Woman This Month - March 2022

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

March 2022 | Issue 227

WOMEN'S DAY SPECIAL

INTERVIEW Be inspired by these talented women in Bahrain Noor Janahi, Mona Shakib, Manal Alsaleh, Lini Reghunath and Fiona Slingerland

LIFESTYLE How to Spot a Catfish!

Celebrating Mother’s Day Mid-Pandemic

In Her ShoesDaniela Peykova-Daher

BEAUTY Spring Beauty Essentials Must-Have Skincare

FASHION Bringing the Spirit of Spring into your Wardrobe www.womanthismonth.com

FASHION | trend

SPRINGING INTO FASHION!

Bring the spirit of spring and summer into your wardrobe with these stunning pieces from Cecilie Bahnsen, and the UAE homegrown luxury fashion house, Nilli.

Things are warming up in the region as winter is quickly fading away. While some of us aren’t exactly looking forward to the warmer months, the promise of spring is… refreshing. With each new blossom we find positivity, prosperity and a new found freshness that can be reflected in our sense of fashion too. Think bright or delicate shades, flowing or tailored silhouettes, and clever layers or draping.

With this in mind we explored two brands: Cecilie Bahnsen, and the UAE homegrown luxury fashion house, Nilli.

Nilli

The UAE homegrown luxury fashion house, Niili Spring/Summer ‘22 collection consists of contemporary yet timeless pieces that exude the essence of the Arabian Peninsula. The brand’s latest collection includes key wardrobe essentials that can be mixed and matched for any occasion, thereby bringing the mesmerising spirit of spring and summer into your wardrobe.

Inclusive of 13 looks in addition to a selection of one-off, unique regenerated crochet dresses, the collection comprises a variety of shirt-dresses, trousers, blouses, and dresses. Niili continues to celebrate the hidden gems of the UAE’s culture and heritage with this latest collection, tastefully incorporating patterns and fabrics symbolic of the region’s heritage, such as mother-of-pearl prints, geometric patterns, subtle falcon print pieces, and handcrafted crochet.

The fabrics are sustainably sourced, with past garments and fabrics hand-picked, upcycled, and given a second life. Natural, handcrafted fabrics combined with loose silhouettes ensures each piece is made with comfort and breathability in mind, suitable for, and wearable by the modern woman.

A sublime varied colour palette forms this timeless collection, combining vibrant pastels with deep, bold hues. Each design uses abstract detailing with soft, regenerated fabrics and crochet, and feminine prints, to breathe new life and luxe appeal to your wardrobe this season.

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FASHION | trend

Cecilie Bahnsen

Cecilie Bahnsen´s Spring Summer 2022 collection is a celebration of the love for craftsmanship and the duality of femininity. The most practiced and technically refined collection to date, brought to life through Cecilie´s artistic collaboration -a sound installation composed by Okay Kaya and photo exhibition by Takashi Homma on view in Paris.

The collection and artistic collaborations address the duality within us expressed through an exterior detachment and the gentleness in the sensuality of emotions, “To be both,” the ability to not “Be” only what we feel. The duality is present throughout the collection, film, and exhibition. The result is an emotional collection that celebrates Cecilie and the atelier´s love for the work, featuring new techniques like the utterly beauti­ful camellia floral cutout-flowers fluttering on fabric, as if the petals were falling gently to the ground from a full bouquet.

The conceptual motifs play a pivotal role in the collection, translated meticulously across the different fabrics. Textures completely unique, a touch only recognizable as Cecilie Bahnsen. Discrete tonal embroidery inspired by the Victorian style of cyanotype printing, the negative space creating an elevated texture. www.womanthismonth.com

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bystander

Visions 2022 AWA Exhibition

The American Women’s Association in collaboration with the Al Aali Mall held its annual Art and Photography Exhibition - Visions 2022. The Exhibition was held in the Mall in the Seef District.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

PEOPLE | interview

Noor Janahi, the founder and owner of the successful homegrown business The Salad Bar, tells Farah Baig about how a single conversation changed the course of her life, the role of family in her business and the importance of giving back.

From left to right: Shahad, Noor, Ameera Ismail, and Reem.

A Ripple Effect

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t’s interesting how a single conversation or action can completely alter the direction of a person’s life. We met with the budding entrepreneur behind The Salad Bar, Noor Janahi, at the Bahraini Farmer’s Market. While Noor’s knack for innovation, social listening and community outreach has proved she’s a natural businesswoman, she wasn’t always on this path.

“I used to work in Corporate Communications at a bank, but a casual conversation in 2019 with a colleague led to this,” she explains. “He wanted to start a coffee shop and mentioned that he might be missing a few things, so he asked if I could cook.”

The following morning, Noor took a few salads to work which were an instant hit. “That’s how it started – with nine different salads, and from there we grew,” she says, adding that she moved on to distributors after which she decided to quit her job and open her own café.

Wanting to promote a healthy lifestyle, Noor settled on an overall concept with ease. “I knew what I wanted to do from the beginning.

People usually think that healthy food is bland and I wanted to change this perspective. I’m not a dietician but we do take calorie count into consideration as I would like for people to eat clean food,” she says.

Today, The Salad Bar offers customers a range www.womanthismonth.com

of 36 delicious salads with the most popular being a salad inspired by the Palestinian dish, Mousaka apart from the Mini Samoosa salad.

Family At the Heart of it All Being a tight-knit family, The Salad Bar is very much rooted in family, which we got a feel for when meeting her mother, Ameera Ismail, and sisters, Reem and Shahad at the market.

“I wasn’t into business at the time, but my mother is a business woman, so I would go to her for guidance; she’s my mentor and role model. She guided me to be honest through the whole process,” says Noor.

“The business can be overwhelming but my parents and sisters support me at every opportunity, be it at events, the shop or weekend markets. I always say that’s it’s more like a family business than it is my own business,” she adds.

The youngest of the sisters, Shahad, expressed her pride in how far the business has come.

“It was a very small home business, through Instagram only initially. Seeing people's response and the fact that we actually opened up our own shop is a huge achievement for us,” says Shahad.

Giving Back As part of their efforts to give back to the community, The Salad Bar is currently

collaborating with the Bahrain Down Syndrome Society. The business not only donates all proceeds from their sales at the weekly Farmer’s Market to the society, but also hosts two or more the society’s members every Saturday.

“They are the absolute sweetest people and my mother loves them very much. They haven’t been included very much in society but they are extremely smart, quick learners and friendly too. So this project is very close to our hearts: being able to help them interact with the community and raise funds for the society simultaneously,” says Noor.

Prior to the initiative carried out at the Bahraini Farmer’s Market, The Salad Bar held a campaign to raise funds for the Bahrain Cancer Society. “Once the Farmer’s Market ends, we will be looking into another initiative. Giving back to the community is very essential for us; we’re not just here for business but for a good cause,” says Ms. Ismail.

Apart from her community outreach efforts, Noor makes an effort to include the work of talented Bahrainis at every stage of the business. “Supporting local talent at every level of our business is very important to us too. It’s important that the business gives back to the community in every way,” concludes Noor.

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PEOPLE | interview

MAKING WAVES

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From posting her kitchen escapades to social media to presenting her culinary creation at Bahrain’s seventh Food is Culture event, Manal Alsaleh talks to Behnaz Sanjana about her journey of deliciously unexpected turns.

ith all her energies focused on her full-time job and running a busy household, Manal’s gastronomic pursuits took a back seat, till the global pandemic changed the ways of the world in 2020. “It was stressful to juggle online meetings, homeschooling the kids and all the restrictions that came along with Covid-19,” says Manal. “I found myself running to the kitchen as an escape; it was very therapeutic for me to focus on nothing else but the food in front of me while music played.”

Soon, Manal started to video her preparations and post her kitchen experiments to her personal Instagram account. Her photogenic creations got applause from her social media circle, along with strong suggestions to take it public. “But that was beyond my comfort zone, and I didn’t feel too confident about it,” she remembers.

The final push was when her supportive colleagues declared that they would create a public account for her and post on her behalf. Sitting with her husband and brothers, contemplating whether she should follow this direction, was Manal’s turning point. “We were thinking of names for the social media account, and all of a sudden I came up with

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Table for Five; which includes my husband and four brothers.”

With ardent fans and vendors trusting Manal’s taste in the kitchen, the success that Table for Five garnered over the months allowed Manal to quit her job and make it her fulltime occupation. “I have been lucky to have worked with a phenomenal organisation like the Economic Development Board of Bahrain for 11 years, and am grateful for the experience. But life is short and you need to do things that you really enjoy; that you are really passionate about,” she says.

Manal’s original recipes range from traditional Bahraini dishes that inspire the younger generation to be in touch with their native foods, to other cuisines like Italian, Greek and French, allowing followers to be transported to far-off lands through her creations.

When she got a call to be part of Bahrain’s Food is Culture event, an annual initiative that seeks to amalgamate the fine and culinary arts, Manal felt reassured that she had been doing something right. “I was paired with artist Mohammed Taqi, and luckily we clicked immediately. Sure, it was overwhelming to showcase something on a platform like this,

but the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) was with us every step of the way.”

Manal wanted her food to echo the vibrancy, joy and calm that Mohammed’s works exude, while tasting good as well. Profound discussions of their creative perspectives and the synergy that emerged between the two artists resulted in a final presentation that wowed the audience.

The exposure that Manal received with Food is Culture opened up doors previously unthought of, giving her greater leverage to grow and better shape her brand. “The credit for this goes to Baca; it was an honour to work with them. I’m grateful for their focus on and passion for exploring Bahraini talent. I also thank my family and friends, without whose encouragement I would not be where I am today,” Manal says.

From not knowing how to boil an egg, to following recipes for Bahraini comfort food over the telephone with her aunt as a university student, to putting her passion for food out there for all to see, Manal has come a long way, thanks to mustering the courage to do so.

www.womanthismonth.com

A SLICE OF SUCCESS

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LIFESTYLE | food

Farah Baig speaks to Mona Shakib, the owner of the online cakery Retro Mama who proves that you can absolutely have your cake and eat it too!

ontrary to popular belief, women can do it all – raise a family, turn a house into a home, stay fit and be a thriving contributor to society, all while pursuing their dreams. “I’m a Bahraini woman who followed her passion, started a successful business and made a brand out of it. I’m also a wife, and mother to two wonderful children who keep me very busy!” – these are the words of Mona Shakib, the woman behind the thriving online cakery, Retro Mama, who has proven just that.

Retro Mama was established as a home business in 2013, but Mona’s passion for baking came to life much prior. “My mother told me that I was four or five years old when she would get me to bake cakes and desserts with her, but I’d always add my own ingredients and make them my own unique version. From then on, I’ve always baked; it’s been my way of expressing my creativity.”

In 2014, Mona opened her cakery and café in the Seef district which served up several crowd favourites. “This included the Key Lime Pie, our Signature Red Velvet cakes, cupcakes and the Tres Leches which I’m pretty sure we were the first cakery to make in the Kingdom, back in 2013,” she says.

Mona puts her heart and soul into her creations, and her efforts have led her to have loyal customers. “I take so much pride in all that I do, from coming up with ideas for desserts which have never been done before to refusing to use anything less than the finest ingredients, and of course making everything from scratch! This made me sure that once people got a taste they would always come back,” she says.

After almost five years of great success at their brick-and-mortar location, Mona made the decision to move the cakery to being an online business once again. “The main benefit of being an online business is that we bake to order - everything is 100 percent made for our customer’s order and I make everything myself. This allows me to balance business and mommy life perfectly,” she says.

Mona has a routine that runs like clockwork.

“I always get an early start to my days. Up early, hubby helps me get the kids ready for school then we’re off! I drop the kids to school then I’m back to get started with my orders for the day,” she says.

“The main challenge of being an online cakery is that there is no display which allows people to physically see the products. However, this has been easily overcome with social media which allows me to display our goodies to a far greater audience,” she adds.

Before picking up her children from school, she makes sure to squeeze in her daily workout. “Women are amazing human beings; we do so much and are extremely capable. Yes, we are mothers and have a natural instinct to take care of our families and homes, but this does not mean we have to sacrifice our passion and our fitness. If someone has the motivation, they can always make time to do it!” she stresses.

As part of her endeavour to fulfill her roles,

Once she’s picked up her children, it’s back to

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mommy mode with feeding and school work.

“The evenings are for talking to customers, taking orders and marketing my business,” she states.

When asked what her advice for other mothers hoping to do the same would be, she says: “Go for it! Don’t make excuses, take the first steps, put your heart and energy into it, and you can’t go wrong. You have nothing to lose from following your passion. Life is too short to not go after what you want!”

Like-minded women wishing to connect with Mona can reach out to her on Instagram using the handle @monashakib_bh. You can also check out her online cakery, @retromama_bh on Instagram.

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PEOPLE | interview

THE PICTURE OF HEALTH Energie Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer, Fiona Slingerland, has always had a passion for sports and fitness. She tells Farah Baig about the importance of training, her specialities and goals too.

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omen all across the world are making their mark across several fields – achievements that make their way into the spotlight every International Women’s Day but deserve recognition the year round. In the world of health and fitness, too, women have proven that they have the determination to succeed and make a difference in their communities.

Coming from a sports-centric family, Energie Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer, Fiona Slingerland, uses her passion to help others achieve their exercise and health goals.

Originally from Ireland, Fiona has lived and worked in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, USA and the Kingdom of Bahrain over the last 16 years.

“My parents always encouraged my siblings and I to participate in as many sports as possible.

Eventually for me it grew into something more.

I was lucky to have had the opportunity to represent Ireland at an international level in table tennis at camps and tournaments across Europe. I have also been a runner since the age of five!” says Fiona.

Having moved to Bahrain with her husband in 2019, Fiona appreciates the investments made in walking and running tracks in the Kingdom.

“I really like the fact that I see so many people out exercising on a daily basis. However, some people underestimate their caloric intake and how intense their exercise should be,” she says.

At Energie Fitness, Fiona teaches a range of classes and private sessions aside from doing assessments. “Along with doing Personal Training I teach TRX, which is a total body resistance workout. I also teach a variety of High Intensity Strength and Conditioning classes each week. We have a great fitness

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team and each of the trainers have their own unique specialisations,” she states.

Notably, Fiona has qualifications in Pre- and Postnatal Training, and Strength and Conditioning Training. “Exercising while pregnant has so many benefits for overall health.

However, it’s very important to have received clearance to exercise by a doctor before embarking on a pre- or post-natal fitness plan,” she says.

Regular exercise as part of a pre-natal programme can reduce the risk of complications such as lowering blood pressure, easing back pain and reducing the risk of gestational diabetes. “It can aid in helping a woman to sleep better, help deal with stress and anxiety, and help build strength and stamina. Post-natal training, on the other hand, aids in recovery and helps with an overall positive mental boost once the baby is born. It can help rebuild muscle, promote weight loss and help increase energy levels,” she explains.

Strength and Conditioning programmes are known to increase metabolism, promote muscle building and prevent injuries. Her own programmes have helped her remain injury free over the past 20 years while running at a sub-elite level internationally.

“These can be adapted to any age group. As a person ages, strength training becomes very important as it allows people to stay healthy and active for longer. There is a definite need to focus on muscle building, balance, flexibility and coordination. Conditioning training when adapted correctly can have a lot of cardiovascular benefits,” she explains.

Fiona is currently studying to become certified as a Weight Management Specialist and, in the long run, hopes to move back to Ireland with her husband and continue working in the fitness industry. “Women play such a vital role in society and it's very important to celebrate their achievements. As this year’s theme is a focus on gender equality, I think it’s very important to highlight the progress that has been made but still strive for a greater goal,” she says.

“As for myself, I have learned over my years of travel to be true to what I believe in and have the confidence to stand up for myself whatever the situation may be,” she concludes. www.womanthismonth.com

PEOPLE | interview

FORESIGHT AND FAITH On a path fraught with loss and dilemma, Lini Reghunath refused to lay down her armour. The seasoned digital marketing consultant tells Behnaz Sanjana how she met with freedom on the other side of fear.

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he year 2015 brought an already worn-out Lini to a career crossroads.

The company at which she had been general manager for eight years, had to shut down due to unwarranted trouble. “This was another blow in my life; I’d lost my husband just a few years before this, and then I’d lost years of hard work and savings,” says Lini, who felt caught up in life’s tempest “My son was only thirteen at that time. I needed my work to allow me the flexibility to be there for him.”

gave me more clarity on the fundamentals of digital marketing and equipped me with the latest tools, techniques and trends in the field.”

In 2019, Lini helped set up SOS Marketing in Bahrain which offers a 360° omnichannel digital marketing strategy to clients requiring content creation and the latest digital marketing and data-driven digital conversion and automation technologies.

In addition to the above, she guided projects in website optimisation, SEO, programmatic advertising, email marketing as well as analytics showing ROI.

And so, she took the path to starting her own venture in Bahrain. “Digital Marketing, which had created a buzz in the US, had caught my attention.

My gut feeling was that I should further explore and pursue it,” says Lini, of what was still an alien concept in Bahrain. “Everyone I approached said social media was for personal use, and weren’t interested.”

The first two years were an uphill task, not having a mentor on the subject. But she persevered, reading up and partaking in online discussions and forums to satiate her thirst for knowledge. Her diligence paid off in the third year, when the region got curious about digital marketing. “Even though businesses did not understand it, they knew it was where their customers were.”

Lini believes that the best way to learn something is to do it. She started experimenting with her own social media accounts, designing posts on Canva, which was unheard of back then. A marketer at heart, more than social media management, it was running online ad campaigns that caught Lini’s fancy. “So initially, I did the setu up of Facebook ad campaigns for free, to show clients what it could do for them.”

A successful campaign for a renowned international brand in Bahrain opened the doors for Lini’s startup, when companies www.womanthismonth.com

looked to her to navigate and optimise their digital presence. The eye for design and content that she’d gained while heading the marketing and production for the print publications at Red House Marketing for a decade, held her in good stead while dabbling in the digital side of things, something Lini is extremely grateful for.

A subsequent opportunity to teach digital marketing further broadened her horizons.

“In fact, I’d started out in Bahrain in 1994 as a marketing trainer,” she reveals. “It

Lini teaches the Certified Digital Marketing Professional Programme to date, alongside helping organisations forge a presence in the ‘digiverse’.

“People tend to focus on social media management, which is only part of digital marketing,” she says. “What I do for clients is first perform a digital audit for them to assess their online presence. A big-picture digital strategy and optimising their digital marketing budget is where I can help them to see multiplied returns on their investment.” Working with clients receptive to the ever-changing face of digital marketing and keeping abreast with the newest updates excites Lini the most.

“There’s never a dull moment because there’s always something new to learn within the vast scope of this field!”

So, what kept Lini going on a road strewn with obstacles? “Not allowing others to influence my judgement,” she says. “Believing in myself, my skills, and the quality of work I deliver allowed me to never give up.”

Want to spark a conversation with the inspirational Lini Reghunath? Reach out to her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ linireghunath March 2022

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BEAUTY | news

Blush with Siella Beauty

Homegrown brand Siella Beauty’s all-new blushes are the perfect addition to your makeup collection this year.

The lightweight blush and highlighter pair come in a smooth, easy to blend formula. The Pearla blush is lightweight, easy to blend and comes in three shades Sunkissed, Plumped and Blushed that suit all skin tones. Alongside Pearla Blush, Siella Beauty also formulated an ultra glowy highly pigmented Glowria Highlighter that also comes in three mesmerising shades; Bronzed up, Gold dipped and Sugar Coated that give an effortless and radiant glow.

Available at www.siellabeauty.com and Siella beauty’s Booth in Dubai’s City Center Mirdif.

Your Spring

Our favourite beauty products this month are sure to have you looking, feeling and smelling good!

Shimmer and Shine with CHANEL

In the 1920s, high on the ridge of RoquebruneCap-Martin, Gabrielle Chanel had a house built in her image and filled it with private references.

CHANEL’s Spring-Summer 2022 collection was inspired by the beauty of this legendary villa.

The collection features a range of healing tinted lip balms - ROUGE COCO BAUME, that has all the qualities of a lipstick. The collection also includes a unique new version of LES 4 OMBRES which features a khaki brown, gold and copper shades that evoke the dazzling sunlight of the Côte d’Azur. This light is also what inspired the new, golden beige shade of OMBRE PREMIÈRE LAQUE, which makes the eyes shimmer.

The two BLUSH LUMIÈRE exclusive creations, designed in shades of coral pink and terracotta brown, warm up the complexion and leave it glowing. La Pausa’s colour scheme is vast with its yellow walls and softly sunlit, tiled terracotta floors.

This contrast, evocative of the south of France, is embodied in the two nail polishes from the SpringSummer 2022 collection.

Available at all leading beauty stockists.

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BEAUTY | news

SUPERCHARGE YOUR SKIN WITH NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES Give your skin some real TLC and recovery time! Neal’s Yard Remedies, a British-born, organic certified skincare brand, caters to all those skincare needs effectively whilst allowing people to use products that are safe too. The brand-new Wild Rose Skincare Range is formulated with glow-giving organic wild rosehip seed oil and high performance natural and organic ingredients to brighten and nourish the skin, giving it that supercharge radiance boost. This range is not only the perfect choice for hydrating tired and dull skin but leaves the skin revealing its natural glow!

Available at Neal’s Yard Remedies stores in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman.

For more information visit www.nealsyardremedies.com

RASASI’S SCENTS OF ELEGANCE AND FEMININITY The Hair Mist collection by Rasasi Perfumes provides a subtle, fresh, longlasting scent and is aimed at the modern woman who are always on the go.

Rasasi Perfumes Shabebah Hair Mist is an alcohol-free hair mist that’s packed with hair hydrating and nourishing ingredients like argan oil. The feminine woody floral fragrance gives off just the right amount of fragrance when you artfully toss your hair. With notes of tangerine, plum, ylang

ylang, and vanilla, you cannot go wrong with this gorgeously packaged and scented hair perfume.

Jadelah Hair Mist, on the other hand, is a delicate fruity fragrance enlivened by patchouli, vanilla and woods. Enriched with active ingredients, its formula literally dresses the hair in a sensual trail, while deep nourishing them.

Available at all Rasasi stores.

Bat Your Lashes with Flomar!

Here’s the saviour you didn’t know your lashes needed. Whether you need a pick-me-up on a long day or a special occasion, the super affordable Flormar’s Hero Mascara will save you.

When acing your eye makeup look, you can’t do it without mascara. The Hero Volume & Curl Mascara adds volume by grasping your lashes from root to tip, and it’s indispensable with a formula that does not create a feeling of heaviness. Thanks to the particle structure and the super soft fiber brush specially developed by Flormar, your eyelashes will look super voluminous and curved in no time.

Available at all Flormar Stores and online on www.glambeaute.com and www.instashop.com.

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

MOTHERS’ DAY DURING COVID-19… In Style!

Celebrating Mother’s Day in the midst of a pandemic can be tricky. Ouiam El Hassani makes the experience a lot easier with her suggestions.

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other’s Day has grown to be a timeless tradition of honouring and giving back to the ladies in our lives, who always put us first no matter how old we are. Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on March 21st in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and on the second Sunday in May internationally.

However, one day could never be enough to repay mothers for all that they do for us. That being said, it’s a small gesture to show them how much we care for them and appreciate

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what they do for us every single day.

Just like every holiday over the last two years, celebrating Mother’s Day during the pandemic is going to be quite different. It may not look and feel the way it has been in the past, with COVID-19 creeping up on us from every corner, but it shouldn’t be a problem, because what really matters is to show our mothers the love and appreciation they deserve.

Regardless of the situation, you can always

plan a special day for your mother, wife, or even mother-in-law!

With simple acts of kindness, virtual or social distance activities, or just taking time to relax and de-stress, this Mother’s Day can be filled with appreciation, self-care and love. Here are six wonderful ideas, if you would like to celebrate Mothers’ Day during COVID-19 in style!

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

3- Gifts!

1- Handmade cards

Everyone enjoys homemade, personalised gifts and cards: make a card, write a letter, or maybe some arts and crafts especially made for her. Mothers really appreciate the effort. Make an album of some of your favourite pictures together, or maybe a Spotify list of her favorite songs.

2- Breakfast in Bed

Whether it’s you get her favourite meal delivered, or get the family to make a recipe together, enjoying the first meal of the day in bed feels like a holiday. Some flowers on the tray can brighten her day too, and maybe some silence, because let’s face it… we all know how mothers around the world enjoy a few minutes of silence!

During this pandemic, there have been many online options for the delivery of flowers or custom gifts. You can send a cake, chocolates, or even a good book that you know she will like. There are also charitable donations that can be made in her honour. Gift vouchers are another great option as they can be used whenever and wherever she desires.

4- Sharing the responsibilities.

Another way to show your love is by taking up some of her responsibilities. Maybe go grocery shopping instead of her, meal-prep for the week, or even help with the laundry or taking the trash out. You can also fix something around the house that has been on hold for a while because no one had the time to do it.

Mothers really appreciate it when “the work is done”.

5- Virtual Visits

There are so many options when using video to catch up and show her you care. If you can't use a video conferencing app like FaceTime, Zoom, Duo or HouseParty, the telephone will do. You can even plan for all her kids to participate, this way you can all show her how much you care together.

No matter what you do to show her you care, be sure that it will make her heart happy and even though nothing is ever enough to repay these selfless, beautiful creatures, still one day a year can make a difference.

6- Family Activity

Spending time enjoying a family activity together can include going for a walk, watching her favourite movie or having fun playing a board game together. Mothers love spending time with their most cherished people. www.womanthismonth.com

Happy Mothers’ Day to all mommies around the world!

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

SEVEN WAYS TO SPOT A CATFISH ON DATING APPS! Online dating is extremely common these days, so it helps to know these tips to stop yourself from being ‘Tinder Swindled’.

Everyone is talking about the new Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler.

Whilst we are shocked by the amount of money he ‘swindled’ from his victims, and his short five months in prison, it all came down to one thing… the art of the ‘Catfish’.

‘Catfishing' is when someone creates fake profiles on social media sites to trick people into thinking they are somebody else. Whilst the modern-day world of dating apps allows us more accessible ways to find a potential match, there is always that risk of someone pretending to be something or someone they are not.

So, before meeting your match face-to-face, doing a bit of digging on them is a must and there are certain signs you can look out for which will tell you someone is a catfish.

The experts at Wethrift share the main reasons why someone would create a fake profile and seven ways you can spot whether the person you are chatting with is the real deal, or somebody who could potentially put you in danger.

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Here are the three kinds of catfish: A human-controlled fake profile

One of the hardest to catch out because there will be an actual human controlling the messages. This will be someone trying to push a certain agenda, whether that’s a service, product, or scam.

Dangerous Catfish

This would be someone pretending to be someone else; trying to plan a meet-up with malicious intentions.

Lonely Catfish

This one is a little more on the sad side. Someone who might be lonely, and obviously quite self-conscious, and just wants to chat. Whilst it may not be dangerous as such, it can still mess with people's lives. www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | opinion

So how can you sniff out a fake? Here are seven instant red flags you need to be able to spot: The bio is missing that human touch

No distance

One of the first things that can indicate a catfish is if their profile just looks ‘blank’ and lacks that human touch. This includes things such as a bio, occupation, interests, and other basic information. However, often the ‘human control’ catfish will create almost a new identity to trick people into matching with them, therefore you may still need to be cautious.

Whilst this can be understandable that someone may not want to advertise a location for their own safety, the reason people will go on Tinder is to match with people in close proximity to them. With this in mind, no location is an instant red flag. This can show signs that you may be dealing with a bot or someone located overseas ready to scam you.

Many people often connect their other social media accounts with their Tinder profile, so if you cannot find the person on Instagram or Facebook, this is a red flag.

‘Picture perfect’ profile pictures If you have a feeling you recognise the person from somewhere else, whether it be another Tinder profile or a famous celebrity, and most of their pictures look extremely professional and unnatural, swipe left. It is likely the person behind the profile has ripped these pictures from the internet or somebody’s Instagram profile and copied their name and description into the bio.

It is also important that, when meeting someone you have matched with, to meet in an area close to your home. It is not recommended to go any further than 15 miles out of your way the first time you are meeting someone.

Verification status

They only have one photo

Recently, Tinder launched a new ID verification function to prevent catfishing, meaning global users will be prompted to verify their identity prior to interacting with others. Whilst it isn’t obligatory, it will help legitimate users prove they are the same person behind their pictures.

Whilst this doesn’t always indicate a fake profile, if you only have one photo to judge of someone, this is usually a red flag. After all, you want to see them from different angles, right?

So, if somebody doesn’t have a blue verification tick next to their name, always be wary they may not be who they appear to be.

whether the person in the picture is real, screenshot the image from the profile and put it Reverse Face Search in Google Images and see if you can find the face elsewhere.

Top tip: If you can’t seem to work out

Refusal to video chat

Refusal to meet in person

If you suggest it’s finally time to have a face-to-face chat and the person makes up an excuse like ‘their camera is broken’, this could be an indication they aren’t who they say they are. Although, it’s important to remember the person could just be extremely shy and not confident enough to chat over video call.

After a while, if it feels like the right time to meet up but the person refuses, this can be a sign they are a fake. If somebody is genuinely interested in getting to know you, they will go out of their way to meet up in person.

Whatever you choose to do, we hope stay safe and find a genuine match online!

www.womanthismonth.com

March 2022

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LIFESTYLE | home

PASTEL PRETTY Bring the gleeful vibes of Spring into your home and hearts by giving your living spaces a pastel makeover.

Lemon yellows, soft lilacs, sky blues, baby pinks, mint greens and easy neutrals... colours like these are the hues that set the mood for a fresh seasonal change.

H&M

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www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | home

Beautuiful Buds

Seasonal Shifts

Faux flowers Lifestyle

Cushions Lifestyle

Feeling Chirpy Partition screen THE One

Tempered glass art Home Box

Tableware Home Centre

Lidded jar THE One

Coral Decoration THE One

In Full Bloom

For a Spring Setting

Classy Accent

From the Deep

Wicker Works

Put a Ring on It

Basket H&M

Napkin rings Namshi.com

Have Your Cake…

Dessert plates Lifestyle

Blushing Velvet Sofa Home Box

www.womanthismonth.com

Vintage Feels Candle Holder Namshi.com

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skincare Achieve a Radiant Glow with

Hydrate with Hydropeptide’s

Herbal Essentials

Divine Serum

The region’s much-loved natural skincare brand is here to help you hydrate and rejuvenate your skin by harnessing the healing powers of naturally balanced Himalayan spring water.

Revitalise and hydrate your skin after cleansing with their refreshing toner for all skin types. Cucumber extract calms the skin whilst Rose Water helps to moisturise. Perfect to use after cleansing and before your moisturiser. Clinically proven to provide an instant skin hydrating effect and increase hydration by 41 percent. Herbal Essentials products are cruelty-free, and free from nasties such as mineral oils, sulphates, or parabens.

Available online at www. kibsons.com, www. amazon.ae and www. projectbyouty.com.

Drive away unwanted skin concerns such as dryness, flakiness and dullness with Hydropeptide’s premium skincare.

The Hydropeptide Optimist Radiance Serum Mist is perfect for keeping skin hydrated on the go, this ultra-fine mist with botanical oils and powerful actives helps strengthen, firm and refresh skin.

The Optimist Radiance Serum Mist is a patented barrier repair solution with a hydrating antioxidant seaweed complex, which optimises retention and increases circulation within the epidermis.

Designed to deliver an instant dewy glow to the skin, bringing confidence and luxury to every moment of your day. The mist is suitable for all skin types, especially for dry, dehydrated and aging skin.

Available on www. enerbeauty.com and www.Namshi.com

Clarify and Hydrate with De L'Arta Emirati personal care brand De L’Arta’s has introduced its first collection of skincare using the desert plant, Tetraena qatarense which has the ability to survive the harshest of environment. The plant is rich in antioxidants and has rejuvenating, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

It also provides deep hydration and protects from premature ageing.

The [Tq] Face Wash from the range banishes impurities whilst protecting the skins natural moisture barrier. Infused with geranium essential oils to leave your skin naturally fragranced, invigorated and clean.

Available on delarta.com .

NOURISH YOUR SKIN! 5 Skincare Products to Help You Nourish and Hydrate Your Skin

Extreme weather conditions have a way of adversely affecting our skin with the most common effects being dryness, pigmentation and premature aging. Here are our top products to help you repair or prevent skin damage!

Illuminate with Filorga’s Skin-Unify Range With higher sun exposure, hyperpigmentation dark spots and an uneven complexion is a daily battle against youthful looking and healthy skin.

Internationally acclaimed French skincare brand, FILORGA, has launched the new Skin-Unify Range, for even and luminous skin, inspired by three aesthetic medicine techniques that contain a powerful triple-action formula.

From the three-product range, Filorga’s Skin-Unify Illuminating Even Skin Tone Daily Cream combines a powerful formula with a pleasant sensorial experience. The cream, which is suitable for all skin types, prevents and reduces the appearance of dark spots and instantly illuminates the complexion.

Available at leading pharmacies including Bin Sina Pharmacies, Boots Pharmacies and at www.basharacare.com.

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Glow with Juana Skin’s Face Scrub The brand uses high-potency CBD farmed in Europe to the strictest quality standards and combines it with naturally effective therapeutic botanical extracts. In addition, each product is clinically tested and proven to work.

Your skin will be purified and radiant with Juana Skin’s Exfoliating Face Scrub. The formulation is infused with Hemp CBD and Argan amongst other glow-giving natural oils that are sure to achieve great results.

This luxurious scrub leaves you with skin that is fully prepped to renew itself overnight.

Visit www.juanaskin.com for more information.

www.womanthismonth.com

last word

In Her Shoes This month we had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful Daniela Peykova-Daher, Lifestyle Manager at CRYO Bahrain. Daniela is known for being optimistic, joyful and kind-hearted, but at the same time resilient, determined and fiercely loyal. “Think of a pitbull in a yorkie disguise,” she says. Take a walk in her shoes with us.

Which musician, alive or dead, would you love to see in concert?

Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. What a unique voice!

If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Mmm… difficult one. I love all kinds of food and I am very open to trying new food, but I can’t select one particular favourite.

Pasta, I guess?

What’s your favourite perfume?

Gucci Bamboo

Something about you that not many people know is: I always spill my beans and almost everyone in my life knows everything about me, especially if they are willing to listen. :)

Daniela What’s your dream holiday destination?

White sands, green water, no sharks around… or my kids (I am kidding… not).

Name a song that’s guaranteed to make you dance.

Swedish House Mafia ft. The Weeknd - A moth to a flame

What’s your favourite movie?

The Green Mile. I usually don’t cry during movies, but this one is on another level. www.womanthismonth.com

What’s the best gift you have ever received?

My children. If we are talking about materialistic things, I would say a car (my husband is always treating me with amazing gifts).

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advertisers index Hotels & Serviced Residences Al Areen Palace & Spa . . . . . . . . . . .

Ramee Grand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jewellery & Watches

Yaquby Premium (Breitling) . . . . . . . .

Medical & Dental Services Middle East Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Royal Bahrain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . .

Royal Hospital for Women & Children

Motoring

Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes) . . . . .

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Now you’ve seen your regular issue, which we hope you enjoyed, make sure to check out our websites and social media for daily updates of what’s happening across the Kingdom. You can find us at: www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Scan the QR code for more information from the advertisers

Others

Bahrain International Circuit . . . . . . .

7 Economic Development Board (Spring of Culture) 11 Energie Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 WeDeliver (YOU app) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Restaurants & Cafes

Maki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Al Areen PalaceSpa.png

Al Haddad Motors

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Ramee Grand

Bahrain International Circuit

Yaquby Premium

Middle East Hospital

Wedeliver

Maki

Royal Hospital For Women And Children

Energie Fitness

Royal Bahrain Hospital

Economic Development Board

Unveiling of Valmont

Michelle Reynolds, Director of The RitzCarlton Spa and Naomi Galli-Merle, General Manager, unveiled the most exquisite spa products and treatments in the Kingdom - Valmont.

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bystander

Small Prints Exhibition Under the patronage of HE Shaikh Rashid Bin Khalifa

Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the National Council of Arts, Honorary President of the Bahrain Society for Fine Arts, Hend Gallery presented the opening of Small Prints 2022 - an art exhibition for a group of Bahraini and Arabic artists.

he Farmers’ Market ran through February and will continue until March 27th, every Saturday at the Budaiya Budiaya Farmers’ Market TBotanical Gardens, from 7 am to 1 pm. Visitors can find all sorts of produce from local farmers and families.

WEAR A FACE MASK

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN

DISINFECT HANDS WITH SANITISER

AVOID SHAKING HANDS bahrainthismonth

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

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