Danderma's Blog, page 86
July 17, 2012
L’Essence De Beaute Invitation & Gift
L’essence De Beaute is a newly launched beauty boutique in Omniya Mall, Salmiya. They have sent me a generous invitation to try some of their services like a hair mask, mani/pedi, and a Head & Shoulder massage plus a loaded goody bag full of beauty products. Like these two Zoya nail polishes in gorgeous colors.
This anti aging hand cream. If you know me you’d know that anything anti-aging or anti-wrinkle would make me swoon… yes I have a thing against getting old.
Thank you very much L’essence De Beaute for the invitation and the gift bag. I will try to schedule a session with you soon insha2 Allah. I wish you the best of luck 
L’essence De Beaute is located in Omniya Mall, Salem Al-Mubarak Street, Salmiya. For more information you can contact them by phone Tel: 25719393 or 55565518. You can also follow them on Twitter (@Lessencedb_kw) or follow their facebook page (link).
Happy Birthday to Me… My 30 Things List
Every year as I age -err- gracefully I prepare a list of 30 things I wanted to do before turning 30. Today is my birthday so I’m checking out the list and seeing how much progress I’ve done. Happy birthday to me, and to Standy my birthday twin, and to everyone whose birthday is 17 July… Cancers rock!
Now the list continuing from the 2010 (post) and 2011 (posts) and adding some more. I will try and finish up half of it this year insha2 Allah…
1- Speak French,German, and Italian. –> I learned a new Italian word… then forgot it, it was the word for impossible :p
2- Learn how to play the piano. –> I actually bought a little piano for an iPad and took a lesson 
Will continue on this path insha2 Allah!
3-Learn how to shoot a gun. –> The twins took me last year! I hit a bulls eye, TWICE! I loved it
4- Weigh 45 Kilos. –> On my way… just lost my way a bit and went a little further up than down :p
5-Get the perfect blonde hair dye. –> Got an even better hair dye color! Blonde is old shakhbary
6- Visit Japan. -> Still waiting 
Maybe in April 2013
7- Go to the original Disney Land. -> Still waiting I need to travel more!
8- Learn how to ski. -> Why did I want that? The snow is too cold!
9- Get rid of Acne and Black heads for good. -> I have to make my peace with that.
10- Open my own restaurant/ cafe. -> I got close to doing that this year 
Got trained as a Barista thanks to Golria Jeans Coffee (post).
11- Publish my writings in a book. –> Published TWO books to date! Alf el 7amd le Allah
12- Have the perfect Hollywood smile. –> My braces are off! Next, lumineers
13- Prevent aging, wrinkles, and gray hair. –> Dreams dreams dreams dreeaaaams.
14- Join and actually commit to a gym. –> Khair insha2 Allah.
15- Go to hajj.–> The husband went without me last year! Maybe next year insha2 Allah.
16- Understand my fellow human begins.–> I give up.
17- Build my dream house… Tiny white small modern with French doors opening to the garden. –> Chan ZAIN!
18- Program a video game. –> Might do so soon!
19- Finish my masters degree. –> I still don’t feel like going back to grad school. What for?
20- Organize all my photos into albums… All neat and dated.–> Half way through there!
21- Learn Arabian calligraphy. –> One day insha2 Allah!
22- Learn how to apply makeup. –> No new techniques learned since last year.
23- Plant my own vegetable garden. –> We are trying, but all the plants keep dying on us We will not give up!
24- Learn karate or any other form of martial arts. –> Still can’t find a suitable gym/trainer.
25- Learn how to cook eggs! –> Loool After Diet Ninja’s diet, I ain’t going to cook eggs again!
26- Stop biting my nails and growing them out like other normal girls. –> Still neat and normal looking!
27- Stop eating chocolate, candy, and soft drinks plus sticking to a healthy eating diet plan. –> Now why would I want that exactly? Life is boring without chocolate!
28- Grow long long eye lashes. –> Today, I want to prevent them falling!
29- Get over my pet phobia. –> Surprisingly I’m making progress, I’m having fun with our stray cats even though last year I would have run screaming to the street if I saw one! There’s still hope!
30- Master the art of letting go and accepting what you have been dealt in life. –> Acceptance is easy. Letting go and forgetting are the hardest parts but life is teaching me that if people think you are unworthy, then they are disposable.
More things I want to add to my list?
31- See my books displayed in Waterstones!
32- Program my first Apple application.
33- Print more of my pictures as wall art plus finish my office at my new apartment.
34- Do more good and charitable work to give back to society.
35- Learn how to fly with the Aviation Simulator thing.
Now let the celebrations begin, I’m going to spoil myself rotten today! Happy birthday to me
July 16, 2012
Ayyame’s Exclusive Spring/Summer Music Mix
Ayyame, one distinguished restaurant in Kuwait and is personally one of my favorites (post) (post) has sent me a CD of their exclusive Spring/Summer music mix. If you dine in any of their restaurants now a days you will get their CD as a give away so if you are interested head to the nearest Ayyame branch. Thank you Ayyame.
For more information about Ayyame you can visit their branches in Marina Crescent or The Village in Abu Al-Hasaniya, give them a call on 25712189 or 23907936, or email them at ayyame@kfg.com.kw
Event: Fursa’s Store Ramadan Exhibition
Last week I received a very cute invitation + Ramadan nuqsa from the newly opened Fursa store (post). The event was yesterday and it was my first time visiting Fursa.
When I finally found the place -just take a right when you see The One Marina Mall then take the first left and the store will be on your left- I took a moment to gaze at the old building from the sixties. I love old restored placed, they have such charm and character, I knew I was in for a treat.
Fursa’s door is big and colorful leading into a small shaded area with outdoors seating. Very cosey, messy, and colorful. Just the way I like it.
On the wall of the shaded area you can see little paintings done by terminally ill cancer children from NBK’s hospital. Fursa sells these painting and the money from their purchase goes towards KAACH. The paintings are beautiful and fursa’s gesture is more than touching.
Up the stairs we go to check out Fursa’s store and their Ramadan event.
The place is fabulous and just as I anticipated, bathed in modernised 60′s charm. I know I was supposed to check the Ramadan collection but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the retro interior details! Like those light switches in gold over a pale pistachio paint.
Cage like chandeliers… check out the electrical wiring! So pretty!
A sealed doorway! Clever idea.
Now to the merchandies, the section I was looking forward to is Dania Al-Jassim’s designs. You know my side tables? The ones I adore in different old Kuwaiti figures I’ve shown on my blog millions of times? She’s thier designer.
Now that Darb Al-Zalag table would go with my living room but I already have too many side tables
Also by Dania, wall art and trays. I would have loved a tray only it was wooden. If it was acrylic I would have bought them all
Very cute baby dresses with the old song lyrics “Shetdawreen ya um a7mad” written on the front. “adawer ibriti” on the back. Yshawgoon!
Yasmeen Al-Othman, one of Fursa’s owners, is wearing a similar dress with her very cute baby girl masha2 Allah.
Shaikha’s dara’a designs were there but it was very crowded and women were trying on clothing fa I snapped a few pictures.
Bags with modern glass handles and camel or mubkhar engravings.
More merchandise by other designers.
One of my favorite items displayed was those T-shirts by Day N’Age. I don’t know about you but I personally prefer to purchase one of those T-shirts and cosy up on the couch with a pair of sweats after futoor instead of get all glammed up in dara3a’s.
T-shirts are my own brand of dara3a I suppose, I always buy myself a few new funky T-Shirts for Ramadan. I have heaps of T-Shirts in my cupboard but I just adore them
For the event Fursa had provided cold juices and refreshments, Arabian Bootha, and Humbah hamburger van outside.
It was a tad too crowded and hot therefore I didn’t stay long. I am planning on going back in the morning time to buy myself a few things 3la rawa2a and donate some stuff. You didn’t know about the donations? Outside Fursa there are boxes for you to drop your donations. You can both help out and declutter by doing so.
Thank you Yasmeen & Jumana Al-Othman for your invitation and hospitality, I will be back soon insha2 Allah Fursa is located in Salmiya right next door to Breakfast & Brunch. For more information you can check their webtie (link) or follow them on twitter (@Fursa_Q8) or Instagram @Fursaq8
Picture of the Week: The Vimto
Insha2 Allah this time next week, it will be Ramadan, and we would all be thirsty and many many of us will be dreaming of drinking an icy cold glass of Vimto. I am not a Vimto addict like my fellow Kuwaitis, I drink it bel sena 7sena, but my husband is a big Vimto fan and every year he brings home two bottles to drink during Ramadan and we make one pitcher and it wouldn’t taste good and we would let it gather dust on the kitchen counter.
Yes, I confess, I don’t know how to make a good glass -or pitcher- of Vimto. Are you a Vimto fan? Do you love Vimto in Ramadan only or all year round? and would you please teach me how to make Vimto? Much obliged!
The Dathra Book Launch 80s Party – Part II
Continuing here from Part I of the Dathra Book Launch 80′s Party (post), for drinks we had soft drinks, Se77a bottled water (may 9e77a), sunkist -which was very popular-.
Dear Ansam brought over 3 water bottles filled with juices (strawberry, mango, and banana milk) to make the cocktail juice like the olden days! Akramch Allah Ansam :*
Desserts time!
For desserts I chose the most basic dessert of all time, fruits! Went with bananas, apples, and oranges. Nothing too fancy. I wish I had laid out a bowl of watermelon slices but I didn’t have time.
Next came a very retro cake of half blackforest and half white sponge with cream and peaches. Can’t get any more 80′s than that
Also some gateaux pieces: millefeuille, eclairs, and the rest of the 80s favorites.
Also I brought out a big bowl of KDD ice cream. The girls were very happy with it.
More oldies ice cream, this time brought over by Pink Girl. Guess the name of the popsicles brand :p
We decided to place them on a long vase with ice on the coffee table next to the flowers.
Dear Noon brought over my favorite coffee sweets of all time, the mini brownie like bites from sugar and spice. I eat those like I eat popcorn, they are so addictive! Sadly all my pictures were badly shaken so I had to steal the one picture I could find of them from Jacquies. It’s also the only picture I had of the utensils we used, mistmatched and placed in the cocktail paper cup.
Dear Um 3zoz also brought over my beloved Gelato Italiano Gelato Gems (post)! I almost squealed with delight! Perfect for a summer party indeed! Akramch Allah Um 3zooz :*
Dear Al Noury arrived with a old fashioned Kuwaiti tray chock full of mini pots filled with Muhallabiya and Elba. Elba is an old traditional Kuwaiti dessert that is similar to cream caramabel but infused with saffron and cardamom and is very good. Al-Noury’s elba was so YUMMY! Akramch Allah Al-Noury
Here is Dudette enjoying her elba. I stole half the picture off her post!
Al-Noury, famous for her tea rituals and the Arabian coffee she takes everywhere (post), brought over the Arabian coffee served that night. It was delicious! Akramch Allah Al-Noury Again, picture taken from Dudette .
As for the tea, well, I had ran out of Dathrasim so I had decided to use my favorite Pieces by Farah estekanas with my parrot sugar pieces.
Guess who decided to crash the party as Jacquies + 1? Dathra herself! Dathra doll is a present from Jacquies to me and she will have her own post insha2 Allah! Thank you Jax :*
I was in for a nice surprise too. You see, Ansam brought over a cake and when we opened it it said “Happy Birthday Danderma” even though my birthday was 6 days away! She insisted on lighting it and celebrating an early birthday for me. Here she is lighting up the candles in Pink’s picture.
Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me, which sealed the deal and made it feel exactly like an 80′s birthday party! Thank you dear Ansam, I was really touched :*
For entertainment we played a selection of 80′s and 90′s popular music throughout the party. With every song you’d hear a guest going happy over the song! I wish I had more time to play the selection I had prepared though. Plus, since the guests arrived wearing dathra clothing, we put it into a vote to determine who was the most dathra guest.
The votes were divided between three girls: Jacquies, Swera, and Dudette. Guess which girl won the most dathra outfit?
Swera! Her prize was a not-so-dather Apple TV which was wrapped in, e7em, a scrunched up Co-Op bag. Congratulations hon and sorry Jacquies :p P.S. I borrowed the picture from you :p
Thank you girls for coming and for sharing in my special dinner, it meant the world to me! To check out the girls crazy outfits and see the party through their lenses, you can check out their party posts: Pink Girl, 7aji Dude, Jacquies, Swera, Um 3zooz, and Ansam. Thank you Ansam for turning the book party into a surprise birthday party and thank you noon for my beloved brownie coffee sweets. You cannot begin to imagine how much I adore them The Side Talk was my right hand and helper during the party, maskeena she helped arrange and open and move and retrieve and cover back everything for me every step of the way. Girl, I loved your gift, thank you love :*
I wanted to add watermelon slices and old jelly cups with canned fruits to the desserts but I didn’t have time to do either. I also wish I had more space to invite more people but it was a very tight squeeze. I now know that my living room cannot take more than ten guests at a time. Now, I cannot wait to plan my next party… I think I’m going to have either a Qraish or a Spaghetti party
Shraykom?
July 15, 2012
The Dathra Book Launch Party – Part I
For some reason wordpress is eating up my Party post. I’ve written it three times already!!! It could be because its too long so I’ll have to sadly break it down and re-post it
I bet everyone with an instagram had already seen -and felt like being invited to- the Dathra Book party I had at home Let me show you the party from the party planner’s point of view… how I chose and put everything together in about 3 days time! The theme was “Dathra” which means out of style so I made sure everything belonged to the 80s.
Saturday was spent sending the invites via whatsapp, confirming the party date (Wednesday), and shopping for supplies. Sunday was spend deciding on the menu and whatsapping with the guests on who will bring what plus spreading out the goody bag supplies waiting for them to be wrapped (post).
Monday I took the books from the printers -at last- and wrapped the goody bags, had them ready for the guests to take home in a back room. Some last minute shopping for food items were done as well plus finalizing the menu.
Tuesday was spent pre-ordering the food for the party and rearranging the house to accomodate my guests, hanging the old 80′s decorations we used to love and see in every birthday… remember these?
On Wednesday I went to the Co-Op before coming home from work to set up for the party. First, I bought some old wilted roses and arranged them in the old cocktail juice papercup as a vase. I spread my tables with the plastic disposable covers used as “sma6″ for the food.
In the center of the coffee table I have placed a bowl with four different kinds of 80s beloved chocolates: Barmait, Coconut, Macintosh Quality Street, and Colored cups.
Also on the coffee table and on the mini tables I placed little plastic bowls filled with old style mixed nuts. You never went into a house in the 80s without them placing a bowl of nuts next to you. I think people still do it until now but I’ve never been a fan of nuts.
Also on the main coffee table and side tables I had placed bowls of mini pizza qay9ar. Now that’s not so dather but its a crowd pleaser and a good thing to munch on while guests chat and wait for dinner.
On the tables I have also placed little tissue boxes and the cartons had printed designer labels on them like LV, Chanel, Dior, and Aigner. They were so tacky they belonged in the party :p I didn’t have a picture so I borrowed and cropped the one from 7aji Dude’s (post).
Also from the Co-Op I had gotten a box of petits fours and some baq9am. I remember eating “betefoor” all the time back in the 80s! I don’t know why we stopped, they are delicious! I placed them on plastic plates on the coffee table.
At around 6:10 PM I used my iPhone to order some party food using 6alabat.com iPhone app while I was blow drying my hair. I chose Palm Palace (qa9r el nakheel) which is famous for providing food since the 80s. They provide a five person portion of their food so I ordered Hummus, Moutabbal, Taboola -the only salad, 80s weren’t that salad friendly-, Arayes, Meat Kubba, and Potato Kubba. The food arrived at 6:40 PM!
At the time of Palm Palace’s food arrival my husband arrived with the food I had ordered from Cesars: Pizzas, mini pizzas, Zaatar Pizza, chicken chapati sandwiches, falafel sandwiches, white cheese fatayer, kiri cheese balls, and cheese croissants. The table was full of boxes! This is how it looked when Swera and Pink Girl had arrived at 7 PM I borrowed and cropped this picture from Swera’s (post).
We also had platters of cheese samboosa, vegetable samboosa, cheese spring rolls, plastic bowls of hot nakhi and bajela. 80′s much?
My dear Swera also brought over some really yummy homemade waraq 3enab (stuffed vine leaves). It was TANGY and I love my waraq 3enab tangy! Akramch Allah Swera :*
Dear Um 3zooz brought over a big bowl of Balalee6 and Eggs. It can’t get any more traditional than this! The balalee6 were delicious! Akramch Allah Um 3zooz
The food was spread out on the table in the cartoons and foil wrappers they came in to give it all a messy look. The tablecloth was plastic with a palm tree on a beach scene printed on it that matched nothing at all. Just perfect.
I was so glad my guests were happy and dug in It felt like a birthday party in the 80′s all over again!
Next post… the Desserts, Beverages, and the rest of entertainment! Stay Tuned!
The Dathra Book Launch Party
I bet everyone with an instagram had already seen -and felt like being invited to- the Dathra Book party I had at home Let me show you the party from the party planner’s point of view… how I chose and put everything together in about 3 days time! The theme was “Dathra” which means out of style so I made sure everything belonged to the 80s.
Saturday was spent sending the invites via whatsapp, confirming the party date (Wednesday), and shopping for supplies. Sunday was spend deciding on the menu and whatsapping with the guests on who will bring what plus spreading out the goody bag supplies waiting for them to be wrapped (post).
Monday I took the books from the printers -at last- and wrapped the goody bags, had them ready for the guests to take home in a back room. Some last minute shopping for food items were done as well plus finalizing the menu.
Tuesday was spent pre-ordering the food for the party and rearranging the house to accomodate my guests, hanging the old 80′s decorations we used to love and see in every birthday… remember these? :D
On Wednesday I went to the Co-Op before coming home from work to set up for the party. First, I bought some old wilted roses and arranged them in the old cocktail juice papercup as a vase. I spread my tables with the plastic disposable covers used as “sma6″ for the food.
In the center of the coffee table I have placed a bowl with four different kinds of 80s beloved chocolates: Barmait, Coconut, Macintosh Quality Street, and Colored cups.
Also on the coffee table and on the mini tables I placed little plastic bowls filled with old style mixed nuts. You never went into a house in the 80s without them placing a bowl of nuts next to you. I think people still do it until now.
Also on the main coffee table and side tables I had placed bowls of mini pizza qay9ar. Now that’s not so dather but its a crowd pleaser and a good thing to munch on while guests chat and wait for dinner.
On the tables I have also placed little tissue boxes and the cartons had printed designer labels on them like LV, Chanel, Dior, and Aigner. They were so tacky they belonged in the party :p I didn’t have a picture so I borrowed and cropped the one from 7aji Dude’s (post).
Also from the Co-Op I had gotten a box of petits fours and some baq9am. I remember eating “betefoor” all the time back in the 80s! I don’t know why we stopped, they are delicious! I placed them on plastic plates on the coffee table.
At around 6:10 PM I used my iPhone to order some party food using 6alabat.com iPhone app while I was blow drying my hair. I chose Palm Palace (qa9r el nakheel) which is famous for providing food since the 80s. They provide a five person portion of their food so I ordered Hummus, Moutabbal, Taboola -the only salad, 80s weren’t that salad friendly-, Arayes, Meat Kubba, and Potato Kubba. The food arrived at 6:40 PM!
At the time of Palm Palace’s food arrival my husband arrived with the food I had ordered from Cesars: Pizzas, mini pizzas, Zaatar Pizza, chicken chapati sandwiches, falafel sandwiches, white cheese fatayer, kiri cheese balls, and cheese croissants. The table was full of boxes! This is how it looked when Swera and Pink Girl had arrived at 7 PM I borrowed and cropped this picture from Swera’s (post).
We also had platters of cheese samboosa, vegetable samboosa, cheese spring rolls, plastic bowls of hot nakhi and bajela. 80′s much?
Thank you girls for coming and for sharing in my special dinner, it meant the world to me! To check out the girls crazy outfits and see the party through their lenses, you can check out their party posts: Pink Girl, 7aji Dude, Jacquies, Swera, Um 3zooz. Thank you Ansam for turning the book party into a surprise birthday party and thank you noon for my beloved brownie coffee sweets. You cannot begin to imagine how much I adore them
I wish I had more space to invite more people but it was a very tight squeeze. I now know that my living room cannot take more than ten guests at a time I cannot wait to plan my next party… I think I’m going to have a Spaghetti party Stay tuned!
July 14, 2012
Do you Know Chips Oman?
One of my GCC blogger friends once told me about a “Batates Oman” sandwich they adore. Apparently you fill two pieces of toast with the chips, drizzle hot sauce and Kraft spreadable cheese, and eat them and the combination is so good.
The thing is, I’ve never seen the Chips Oman before in my life and never knew anyone in Kuwait who had that combo. To my surprise I was in Shuwaikh a while ago in the Sweets shops selling oldies food when I saw bags and tins of Chips Oman ! I asked in Instagram and people apparently are looking for it and use it in dishes as well!
Am I the only one in the GCC who never heard about it before? So how is it exactly different than, say, KITCO’s? How exactly do you eat it?
Preparations for the Dathra Party
I didn’t want the launch of my 2nd book to be a quiet affair but I had no hopes of a book signing given that the timing is not right at all (summer, Ramadan, etc.) so I thought why not throw a cosey dinner party at my place? The decision to throw a Dathra party came last Saturday and right away me & Pink Girl spent our Saturday driving around Kuwait discussing the party and purchasing supplies.
Our first -and most important- stop was at Shuwaikh’s candy district to purchase the contents of the party give away bags. I knew I wanted to give away signed Dathra books but I wanted to do it in the oldest way possible. What’s older than to feel like you’re a kid whose just gone into a baqala and filled out a bag of old candy? This is what I wanted to capture. Look at my spread
If you are a child of the 80′s you’d immediately recognize the treats on the table for this is what we used to munch on when we were kids at a very simple time. Part of Dathra’s charm was her refusal to let go of the old things that made her feel good and protected in her own comfort zone, I wanted those old comforting things to be in the bag with her books. I also chose floona’s bufak (corn puffs). Many loved floona as an 80′s cartoon and who doesn’t feel nostalgic towards bufak?
Gem colored jelly cups! I adored those as a child!
Just because we are now in the 2000′s doesn’t mean we cannot have fun. And those bubble makers are the perfect way to induce laughter! I could never resist them and I still can’t. Each give away bag had one of those.
Speaking of bags, this is the kind of bag that I chose.
Oversized green bags that are NO WAY considered elegant. Alongside a purple ribbon thing that if you pull on the side turns into a hideous flower shaped wrapped. Just perfect! Here is one filled bag of goodies.
Next, wrapping the flower ribbon.
The final look of the bags, horribly dather
Whatever was left over from the candy I filled in a big green zebeel (traditional wicker basket) and is now ready for Qerqai3an. I hope we get a lot of kids knocking on our doors this year
Other things I bought that day was plastic plates, plastic bowls, plastic utensils, plastic cups, plastic table spreads, a horrible plastic table cloth, Carton of Sunkist, soft drink cans, KDD ice creams, and old style birthday decorations or what we call “zeena” like the ones we used back in the 80′s birthday parties.
All I had to do was make up the number of guests (10, my apartment isn’t big enough to accommodate more guests), send out the invitations, and prepare the menu. After all, the party was only 4 days away! I will post about the party tomorrow insha2 Allah
