Sandi

Hello, Embroidery

March 12th, 2019 by Sandi Leave a Comment

One of my intentions for 2019 was to start hand embroidery. I’ve been fascinated with the craft for a few months, and I figured the start of a new year would be a great opportunity to learn a new skill. And so I did!

I’ve recently completed three hand embroidery pieces, but the one I’m most proud of is my latest hoop. Unhappy with the lack of an Arabic translation of “empowered women empower women,” I took it upon myself to finally put my translation minor into use and translate it to what translates into English as “empowered women empower others.” Why ‘others’? Because I truly believe that a woman not only gives her fellow sister the support to be the better version of herself in whatever she chooses to pursue, but also helps men understand that an empowered woman is never a threat – but an equal voice.

As I progress with my embroidery, I’ve found myself more inclined to stitch Arabic quotes. As much of a juxtaposition to my daily life (I speak and write English most of the time), I find that the Arabic quotes are helping me appreciate my ‘mother tongue’ a little better. I have found, however, that I’m quite limited in learning new stitching techniques; especially since I’m not very inclined to learn any floral-related embroidery. Unfortunately, the latter is filled with an array of stitches I can learn! Rock and a hard place moment going on.

With that being said, I’ll continue to practice embroidery in hopes of one day learning most stitches, and refining my current skills. This is a hobby I’ve truly enjoyed as it’s helped me quiet down any anxious thoughts, and really focus on the matter at hand (pun intended!).

Here’s to more embroidery!

Hello, 2018

January 1st, 2018 by Sandi 5 Comments

I love lists. I make lists for my cats, I make lists for what yoga asanas I want to work on, and I make lists of all the Lush products I own (true story; they’re all categorised by item type). So as you can tell, lists are major in my life, and as 2017 has come to an end, I only felt it natural to write a list of things I took away from this year of love and loss.

There’s no point being afraid most of the time.
- I suffer from Health Anxiety, which to put it in a nutshell, means I’m fixated with the idea that I have an illness or will be afflicted with one. This has consumed the better part of 2017 (11 months of it, if I’m being specific), and I spent most of my time being scared shitless. I dropped a quarter of my body weight because I developed a severe case of acid reflux, and was too scared to eat anything other than labneh, toast, and bananas for 9 months. Imagine, 9 months without pizza. WITHOUT FREAKING PIZZA. I’m a little better now, but if I feel any pain anywhere on my body I’m already thinking worst case scenarios. If this is something you suffer from, go seek professional help immediately; this isn’t something you can treat yourself by reflecting on life and mindful colouring. Trust me.
Do what you love.
- Whether it’s petting cats all day, or building an empire. DO IT. Be a boss and never be afraid to go after your dreams. If you fail, then high five to you for trying; all you have to do now is get back on that proverbial horse and go after another dream. In January 2017, I quit my corporate job that provided me with a steady salary, medical insurance, a budding career because I didn’t feel like I belonged to the humdrum of the corporate life (plus, office politics were draining me mentally). With my mental wellness on the line, I did what any self-respecting person would do, and I “Bye, Felicia”-ed that joint! I returned to my radio job after a 5 year hiatus, and even though there were hiccups here and there, when you love something you don’t just let go. You hold on to your passion with every fibre of your being, because it’s what gets you out of the bed every morning. And that’s what being on the radio does for me – it drives me beyond recognition.
People will want to see you fail.
- Whether it’s a friend, manager, or colleague there will always be at least one person that, unfortunately for them, revels in seeing you fail. I’ve been in the middle of one too many of these circles of hate. And yes, it drained me emotionally and mentally, and I felt defeated to the point where I wanted to give up (and in some cases, I have). But you know what I realised? When people try to tear you down, it’s because of the insecurities that fester deep within themselves; it has nothing to do with you as a person. This dawned on me after months of being bullied, but I blame myself for not taking charge of my emotions earlier. Here I am now, persevering, following passions, and being the best version of myself that I can be.
People are going to leave.
- My best friend, of four years, and I broke up last year after an argument that turned very ugly very fast. Words were said, feelings were hurt, and our friendship died. It’s been extremely difficult, and I’ve been mourning the end of the friendship for months, but it’s also made me appreciate the people in my life who accept me fully for who I am.
Yoga is life.
- Yoga is life! I had to put a halt to my yoga journey earlier last year because of how crippled acid reflux made me feel; I couldn’t even do downward dog without thinking I was having a heart attack. Ugh, what an awful time that was. Now, I’m doing headstands and practicing Ashtanga yoga like it isn’t anyone’s business!
Love yourself, always.
- This realisation didn’t come to me overnight. Honestly, I still struggle with the notion of loving myself, because there are so many things I feel very insecure about – uhh, hello anxiety (but really, goodbye already). From the anxiety that clouds my mind, to breaking up with my best friend, learning to love myself was an amalgamation of my experiences last year. How wonderful is it that from the worst of experiences blossoms something so beautiful!

If I’m going to leave you (and myself) with advice for 2018 it’s to avoid regrets, develop yourself, support others, and always do good.

Happy New Year!

Hello, Sleepy

July 31st, 2017 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Sleepy Hand and Body Lotion by Lush. I love the Arabic branding on the lid.

I’m a Lushie. A big one.

I was first introduced to Lush back in 2008, and, honestly, it’s been love ever since. From lotions, to solid toothpaste, I’ve tried almost everything they have to offer, and I’m keen on giving their shampoo bars a whirl next. The main reason I’m a huge fan of Lush is because their products are cruelty free and are made using natural ingredients.

I passed by Lush at 360 Mall a few days ago to pick up Sleepy, which is now part of their permanent range. Initially launched as part of Lush’s limited edition 2016 winter line up, Sleepy is an amazing body lotion that’s chock-full of natural ingredients, SLS free, and is lavender scented. The lavender isn’t camphorous, and mixed with the tonka absolute oil the overall scent is malty and floral; it’s such a comforting smell. In addition to cocoa butter, jojoba, and almond oil, the lotion has an oatmeal infusion base, which is perfect for those who have sensitive skin.

I apply this cream right before going to sleep, and what I love is that not only does it help me go to sleep a tad faster (falling asleep is very difficult for me), but it’s moisturising levels are immediately noticeable without the greasiness some lotions leave behind. As a matter of fact, in less than 10 minutes, I’ve found that it sinks into my skin beautifully. I also love how with the warmth of my skin, the scent is activated to its fullest. A plus for me is the fact that when I wake up in the morning, I can still smell the lotion’s malty lavender scent on my skin. This lotion is a definite favourite after Lush’s Dream Cream, which cured my eczema after a week of daily use. However, unlike Dream Cream, Sleepy is of a slightly lighter consistency and doesn’t have chamomile in it (that, and Sleepy is purple with lustre glitter in it – those are the only things I’m not so big on about the lotion).

Obviously fangirling over Sleepy.

Some of my favourite Lush products (and my cat Siegfried!).

Photographed above (clockwise):

R&B Hair Moisturiser: I recently found out R&B stood for Revive & Balance, and this product does exactly that perfectly! This moisturiser works best for those who have dry or curly hair (I have both). A little goes a very long way with this product; I just swipe my fingers of the top so there’s enough product on my fingertips, and add it to damp hair (from my ears down) post-shower. The dominant scents are that of jasmine and orange blossom – it’s strong; we’re talking hits you hard kind of strong. I sometimes use this on dry hair when I need to tame my baby hairs. Again, a little goes a long way, so build up the amount of product and don’t go digging into that tub from the get go!
Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion: I had a nasty bout of eczema on my right hand that didn’t seem to respond to any medication (cortisone and cortisone-free) for 6 months. I used Dream Cream on it as a last resort, and lo and behold, 2 days into using it twice a day, my eczema started to heal. Like I mentioned earlier in the post, a week of using this lotion put an end to my eczema. The oat milk is the star of this lotion, and paired with the lavender, chamomile, and cocoa butter the anti-inflammatory properties work together beautifully to provide relief to those with sensitive skin/eczema, and also moisturise like a dream (no pun intended). Just like with R&B, a little goes a long way. Unfortunately, the lotion leaves a greasy residue and isn’t as quickly absorbed into the skin – I wouldn’t suggest handling anything after application for at least 30 minutes.
H’Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment: Pronounced Shwen Wen Hua. I love that everything in this is fresh, but I’m not keen on the smell. Unlike most products I purchase at Lush, I didn’t smell this in the store; I was literally sold by how enthused the saleswoman was about the treatment. Never disappointed by a Lush product, I purchased it blindly. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to go about the smell. My initial whiff picked up on eggs, bay leaf, and cinnamon, which are amongst the key ingredients that also include banana and avocado. After using this, and no matter how many times I shampooed, my hair still smells like pumpkin pie (which I love, but not in my hair!). The only consolation is that my troubled damaged curly hair is supple and shiny after I was out the treatment. So, sucking up the smell is well worth it when the result is incredible. I apply this to dry hair, leave it on for an hour, shampoo and condition as normal, then apply R&B Hair Moisturiser on my towel-dried hair from the ears down.
My cat Siegfried (whom I call Siggy), who’s just as much a fan of Lush as I am, apparently!
Sleepy Hand and Body Lotion.

A quick shout out to the lovely ladies at Lush 360 Mall who are super sweet and helpful, and a special shout out to Jemma who totally caught me off guard and recognised my voice from the radio!

You can find Lush Kuwait at The Avenues, 360 Mall, The Gate Mall, and Promenade Mall, and will be opening in Hamra Mall soon. Follow them online on: Instagram: www.instagram.com/LushKuwait or www.mena.lush.com

Hello, Hijab

May 27th, 2017 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Self expression comes in many forms. This is one of mine. I can’t say putting on the hijab was a spur of the moment decision; I’ve been preparing myself on both a spiritual and mental capacity, for months. To me, this isn’t just a symbol of modesty, but it’s also a representation of my faith.

Walking out with the hijab on for the first time was both exhilarating and terrifying. I was way too wrapped up (pun unintended) with whether or not it was going to fall of my head, or if I had it on correctly. I didn’t recognise myself whenever I’d catching glimpses of myself in the mirror! However, by the end of the day, I had already gotten so accustomed to having it on; it felt so very natural, and that’s when I knew I had made the right decision.

I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy, and one of the most important factors that eased my decision, and transition, was my family and close friends’ encouragement. I’m lucky to have such a strong support system. Last, but certainly not least, shout out to my dear friend Ascia for teaching me how to cover my hair, and her patience with me wrapping and unwrapping my hijab until I got right! Confidence goes a long way when it comes to making such a monumental decision, hijab or not!

To all women who are teeter-tottering with the idea of putting on the hijab, remember this: It’s your decision, and how you choose to wear it is between you and God. Do what you feel is right, and never do anything to please others. Put yourself first. Always.

Hello, Thirty

October 19th, 2016 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Balloons from my birthday dinner!

I recently turned the big three-oh! Hitting 30 is quite the milestone: we’re done with school, start to make significant strides in our career, and are finally on a path of self-understanding and self love. No lies here, I won’t say I wasn’t terrified, because I was. Thirty: I’m an adult, an actual adult now. Gone were my twenties: the time where recklessness was given a pass, and people threw around the term “youth” at us. However, I realised that ‘youth’ in its simplest meaning isn’t what defined me. I am not my age. I looked back at my twenties, and it was a decade filled with ups and downs, and an insane amount of learning curves – for all that, I’m grateful.

Where do I see myself in 10 years? I don’t know! Do you? Does anyone, really? I personally don’t believe in putting together 5 and 10 year plans; they’re more of an obstacle – a hinderance even – to any potential a person can really achieve. What I’d really like to do is spend the upcoming decade living in the here and now and not try to contain myself in a box chock-filled with cookie-cutter expectations. People change, thoughts change, and I don’t want to limit myself to turning into a person I may have wanted to be at one point or the other. I’m pretty excited about what my thirties have in store for me – whatever it may be – so bring.it.on!

To wrap up, here’s a list of 30 things I wish I could’ve told my 20 year-old self, and things I’ve learnt over the last decade:

Love yourself.
Don’t be scared to be different and do things differently.
Always try to be the best person you can be.
Don’t dwell or hold grudges.
Never compare yourself to others.
Be you! Don’t be ashamed of who you are.
If you fail, try again, and again…and again.
Appreciate your parents and what they’ve done for you.
It’s okay to be vulnerable; allow others to see you at your worst.
Nothing is impossible.
Never bottle up your emotions. Cry, kick, scream, and shout if you have to.
Laugh your heart out. Laugh lines are a sign of a life well lived.
Exercise more. It’s fun (promise!).
Tell your family you love them.
Friends are the family we choose – pick them wisely.
Travel more. It’s both enriching and humbling.
Learn to forgive (even without an apology).
Don’t harbour negative feelings, they will only make you feel worse.
Change is growth.
Never lose your passion, no matter what it is.
Make sure your job doesn’t interfere with the more important things in life: your health, relationships, and passion.
Always look at the bigger picture.
Put good out there and you will be rewarded.
Hold on to and learn from people who help you bring out the best version of yourself.
If it seems too good to be true, it most probably is. But hey, a learning curve’s a learning curve!
Own up to your mistakes, and celebrate your successes.
Yoda said it best, “Do or do not, there is no try.”
It’s the small things in life that count; learn to appreciate them.
Make an effort at everything you attempt.
Love.

Hello, Blueair

September 20th, 2016 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Our handsome cats getting acquainted with the Blueair 650E.

Our handsome cats, Siegfried and Scully, getting acquainted with the Blueair 650E. Well, except for Siegfried (because he hates everything).

Abdulla and I have been suffering with the issue of dust (and cat dander) ever since we moved into our new apartment last June. No matter how much we dust or vacuum around the house, a thin veil of fuzzy greyness will find itself on everything. Everything.

After complaining to my colleagues at work (isn’t that what they’re there for?!), they suggested I get an air purifier by Blueair; they both swore by them. Naturally, I embarked on my usual, “Scour the Internet for Reviews” adventure, and wow! People barely had anything negative to say about Blueair. Satisfied with what I read, but still undecided between the 503 and 650E models, I went to Xcite at the Avenues to find the perfect purifier for the house.

The 503 model (129 KD) seemed like a good choice; however, I went with the 650E (149 KD* at the time I bought it) because it came with more options that I felt would make my life easier down the line. There’s an LCD panel that indicates smoke and smell levels, fan speeds, and when its time to change the filters. But all in all, I may or may not have been swayed to get a Blueair because of how I love everything Swedish. May or may not.

Fan speeds:

Low (1) is almost inaudible.
Medium (2) is audible but not unpleasant (it’s actually recommended to keep it at 2 throughout the day).
High (3) is loud – like, really freaking loud.

So, what do I think? I’ve been using the Blueair 650E for almost a month now, and I’ve noticed a significant decrease in my dust allergies. My chest doesn’t feel heavy when I wake up in the morning, and I can’t remember the last time I saw cat dander floating in the air. Success! Here’s a quick run down of my thoughts on the Blueair 650E:

Pros:

It wipes out floating particles in the air (dust/pet fluff), and the smell of food (if your neighbours fry everything [like ours!] then you’ll love this feature).
The Low level is very quiet, and is perfect for when we’re sleeping.
The unit is made of metal and comes with a magnetised remote. This is extremely convenient as it sticks to the sides of the purifier (or any magnetic surface of your choice).
Setup is very simple: plug it in and turn it on – the end. Once switched on, you can choose the different fan speeds from the LCD panel or the remote.
Auto mode runs on Low until dust or smells are detected, then it goes up to Medium or High.
The unit has 4 heavy duty castors, and I can easily move it around from one room to the next.
Frowny and smiley faces indicate whether the air has been purified or if there’s dust/smoke. (It’s cute, come on!)
Comes with a timer so you can adjust how long you want the purifier to be on.

Cons:

The Blueair 650E is quite large, but luckily blends well with our predominately white furniture.
The stench of death (aka the smell emanating from our cats’ litter boxes) was slightly lessened even after placing the purifier in the same room on High for 10 hours. TEN.FREAKING.HOURS. Guess Blueair can’t triumph against cat litter; but then again, nothing can. Nothing…
The price. The Blueair 650E is almost 2-3 times more expensive than other purifiers in the market.
The High (3) level is ridiculously loud; so loud, actually, that my cats run out of the room every time!
Auto mode. I know I put it under pros, but when we’re sleeping at night and one of the cats sleeps on top of the purifier (they like the cool air blowing up on their bellies), it’ll kick the fans to High mode and wake us up. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s loud.
The LCD display is awkwardly placed. It’s located at the bottom of the unit, and I must lean over/squat to read it.
Carrying the unit up the stairs on my own is not easy. Definitely a job for two.
Blueair recommends changing the HEPA filters (45 KD for all 3) every 6 months. That’s an additional 90 KD every year for a machine that costs 149 KD.

: Ready to get unboxed!

: Remote and extra battery included in the box.

: Multilingual manuals.

: Awkwardly placed LCD screen.

: Status of the purifier when I first switched it on.

Despite the cons, would I recommend the Blueair purifier? YES! The pros totally outweigh the cons, and I can’t imagine the house without it. If you decide to purchase the Blueair 650E, I would suggest to bypass Auto mode when you first switch it on and crank it up on High for 5 hours; this will help get rid of the icky particles and odours in the room faster.

Goodbye allergies, hello clean breathing!

*At time of publishing this, the price of the Blueair 650E model increased to 159 KD from 149 KD at Xcite.

Hello, It’s Me

May 30th, 2016 by Sandi 2 Comments

Grumpy Cat knows what’s up! (Source)

Yes, I know, the Adele reference is brutal. However, it was the most apt title I could think of seeing how I’m finally putting a name and face to this blog. Hello, my name is Sandi (not like the weather, nor the beach – shut up), and I love lychees…and cats, and interior décor, and a bunch of other things you can read about here.

The reason I’m ‘coming out’? I’m hoping that by attributing my true self to the blog, it’ll make me more accountable, and as a result will actually post more often than once every 6 months (which is ridiculous).

Here’s to a fresh start, and more posts!

Hello, Lego

December 30th, 2015 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Showered with legos as a child (literally, I wish!), it was safe to say I was extremely excited to find out The Lego Store officially opened in Kuwait yesterday. Located above Sephora, in 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, I rushed there right after work – inner child in tow.

Just for the record, this isn’t my first encounter with a Lego establishment. My first foray into brick paradise was The Lego Shop in Beirut, Lebanon in October 2014. Tucked away in Beirut Souks, that’s when I first came face to face with a (I’m assuming) life-size lego Darth Vader.

What first hits you when you approach The Lego Store is how yellow everything is. Obviously. The yellow brick walls on the sides frame the store window perfectly – making it look like a lego creation. The window display was filled with Star Wars themed sets, and the first thing you see when you walk in is even more Star Wars sets. I’m assuming they’re riding on the wave of Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming out two weeks ago. Not that I minded!

Towards the back of The Lego Store. Can you spot the Pick-A-Brick wall?

I’ll have you know, it was very hard trying to maintain any semblance of being an adult in the store. Everything, and I mean every thing, screams for you to unleash your inner child. From the old school lego collections, to the Architecture collection. I wanted, nay, needed, everything! I especially liked the Pick-A-Brick wall in the back of the store. So here’s how the Pick-A-Brick works: there are little cubbies that house a specific lego size and colour, and all you have to do is mix and match (or pick one specific type), then fill them in one of two cups. The large cup costs 7.950 KD, and the small cup costs 4.950 KD. You can put as many pieces as you want in either cup as long as the cup closes. I checked the US prices of these cups and the large fills to the brink at $16 (approx. 4.850 KD) and the small one fills at $9 (approx. 2.750 KD). Umm, come again? Are we talking about ridiculous price jacking? Yes, we are.

Pick-A-Brick cups and prices.

If we’re just judging the variety, then yes, there’s a huge variety of collections and sets in the store. The staff are extremely friendly and approachable, and the overall look of the store makes one feel like they were transported to a Lego world – it’s everything you’d imagine, really. The prices, however, are beyond exorbitant. I mean, I’ve heard of companies adding 30% to the prices of imported goods, but over 100%? That’s quite unreasonable. Some pieces like The Simpsons House – is priced at almost 135 KD. I checked online, and the very same set costs $200, which is approximately 60 KD. That’s a 125% price increase. Despite the unreasonable prices, I couldn’t walk out without the Wonder Woman keychain (priced at 2.750 KD) I’ve been coveting for a few years. I checked the online US Lego Store, and found the very same keychain for $5 (approximately 1.500) – hello, 83% increase.

The ‘hard to find’ Lego Simpsons House.

Loving my Lego Wonder Woman keychain!

There’s really something for everyone and almost every age, at the store; so, unless piling on sets from The Lego Store in Kuwait doesn’t break your bank, then start piling!

: Lego Store Facade

: Part of a huge Lego City wall.

: Christmas Lego

: Classic Lego pieces. Some old school lovin’!

: Star Wars and DC Comics Lego keychains

: Pick-A-Brick Wall

: Green legos

: Blue legos

Hello, Siegfried

December 29th, 2015 by Sandi Leave a Comment

Siegfried our handsome blue British Shorthair cat.

Abdulla and I both grew up in a house with cats, so when we moved in to our own place after getting married, we felt there was something missing – there was a cat-shaped hole in our hearts. We had been debating for a few months whether or not we should get a cat, or if we had the time with our long working hours, and just like that, we finally made the decision and adopted a cat in November! Read all about our experience adopting a cat, and questions you should ask shelter staff before you adopt, right after the jump.

…

On Being M.I.A.

October 15th, 2015 by Sandi Leave a Comment

It’s been months since I started this blog, and every day I mentally prepare and write a post to put up on here – but I don’t. I think it’s the actual process of sitting down, and writing – really writing – that I can’t do. Maybe it’s because all I do in my day job is write, and when I have a chance to myself – to this blog – I can’t really squeeze any creative juice out.

Excuses? Maybe. Regardless, here I am writing, and jumping back into blogging. The good news is that even though I’m quiet here, I’m trying my best to make some noise on my profile on Instagram. It’s not the same, but it’s a start!

Click here to see more of what I’ve shared on Instagram.

In the meantime, here are some exciting updates:

I got married in July! Abdulla and I celebrated our wedding, in Cairo, with 60 of our closest and dearest. We had the greatest time ever!
We spent our honeymoon in Portugal, and I’ll be sharing the awesome things I found there in a post soon.
Putting together our apartment, to reflect both myself and Abdulla’s personalities, has been (and continues to be) a great experience, and if it taught me anything, it’s that I love home decor.

Here’s to filling this blog up with what I started out to write about: food, beauty and fashion to literature, home decor, travel, and the things I’ve learnt along the way!