH. Call 17 812-000.

Dr. Srinivas Akasam

AMERICAN MISSION HOSPITAL

Eat Yourself Healthy

You are what you eat, as the saying goes. Dietician Abigail C. David of the American Mission Hospital explains the importance of knowing what we put in our body.

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Abigail C. David

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| February 2012 | woman this month

ather than putting in a tonne of effort into calorie counting, it is better to understand how certain classes of food can help our bodily functions. For instance, protein and minerals are body-building foods, carbohydrates and fats are energy giving foods, vitamins and minerals are protective foods and water and fibre are regulatory foods. “Each nutrient has its own purpose in human health. One of the most common mistakes people make is cutting out a class completely in their diet, like carbs,” says the dietician.

Another common error dieters make is surfing the net for some random diet. Abigail stresses that each individual person needs a tailored plan. At AMH, the diagnostic procedure is elaborate; including the assessment of a patient’s personal information, medical history, biochemical traits, anthropometric measurement, physical activity and eating behaviours. “Once all these procedures are done you get an idea of where exactly the person stands, what are the mistakes or if he/she has any misconception about nutrition. Then the plan is made.” Three main meals and two snacks a day is vital and if they are looking to lose weight, to keep a goal of losing 1.5 to two kilos a month.

The dietician finished her BSc and MSc in food and nutrition from D.K.M College, India and her MPhil in exercise physiology and nutrition from TNPESU (Sports University) with a dietetics internship at G.K.N.M.H, Hospital, Coimbatore.

Call 17 248-138.

Showcase

Radiant Skin DR. ABEER COSMOPLASTIC CLINIC

Safer, quicker, more efficient and with less downtime, the Ematrix machine is only available at the Abeer Cosmoplastic Clinic.

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Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

| February 2012 | woman this month

The latest in skin rejuvenation technology, Ematrix goes beyond the imaginable in giving patients a non-invasive, non-laser solution for acne scars, wrinkles, skin laxity, uneven skin tone and texture irregularities.

The system is breaking new ground in the field of cosmetic medicine. In one sitting, all your major skin problems are tackled.

Using sublative rejuvenation technology — a deep dermal heating process conducted with fractionated bipolar RF energy — the system is able to treat damaged underlying dermal tissue without burning, removing or disturbing surface skin.

“With the latest version of the Ematrix, we find that the audience spectra is broadened to patients of all ages, rather than only providing solutions for wrinkles. The machine rejuvenates all skin types and colours with a number of different problems, like acne scars or stretch marks,” says Myriam Issa, training supervisor for the Ematrix distributors.

The procedure takes as little as 10 to 20 minutes, with long term effects after the treatment package is completed.

Also on offer is the latest in fine facial hair removal ­— Laser Shave. Using laser that will allow brighter hairless look away from painful traditional ways like "threading or waxing".

Lasting up to three or four months for the fine hair in face, ears or even nose and available for both men and women.

Maintaining a unique relationship with her patients, Dr Abeer holds regular events at her clinic, introducing and educating her patients on the latest cosmetic technologies.

Most of her events offer free or reduced price trial runs to her patients, like botox or laser hair removal.

The clinic’s in-house services include chin liposuction, face injections, cheek augmentation or filling, facial filling in general, elevation of the eyebrows, nose job through fillers, lip injection and a wide variety of laser machines. Apart from laser hair removal, using the most up to date technology, the clinic also uses laser machines for skin rejuvenation, resurfacing and weight loss.

As for the surgical services, head-to-toe procedures are offered, which include face and neck lifts, lower and upper lid blepharoplasty, cosmetic breast surgery, breast reduction, rhinoplasty and liposuction. Dr Abeer holds her consultations at the clinic and performs her surgeries at the Bahrain Specialist Hospital.

Continually updating her cosmetic methods and procedures by attending international seminars and workshops the surgeon, who is first female plastic surgeon in the region of Bahraini origin, finished her medical education in both Ireland and France, specialising in cosmetic surgery and cosmetic medicine. Call 17 820-988.

KANGOO JUMPS

Jump Around,

Get Fit and Have Fun!

Kangoo Jumps is one of the most recent fitness concepts to hit the region and it is taking Bahrain by storm!

Kangoo Jumps is an unusual, but extremely exciting concept. It is one of the rare exercises that manages to incorporate all aspects of fitness: cardio, strength and endurance.

It is based on the idea of rebound movement — the specially designed jumping boots allow you to bounce higher and move around much further than you would in ordinary running trainers. This extra degree of movement means that the muscles all over your body have to work harder than they normally would — they have to compensate further for balance, stability and spatial awareness. Every cell in your body will become stronger as a result!

During a session in these cool boots, you will be treated to a fun-filled aerobic and dance workout, with movements specially prepared to use the boots to their fullest extent.

All the while you will be bouncing along to some great retro, dance and Latino music. You won’t even feel like you are exercising because you will be having so much fun!

What makes the boots really special is their impact protection system. This is a carefully designed mechanism which acts as a shock absorber, protecting your knees, hips and other joints from the jarring experienced during jumping. This protection system makes the boots an ideal choice for anyone — even those who find running and other high-impact sports uncomfortable.

So go on, what are you waiting for? Get fit and have fun doing it!

Call 39 411-407 or visit the Facebook page: Kangoo Jumps Bahrain.

woman this month | February 2012 |

49

Showcase DESSANGE

The Gift She’ll Adore

Whether you suggest it to your partner as a gift or whether you decide to treat yourself, don’t let this Valentine’s Day go uncelebrated — pick one of Dessange’s luxury packages and get the pampering you deserve.

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essange ladies spa, located within the sanctuary of their compound in Adliya, is known throughout Bahrain for its top quality spa treatments. From facials, which make use of the latest Dermalogica technologies, to massages that blend sensual aromatherapy with deep, relaxing muscle relief, they offer only the best and most luxurious services.

Imagine, then, spending Valentine’s morning, or indeed any day during the month of love, enjoying a whole range of these gorgeous treatments as part of one of their pampering packages.

I headed down to Dessange to be treated to their Zest package — a fantastic combination of hydrobath, facial, shampoo, blow dry, manicure, pedicure and makeup — the ultimate in total-body makeovers.

The hydrobath was something of a revelation to me, having never experienced something of its kind before. Left alone to enjoy the warm, delightfully scented water was pure bliss and the feeling of being gently massaged by constantly changing jets of water, from the tips of my toes right up to the base of my neck, only enhanced the experience.

The facial was, without a doubt, my favourite part of the whole experience. The deep cleansing process, followed by the special scrub and humidity treatment left my face feeling totally purified and toxin-free. There was even the added bonus of a little foot massage and a shoulder rub!

Onwards to the salon, where I was met with light refreshments and a lovely, healthy lunch to keep me going. The manicure and pedicure was thoroughly and professionally done, with a relaxing nail soak and a light, almond scented scrub for my hands and arms.

The makeup and hair team are an excellent bunch, as friendly as they are versed in their particular arts. I was treated to a softer, yet still striking makeup look, which was sufficiently understated to be wearable in the office, but which would make a great transitional look if I were to head out to a bar after work or to a dinner date with a loved one.

As well as the Zest package, there are a number of other options to choose from. For a day fit for royalty, you would be wise to request your partner treats you to the Bliss package — an amazing combination of hydrobath, Moroccan bath, aromatic body massage, facial, spa manicure, spa pedicure, hair treatment and scalp massage. Or, if you have been working particularly hard since the turn of the New Year, then why not try their deeply relaxing Chill Out package? Call 17 713-999 50

| February 2012 | woman this month

Parenting

Clean that Clutter and

Make Way for Love!

Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy This month is all about roses, warmth and affection. What better way to begin by ensuring that your life and your family home have room to let in some more love!

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J

ane, the “De-clutter Diva” will be providing some practical tips on how to rid your home of the excess stuff, as well as giving some advice about how to encourage your children to be involved, in order to make it a fun family project!

Following the ideas of Feng Shui, physically and metaphorically, your life is significantly influenced by the presence of clutter, especially in the areas of your home that are associated with love. If you fill these spaces with junk and unnecessary debris, you will create a “negative space” that gives way to the feeling of stagnation and depicts choked energy.

So, what exactly is clutter? Besides mere untidiness, clutter represents disorganisation, mess and confusion. According to Feng Shui, three regions in your home strongly impact your love life. They are the space around your front door, the relationship area and your bedroom.

As Jane explains, "Clutter can mean too many items for the space you have; too many bits and pieces that you don't need or use; piles of things that you no longer like. It can be anything from furnishings to children’s clothes, newspapers to old toys. It's very hard to be objective in your own home and knowing where to start can be overwhelming for most people. By seeking help and advice from an expert, someone who enjoys this type of work, objective opinions, as well as an extra pair of hands really help to create your ideal living environment."

The space around the front door: One of the major areas affecting your love life is the space around your front door.

In Feng Shui, the main door is called the “Mouth of Chi”, as it strongly influences the flow of Chi into your house. If the front door is filled with clutter or used very rarely, then it blocks the Chi from flowing freely. So, you need to make sure that your front door opens fully and no clutter is stored behind it, preventing this from happening. Your main hall, the room that you enter into from the front door, is the place where you link with the external world, so it should always be neat and welcoming. Also, check that the main hall in which the front door opens is not filled with unnecessary objects.

“First impressions are so important! The front door is the gateway into your home and is the first impression visitors get of your life, so you want it to be clutter free, organised and welcoming. It's also the first area people see when they return home, so keeping it as tidy as possible can set the mood for the rest of the day,” says Jane.

If the front door is kept free from waste and clutter, then you will find that chances to share special times with your family and friends as well as opportunities to meet new people will come your way. This is because the front door is related to opportunities. Start using the front door frequently and you will find the magic of flowing energy working for you. Even if you are not trying to meet anyone new, the front door can have significant influence over your life. Boredom may creep in if you do not remove the clutter from this area, as can frustration and lethargy. A romance hungry relationship can be gratified with by opening the front door fully and welcoming new energy. Moreover, a happy mum means happy children. So what’s wrong with a bit of romance or time with special friends? woman this month | February 2012 |

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Parenting The relationship area: In order to discover which is the relationship area in your home, according to Feng Shui, you need to look around the South West region of your home and also in the South West part of your bedroom. After doing this, check the room or rooms which lie in the right-rear corner of your house and also the area in the right-far corner of your bedroom. This is your relationship area which, if left unattended or untidy, can cause disconnection in your relationship. You will have feelings of indecision, depression and laziness if this area is cluttered. Your creativity will become shackled. It’s also interesting for your children to see where they tend to “dump” their things. We all get into bad habits and so, now and again, we have to clear that clutter away. Make sure the rubbish is actually thrown away, out of the house. This physical removal of rubbish is symbolic and what’s left can be enjoyed, not only because of your hard work, but because it will create a more organised space and improve your friendships and relationships with your children!

Jane, as a mother of two girls, states, "It's good to encourage children from an early age to be responsible for their belongings and to teach them good habits. My two little girls now know that, when they enter the house, they take off their outdoor shoes and place them on the shoe-rack and they hang up their coats and bags rather than drop them on the floor! At the end of their day I like to make a game of ‘tidy up time’, which can be a competition to collect 10 items and put them in the correct box. Clear boxes are the best storage solution for toys/crafts/dressing-up clothes. I always enjoy the girl's stories at bedtime, knowing I don't have to tidy up before I sit down for a relaxing evening."

The bedroom: Bedrooms are for relaxing in and for sleeping. Allow your children the freedom to enjoy their bedrooms in a calm way so that when it is time to sleep, they are ready and relaxed. If things remain disorganised in a bedroom, then sleep tends not to help with tiredness and, over time, you and your children may become exhausted.

By periodically making your rooms clutter-free, the result will be the nourishing of positive mind-frames. By cleaning the key spaces of your bedroom you can create greater psychological clarity too. This clear vision will help you take wise decisions and actions.

Tips Now that you have decided to create this new environment, Jane has a few keys tips for how to achieve and maintain the impact: l Make a realistic plan of what and where you want to de-clutter. l Make a date to "de-clutter" and stick to it. l Don't feel overwhelmed; start with one room, or even one cupboard, at a time. l If you don't use it — lose it. Get rid of rubbish! l When organising items, such as children’s toys and crafts, clear storage boxes are best. l At the end of each week, go through mail and bills for filing — go paperless where possible. l Don’t feel anxious about having to throw your children's things out — put together a memory box for your children with special/sentimental items.

Plus, it makes room for new things. l Spend a few minutes every day putting things back in place, for example, while cooking you can tidy the kitchen. Don’t let clutter build up. l Always think: "Do I really need this?" before you buy — this will avoid future clutter. l Whenever you do bring a new item into the house, be sure to get rid of at least one old item!

For more information on de-cluttering help or coaching for a new you contact info@declutterdiva. biz or clare@beckett-mcinory.com 54

| February 2012 | woman this month

I Love Me Tips • There is no better way than to see, or be seen by, a child.

Take time to look into their eyes.

• Really listen to your child.

Don't disrupt them when they are talking, or finish their sentences for them.

“It costs so little to teach a child to love, and so much to teach him to hate.” Father Flanagan (1886-1948)

C

hildren come into the world with open arms, ready to accept the love made accessible to them by their parents. They grow, watch and learn with an avid eagerness and absorb the way people converse with each other, the tone of their voices, the way they touch and the words they select. There is nothing complicated about this process — it is organic in nature. If what they are exposed to is done in a loving way, then they will absorb the love.

If, however, that same child is a witness to hatred, violence, anger, abuse, negative words, prejudice and constant fear, then they will learn to hate. All of these actions take a great deal of energy and are fraught with high emotion. It’s exhausting to maintain hatred and it is debilitating for those surrounded by it.

It costs much to teach a child to hate, but love is ever so easy to pass on. A child is wired for love from birth and only needs a continuation of the peace they have in their soul to grow into a loving and peaceful adult.

Helping children develop a positive self-image lies solely in the hands of the parents. Unless you love yourself, you cannot love others. The basic guideline that parents can teach their children is to love

oneself, as he or she is. A positive self-image will ultimately lead to self-esteem, which is a major requirement for achieving success in life. A positive self-image is a major ingredient for happiness and develops into a formidable weapon later in life. A negative self-image will make the child emotionally indifferent and frustrated. Children love it when they hear that somebody loves them. So, make it a point to tell your children that you love them, every day.

Make your children believe that you love them as they are. Don’t try to mould your children according to what you want them to be. That way, instead of making their life easier, you will only be making a protective cage around them. Children will develop a positive outlook if they believe that their parents are behind them. Always be polite with your kids. Give space to your children. Let them make simple decisions or guide them through it. Give them the freedom to choose. In this way, they will gradually develop their confidence. Tell your children that mistakes and failure are a part of life. Teach them to consider it an opportunity not a responsibility. Teach your children that the journey is what matters, not the destination.

• Introduce your child to people.

Don't act as if they aren't there.

• Always tell your children the truth. Trust me, over the years will bring its own rewards.

• Exhibit your child's artwork and schoolwork in prominent places.

• Remember, if your child thinks it's important, it's important.

Show them you value their opinions and ideas. Respect your child's privacy.

• Be genuinely interested in your child's day. Ask about how their day went, and let them share their triumphs and discontent with you.

• Pray with your children.

Nothing will bring you closer than the power of the simple expression of prayer.

For feedback, comments or questions contact Dr Jinan Darwish via email at: editor@womanthismonth.com woman this month | February 2012 |

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Showcase

AMBASSADOR STORES

A Sporting Timepiece

A unique collection has been created collaboratively between watch brand Seiko and Barcelona’s football club — the result, a sophisticated sportsman’s collection.

W

atch brand Seiko has partnered with FC Barcelona to create a unique and luxurious sports watch — ideal for all those who like to keep time during the game.

The new Sportura FC Barcelona Chronograph (FCBC) is a unique timepiece presented as a testimonial to the partnership between the timepiece and football heavy weights. The watch is one of the 14 models in Seiko’s leading sports watch collection, Sportura, all of which feature both quartz and kinetic movements.

As every sportsman knows, it is the attention to fine detail that makes the difference between a good performance and a great one, and the same can be said about the creation of a sports watch.

In addition to being practical and easy to use, the Sportura FCBC watch is sleek and classic in design. It features elongated curved lugs that wrap around the wrist with a close and comfortable fit, so there is no risk of it slipping off the wrist whilst playing sport. The entire design of the watch is incredibly accurate, something which Seiko is renowned for; the cone-shaped chronograph buttons have a wide surface area to ensure precise operation and the chronograph minute hand has a ‘pointer’ shape to ensure that the correct number is easily read at a glance.

The watch boasts all the qualities of a first-class sports watch and for the true Catalonian, a discreet FC

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Barcelona emblem is found on the dial and case back and the red and blue colours of FCB are featured in the sub-dials and leather strap.

The current UEFA champion’s league title defenders were each presented with their own watch by Seiko. FC Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, showed great excitement towards this new venture.

“We were very pleased to welcome Seiko as a sponsor of FC Barcelona earlier this year and we are delighted to see how our partnership is growing in every corner of the world.

The new Seiko FC Barcelona watch is beautiful and the club is proud to wear it,” Sandro commented on the venture.

Seiko’s partnership with FC Barcelona began this spring when they were appointed as the club's ‘watch partner’ for an initial three-year term. Although watchmaking and football are entirely different industries, both Seiko and FC Barcelona have proven their dedication and perfection to their industry for many years. From the collaboration has emerged a watch that is ideal for both sporting amateurs and professionals to wear.

With 130 years of history designing and manufacturing watches, Seiko holds the skill and experience to design and build, in–house, each component of every type of watch. FC Barcelona also takes a similarly long-term approach to building its teams, developing many of its finest players through their youth academy, La Masia.

Call 17 225-513.

YAQUBY STORES

See It, Believe It

History was created recently in Bahrain, with the introduction of ATOM LED TVs’ most affordable designer LED TV in the market.

A

lthough a relatively youthful player in a fast consumer electronics industry, Atom is already creating waves in the local market, with its strong focus on catering to the technological needs of the next generation.

LED has long being considered the future of televisions. Over the past few years, however, the advancement in technology has been racing forward unapologetically, outrunning a retail industry struggling to keep pace. This fast expanding rift in the island was, therefore, a key ingredient to the creation of Atom Technologies.

Chic design Poised more as a masterpiece in modern living, rather than as merely a TV, this range integrates more features in one unit than most, within the boundaries of its elegant design. It portrays modern minimalist styles, inspired by geniuses of the art form, such as the lines of Donald Judd or David Smith or the artistic brilliance of Carl Andre.

With Atom, the traditional television is stripped down to its elemental, geometric form — encompassing only the very best of modern living.

All units are framed in a matte black finish, with razor sharp lines that clash confidently with the crystal clear display panel. The image quality and audio-visual experience is breathtaking to say the least. Visit Yaquby Stores at Seef Mall and see it for yourself. Call 17 582-250.

woman this month | February 2012 |

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Social Butterfly Rawan, Heng & Duan

Al Noor School National Day Celebrations

Al Noor School celebrated National Day with a multitude of programmes, including various national dances and songs at the school auditorium last month Dr Ali Hassan & HE Dr. Abdulla Yousif Al Mutawa, Education Ministry Undersecretary for Education and Curricula Affairs

Faten & Jad

Salman, Saud, Umaima & Fatima

Fatima Al Noor students in traditional costume

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Buon Appetito Cucina Italiana

Food is a major part of Italian culture and if you are looking for traditional Italian dining, then Cucina Italiana will take you all the way.

Marco, Paul, Eraldo and Fortunato

W

ith an ambience that will make you feel like you are walking into an Italian family home right in the middle of Rome, the effort put into the décor is outshone only by the delicious meals on the menu.

The walls of the restaurant are covered by designs from the highly creative Syrian artist Kinan Douba and pieces like the engraved tower of Pisa or that of the Italian American Corleone family from the God Father trilogies are a sight to see. If your dream visit to Italy is a little out of reach, then Cucina is as close as it will get.

“We tried to create the vibe of a traditional Italian house that has been renovated over the generations,” says general manager Paul Sarlas.

With a number of different areas — as you would have in any Italian town house — Cucina seats around 135 customers, with a cosy communal table for 16 in front of the kitchen that works perfectly for group gatherings.

The kitchen is headed by executive corporate chef Eraldo Colazzo from Rome, who has spent the last 25 years working globally. Pizza chef Marco Petrucci and pasta chef Fortunato Giordano — both with a passion for Italian cooking that can easily be noticed in their dishes — make up the kitchen team, who all take great pride in serving the freshest of ingredients.

Of course, Italian cuisine is not complete without a good cup of coffee. The restaurant serves Vittoria Coffee imported from Australia. Cucina is the only distributor of this high end coffee and WTM assures you that this could possibly be the best cup in town! Call 17 001-317.

Always at your disposal

Offers available: 1. Circuit training session: kickboxing, mixed exercise for punching techniques, move, cardio, stamina and strength exercise….

2. Personal training: A) Fitness programs: burning fats, metabolic acceleration, strengthening muscles B) Recreation program: a combination of different exercise to raise the basic physiological functions of your body.

C) Kick-boxing training: punching technique, movement, stamina, strength...

Personal training programs intended for age groups from 7 to 75 years based strictly on individual health assessment.

Facilities available: Cardiovascular equipment, isotonic equipment, exercise equipments like olympic bench, weights and dumbbells, adjustable benches and racks. Plus jacuzzi, steam room and swimming pool.

For further information visit us at Juffair Fitness Center, next to Bahrain Medical Society, Juffair.

Or call us: Mobile: 33002592, Tel: 77072220, E-mail: jfcenter@hotmail.com woman this month | February 2012 |

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Social Butterfly

Manama Singers Christmas Concert

Roger, Lynda, Sadaf & Chris

Pamela, Steve & Andy

The Manama Singers held a Christmas Carols concert at the Golden Tulip hotel Jenine, Adnan, Bashir, Karima & Noha

Elizabeth & Erika

Isabella, Christine, Graham, Helen & Peter

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Michael, Keith, Joachim & Katrina

Bahrain School Antiques & Furniture Auction

Kathy, Talal, Cathi & Maya

The Bahrain School held an Antiques & Furniture auction at the school hall. Over 800 items were up for bidding at the event Kris, Samira & Katie

Mohamed & Reem

Karen & Donna

Jonathan & Brian

Brice, Daniela, Enrica & Catherine

Bizladies Talent Management Workshop

The Royal Golf Club hosted a Talent Management Workshop for Bizladies Bahrain chapter at the club's Repartee Restaurant. The guest speaker at the event was Susan Stevenson Sylve, Salwa, Abeer, Insiyak & Karla

Clare & Karin

Ilona & Petra Wafaa & Kathy

P.J. Bradsley & Susan

Pauline & Alison

woman this month | February 2012 |

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Showcase

In the Spirit of Love PARS INTERNATIONAL

Look no further than Pars International Hotel in Juffair for the perfect Valentine’s Day venue! A romantic dinner and unlimited fun awaits.

Latin Quarter

Parsia restaurant

The recently refurbished Z Club, one of the island’s favourite nightlife hangouts, is perfect for those looking to take a dive into the world of dancing. On Valentine’s Day, this venue, located on the first floor, will host two DJs that will keep the dance floor packed all night long. A specially concocted drink will be offered on arrival, while the ladies also get a complimentary red rose. The doors are open to all for free from 9pm.

Every night is a good night at this lounge. The retro vibe means that complimentary martinis make their way to the ladies’ tables on Sundays. Mondays aren’t called peppermint nights for nothing — ladies, clink your mojitos until midnight as they keep pouring in for free. There’s no better day for a girl’s night out than Tuesdays as the bar gives away free shakes and shooters.

All airline crew are welcome on Wednesdays, with free entrance and 50 per cent off on all beverages until their doors shut at 2am. Bring on the weekend with a buzz from all the drinks you can have at half the price.

Boomers, located just off the main lobby, brings you a traditional pub atmosphere with great food, beverages and entertainment to match. Enjoy while watching your favourite live sports on specially installed giant screens.

On February 14, move up front, rock to the sound of the newly arrived Filipino band, Child's Play, which will entertain you from 9pm through the night. Pick up two of the “Lovers’ Delight” cocktails to get another one on the house. Ladies receive a free drink upon arrival on this 62

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night and on Saturdays. It’s Hawaiian night on Thursdays at this venue that stays open from noon to 2am.

Latin Quarter, on the other hand, is a truly luxurious dine-in venue featuring a mosaic of tastes through a healthy selection of authentic Latin-American delicacies and luscious cocktails. Mondays means one thing to this happening venue — Martini madness. Ladies get free flavoured martinis from 8-11pm. It’s couples’ night on Tuesdays — buy two drinks and a third is on the house.

Ladies get complimentary mojitos on Wednesdays for Cuban night and free margaritas on Fridays for the Mexican night.

On Valentine’s Day, the Sabor Latino band will entertain you with the fantastic rhythms of their irresistible dance music. Buy two rounds of “Peach on the Beach” cocktails for a complimentary third.

The party scene picks up at this venue on February 23 and 24 with the Carnaval de Barranquilla. Feel the beats of a wonderful city that is rich in culture, music and life and is broadly recognised for one of the largest carnivals in the world. If you’ve never experienced the unique buzz of the festival, then you definitely need to mark the dates on your calendar.

You could also opt for a one-of-a-kind evening at Rogina Restaurant, where you can indulge in exotic Lebanese cuisine with live entertainment and a red rose for the lady.

Call 17 814-777.

Social Butterfly

Ministry of Interior's Stalls At Seef Mall

The Ministry of Interior marked Bahrain Police Day at a special ceremony at the Seef Mall which coincided with Bahrain's 40th National Day. HE Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Capital Governor and Seef Properties chairman Shaikh Abdulla Bin Khalifa al Khalifa attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the Ministry's four stalls. The stalls, aimed to raise awareness of the Ministry's role in society and its various departments and featured the Ministry's music band, competitions and a children's corner Talal Tariq

HE Shaikh Hisham cuts the ribbon to open the event

Shaikha & Noor

Qassim, Abdullah & Mustan

Asmiya & Safiya

Zain, Mariam & Asma

Lamya, Alkhina & Abdulrahman

Noor & Mariam

Shayna & Naina

woman this month | February 2012 |

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Food

Love is…Delicious!

James Claire Even if you don’t have a life partner to shower your attention on, it doesn’t mean you can’t be in love with something. Delicious food is extremely fulfilling and it will never leave its dirty socks lying around!

I

was discussing the subject of love and Valentine’s Day with friends recently when one of them stated, “You can never be at peace as long as you are in love with the feeling of being in love.”

You see, I have been single for more Valentine’s Days than I care to remember, yet my friends have misjudged me if they believe that this means I live restless or even loveless.

Love, for me, has never been further away than my refrigerator door. You see, I love food.

Now, I do understand that Valentine’s Day is not about a single man and his refrigerator, but food plays a major part in every relationship. If things are good it can be celebrated with food, if it’s a first date a great meal can seal the deal and if things are rocky, a great meal and good conversation can bridge many a misunderstanding.

As a romantic at heart, I do not necessarily believe in waiting for a singular day to bring the word “love” to the table. But we do all live busy lives and I understand that to cook a hearty meal can take time. So, this year I thought why not do things smaller than bigger? A message from the heart rather than the wallet this Valentine’s Day! Start Valentine’s or any day with a romantic breakfast in bed; meet your betrothed for lunch with a delicious snack for two; treat them over coffee to a sweet treat or keep a quick snack in the refrigerator for the right moment to share those three magic words, ”I love you”.

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Crème Brûlée for Two

600ml cream 50ml whole milk 1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped out 5 egg yolks 75g caster sugar Additional caster sugar for the crust.

Pour the cream into a saucepan and add the vanilla seeds scraped from the pod. Also add the pod and bring the mix slowly to the boil. l Place the caster sugar into a mixing bowl with the yolks and the milk and whisk together.

When the cream mixture is at a boil, remove from the heat and pour the mixture through a sieve onto the egg yolk mixture. (This removes the vanilla pod and any additional foreign matter from the scraping of the seeds). Stir thoroughly for a minute or two to dissolve the sugar. l Pour the sieved mixture into individual crème brûlée dishes. It should make four to six servings, depending on the size of the dishes. Place these filled crème brûlée dishes into a deep baking tray and pour hot water into the tray until the water reaches halfway up the sides of each dish . l Place this tray into the preheated oven and cook the crème brûlées for about 30 to 35 minutes until set firm, but still with a slight wobble. Remove the crème brûlées from the dish of water and allow to cool for 20 minutes on the bench. l Sprinkle additional caster sugar on top of the brûlées and caramelise the sugar under the gas flame of a grill or using a small cooking blow torch. l

Chicken and Shrimp Lumpia 1 packet rice paper wrappers for spring rolls 250g chicken breast, boiled whole and then sliced 1 clove garlic, crushed and chopped finely 1/4 fresh purple cabbage, washed and shredded finely 1 carrot, cut into very thin strips 1/4 Lettuce, washed and shredded finely 1/2 red capsicum cleaned and sliced finely cashew nuts roasted and finely chopped

salt and pepper 60ml cooking oil 1 white onion, sliced Fresh coriander a time into the ice water to soften. Lay the wrappers flat on the Fresh mint work bench which has been covered with plastic wrap to 250g shrimps, shelled 100 ml sweet chilli sauce protect the food preparation surface. l Sprinkle some of the chopped, fresh lettuce on top of the wrapper, followed by a tablespoon of the cooked chicken l Called many names by many nationalities, Lumpia is the Filipino name of shrimp filling. Add some picked mint and coriander something very similar to traditional Vietnamese Spring rolls — a distant cousin leaves, some sliced capsicum and sprinkle with chopped of the shwarma, filled crepes and many other rolled delicacies. cashew nuts. Sprinkle a little of the sweet chili sauce over the l Chop the boiled chicken breast and season lightly with salt and pepper. filling components last. Leave about four centimetres uncovered Heat a saucepan with oil and sautÊ the chopped garlic and sliced onions. Add on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward and then tightly the chicken and shrimp and quickly stir fry. roll the wrapper up. Repeat this for the remaining wrappers l When chicken and shrimps are cooked, add the carrots and cabbage. Season and mixture. the mix to taste with additional salt and pepper and toss over the heat. Remove l Serve the lumpia fresh, whole or cut in half and serve with a to cool. dipping sauce. l To roll the lumpia l For romance, take one Lumpia and share with your partner by l Fill a large bowl with ice cold water. Unwrap the wrappers and dip them one at eating from both ends until you meet in the middle!

Chocolate Truffles 150g unsalted butter, softened 500g dark chocolate 200ml whipping cream sifted cocoa powder, for rolling

Chop the chocolate roughly. Place it into a glass or plastic bowl and melt in a microwave by giving 20 second bursts and stirring between each until the chocolate is melted completely. l In the bowl of an electric mixer, place the softened butter and whip using a whisk attachment until the butter is pale and almost white in color. l Add the melted chocolate to the whipped butter and continue mixing until it is completely combined. Scrape down the bowl and continue mixing. l With the machine on slow speed, begin adding the cream to the chocolate butter mixture until it is completely incorporated. Scrape down the bowl and place the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a plain round piping tube/nozzle. l Pipe small balls of truffle mixture onto a prepared tray covered with parchment paper. l When all the mixture is piped, place the truffles into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm. l Remove them when firm and roll in cocoa powder. Dust off most of the coca powder and serve these truffles with coffee. Leave prepared truffles in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before serving with coffee or as a treat. l

Valentine’s Breakfast Pancakes 300g plain (all-purpose) flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 500ml laban or buttermilk 2 eggs 60g unsalted butter, melted

Mix all of the dry ingredients together. In another bowl, mix together the laban, eggs and the melted butter. l Put the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring lightly until moistened and leaving small lumps. l Have a warmed frying pan on the stove, not too hot, or set an electric frying pan to 375 degrees Celsius. Spray the frying pan with baking spray and pour approximately half a cup of mixture into a round pattern in the heated frying pan. l Cook for two to three minutes and then test if the pancake is cooked by lifting one side to see the color. If it is golden brown and holds together then use a spatula to quickly flip the pancake and cook the other side until also golden brown in color. l Cut the pancakes into heart shapes using a cookie cutter and serve with whipped butter and maple syrup or fresh fruit for a romantic breakfast in bed. l

woman this month | February 2012 |

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Travel

Elma Bartholomew

All-Aboard the

Romance Train There are romantic getaways and then there are places that treat Valentine’s Day like the celebration it is supposed to be — a festival of love. Here are three destinations that have some interesting traditions worth being a part of.

Scotland

The low-down: In Scotland, there is a little traditional gathering, hosted in certain circles, during which an equal number of unmarried males and females write their name on a piece of paper, which is then folded and placed into a hat, one for the ladies and one for the men. They then draw a name from the opposite gender’s hats. It is usually expected that the male partners with the female who selected his name. This rite having been completed, the company split up into couples and gifts are given to the ladies. The females then pin the name of their partner over their hearts or on their sleeves. A dance often follows and, at the end of the festival, it is not unusual for marriages to take place.

X-factor: Another very important and enthusiastically followed tradition is the search of a date. According to this Scottish custom, the first young man or woman encountered on the street or elsewhere on this day becomes his or her Valentine and the day is celebrated with them.

Best for: Scotland’s reputation for romantic venues is already well known throughout the world, especially the small village of Gretna Green, which is famous as a place for romantic weddings. It is the first village over the Scottish border on the road from England to Glasgow. It is particularly renowned for being the place where young English elope.

It is also believed that the remains of St Valentine are in the church of Blessed St John Duns Scotus in Glasgow, a little-known fact that has led it to styling itself as the “city of love” in recent years.

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Italy

The low-down: In Italy, Valentine’s Day was once celebrated as a spring festival, held in the open air, where young people would gather in tree arbours or ornamental gardens to listen to music and read poetry.

However, over the course of some years, this custom steadily waned and has not now been celebrated for centuries. In Turin, it was formerly the custom for betrothed couples to announce their engagements on February 14. For several days ahead of time, the stores would be decorated and filled with all manner of bon-bons.

X-factor: Another interesting tradition followed in Italy saw unmarried girls waking up before sunrise. People strongly believed that the first man an unmarried girl sees on this day, or someone who looks like him, would marry her within a year. Girls, therefore, used to wake up early and stand by their window to watch a man pass.

For the people of Italy, the major day for celebration of love is “il giorno della festa degli innamorati” as lover’s exclusively celebrate this day; family members and friends do not exchange gifts.

Best for: A popular Valentine’s Day gift in Italy is Baci Perugina — small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts containing a small slip of paper with a romantic, poetic quote in four languages.

Denmark

The low-down: The Danish valentine card is known as a “lover’s card”. Older versions of this greeting came in the form of a transparency which, when held up to the light, depicted the image of a lover handing his beloved a gift. One custom in Denmark is for people to send pressed white flowers called “snowdrops” to their friends.

X-factor: Danish men may also send a form of valentine known as a gaekkebrev (joking letter). The sender pens a rhyme, but does not sign his name. Instead, he signs the message with dots, one dot for each letter in his name. If the lady who receives the card guesses the name of the sender, then she is rewarded with an Easter egg later in the year.

Best for: February 14 is considered a get-together day for everybody in Denmark. Live music concerts are the other main attraction — famous music bands come here to perform on this day. Many people choose to visit the Little Mermaid, Den Lille Havfure in Copenhagen and the famous Tivoli amusement park. woman this month | February 2012 |

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Horoscopes

Star

Gazing

Raphael

February is the month of romance. In the spirit of love, we’ve decided to give you a relationship-themed astroscope this month. Let’s hope it’s good news!

Aquarius January 21 - February 19

Cupid’s arrow leaves a different impression upon your sign this month and what might seem to be the start of a wonderful relationship could in fact turn out to be a disappointment. It appears that for some of you, the absence of someone special in your life has left you feeling lonely and prone to jumping into any possible new relationship headfirst. It’s all “well and good” thinking with the heart, but reason should not be so nonchalantly dismissed.

Pisces February 20 - March 20

It is often said that romance and business can make uncomfortable bedfellows, but we should never forget that many romances do begin in the work place. With this in mind, you see what you perceived as harmless flirting turn into something much more serious before the month is out and that could be a good thing, especially for those of you looking to invest in a new relationship.

Aries March 21 – April 20

Your relationship may have been under a degree of strain at the turn of the year, but things will look up in February.

This Valentine’s Day will leave you surprised and feeling optimistic about the way things will unfold romantically for 2012. An invitation to dinner will lead to a trip being agreed upon and you could find yourself oversees on the February 14, so ensure your passport is in date!

Taurus April 21 – May 21

There is a face in the crowd that has an interested eye trained on certain Taureans and it could point towards relationships and a major change in how your love life develops in 2012. If you’re looking for a particular clue then a blue outfit and the number seven provide some indicators. For some of you, an unexpected invitation on February 12 could also prove significant.

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| February 2012 | woman this month

Libra September 24 – October 23

This month you will rediscover a love that may have been absent from your life for some time. Its most obvious incarnation could be through your partner, who suddenly discovers a new romanticism that has been missing in your relationship. If things have been stale and unadventurous then this could be the moment when your love life becomes fresh and alive again.

Scorpio October 24 – November 22

If you have been feeling lonely and isolated, following a recent break up over the Christmas period, then you may not be looking forward to Valentine’s Day this year. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom and you may find that a friend who has been very supportive over what has been a difficult time will turn out to be more interested than you realised.

Sagittarius November 23 – December 21

There is love in the air this month, but the person you are attracted to could cause heads to turn since they are considerably younger than you are. If you do find yourself smitten, you would be best advised to take things slowly since there is the suggestion things are not quite all they may seem to be.

Be especially careful not to dismiss the advice of a close friend.

Capricorn December 22 - January 20

You may bump into an old flame early on this month and it could lead you to thinking of things that might have been. It will, therefore, not be too surprising to receive a telephone call several days later from that very same person inviting you for a drink and perhaps something more. The only complication could be an existing partnership and you must decide quickly whether the rekindling of an old romance is really the right thing to do.

Gemini May 22 – June 21

February means a change in romantic interests and if you have been contemplating greener fields and different pastures then an unexpected opportunity to break free of your restrictions once and for all could present itself around February 15. Don’t be afraid to follow your instincts since they could well lead you on to greater things. This Valentine’s Day is going to be a very special one

Cancer June 22 – July 23

February will see you feeling at the peak of good spirits as the next month offers a host of emotional possibilities. However, not everything will run as smoothly as you might imagine because, for a few of you, there could be more than one interested party. This Valentine’s Day is going mean you are going to have to make some difficult choices before finally finding your heart’s desire.

Leo July 24 – August 23

Never a sign associated with shying away from the limelight, you could find yourself in the middle of a love triangle this February, as you are forced to confront a past flame who is still keen on a relationship with the expectations of a new romance. The decision is ultimately yours, but above all else do not take the matter lightly because a wounded heart can also prove to be a vindictive one.

Virgo August 24 – September 23

This Valentine’s Day you are advised to curb your usually cutting tongue, rather than encourage it, or you may end up the victim of a harsh retort that results in you not liking what you hear. On a more positive note, a card from an unknown admirer will lift your spirits and, if you think hard enough, you may even get an idea about whom it originated from. That should bring a smile to your face. woman this month | February 2012 |

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| December 2011 | woman this month

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Love is just a word

until someone comes along

and gives it meaning

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WoMentality

Degrees

L

iving on a tiny patch of island, about 750 square kilometres, on a planet with a total land mass of 150 million square kilometers; at times, this Hard-headed Woman feels quite alone and cut off from the rest of the world.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, I am reminded how tiny the globe on which we cohabitate really is and what this can mean for us.

I’m sure that you have all heard the famed term, “six degrees of separation”. There was, after all, a highly successful Hollywood blockbuster based on its premise.

The idea of the six degrees is based upon the work of the Hungarian author Frigyes Karinthy, who talked about a similar idea in his 1929 short story Chains.

To put it simply, his idea was that due to the world’s population growth and the rate that we now travel, the great distances between us are shrinking. As humanity becomes more dense, social distances become smaller. In even fewer words, “the world is shrinking”.

The “six degrees of separation” theory suggests that if you selected any one person out of the billions of inhabitants on the Earth, you could find a way to contact them, going through no more than five other people, each an acquaintance of one of the others, and the first being an acquaintance of your own. In other words, you could get to them through six steps.

Last week, I experienced the smallness of the world for myself and it really hit home. Enjoying a social evening out, I met a fellow “femme fatale”, amongst our group. We chatted. She had lived in London, Paris, Tokyo and originated from New Zealand.

I am not from her country, yet had worked there on and off in the early 72

| February 2012 | woman this month

Hard-headed Woman nineties. We discussed people for whom we had both worked at locations within the same country. Her curiosity and mine peaked as we narrowed down times and places.

As we chatted, our lives entwined to be just degrees apart, until finally we connected at the same point.

In the end, it turned out that her current BFF (best friend forever), is the daughter of the people that I had been employed by many years before.

A chance encounter at a party by two people, one who has lived here for the better part of a decade, the other having only just arrived from Paris, both originating from different countries, actually knowing the same people in New Zealand.

I love this about our world. Despite the distances and chance encounters, despite the languages and the differences between cultures, we are not really that different. We are linked, all of us by just a few degrees of humanity.

Now if ever there was a need and reason for us all to be kind to one another, surely that is it. Somewhere, somehow, unexpectedly, we all know one another, here and in other countries through our personal connections. And that makes this chick want to set off and meet as many people as possible from now on, and to be nice to all of them.

When most of us can’t travel home every year to see our parents and loved ones, it’s nice to think that talking to other people can bring us degrees closer through our common interests and interactions to mutual friends, acquaintances and family.

That fills me with happiness and makes me content to remain here in Bahrain. We are just a few degrees from absolutely everybody else and on Valentine’s Day, that makes me feel love for everybody.

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