Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, is a heartfelt celebratory occasion in the Hindu calendar when families and friends unite in the spirit of togetherness and pay respect to good fortunes, to health and to happiness. With social gatherings limited this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, many households will be celebrating Diwali on November 14 with virtual parties or small, intimate family gatherings at home. Here, we pay homage to the Festival of Lights with…
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The weather is becoming cool and welcoming once again with the temperature dropping nicely as we enter the winter season, which also marks the start of the growing season here in the UAE. The change in the weather means it is time to dig out the gardening tools, get your hands dirty and enjoy one of the best activities that your home has to offer at this time of year — growing your own food!…
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Fancy escaping the home for some good food, fun and fresh air now that the weather is cooling down? Savour captivating culinary flair every Friday and Saturday as Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa introduces its whimsical new Picnic Brunch from 1 pm to 4 pm. Providing diners with an experience reminiscent of a classic afternoon picnic, the Picnic Brunch at Al Forsan, the property’s all-day dining venue is sure to become a hotspot…
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This one is for all you foodies out there! As many eagerly await the experience of gastronomic travel again, Tourism Ireland has put together these delicious, easy to make, family recipes that will take your palate on an exciting food journey, from the comfort of your own home. From afternoon treats and heart-warming appetizers to decadent desserts, #FillYourHeartWithIreland with these impressively easy recipes guaranteed to bring the flavours and aromas of Ireland’s countryside into every…
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Thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown, many of us have turned our attention to growing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs at home; not only does this satisfy a craving to be self-sufficient but gardening is a wonderfully therapeutic and healthy hobby to have at home. Growing plants and produce in a raised bed is a highly accessible and achievable idea no matter how large or small your outdoor space is, and it is especially versatile and…
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While this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations will be more low key and in smaller gatherings compared to previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the silver lining is that it will make the festivities more intimate and special. With our apartments and villas — whether rented or owned — having become our safe havens even more so than ever, create a warm, inviting and hospitable home for your Eid guests on Saturday May 23 with…
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Enjoy more than 100 free virtual workshops and masterclasses from the comfort of your own living room, with a new ‘stay at home’ initiative that includes mindful flower arranging, nutritional cooking advice, kids’ crafts, business advice, and yoga for all levels.  Running for two weeks from Monday 11th May, people from all over the world can tune in, watch and interact with experts from a wide range of industries, including fitness, food, interiors, fashion, beauty,…
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We can’t quite work out if the short distance to the kitchen convinced us we’re all pastry chefs, or if it was the barrage of unavoidable drool-worthy content on social media these days… Either way, let’s not kid ourselves! Nothing beats a seriously good dessert from the real deal, be it a fluffy sponge cake or a gluttonous banoffee pudding. No more finding flour footprints on your newly cleaned rug, or smears of icing on…
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Ok, it’s time for me to admit something quite geeky here, but I absolutely LOVE meal planning and batch cooking! I know for some people it can appear to be a little over the top, but for me the entire process is very rewarding and helps me to stay on the right track, nutritionally, during busy times. When I was expecting my baby late last year, my batch cooking went into overdrive as I prepared…
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Along with baking & TikTok,  gardening has joined the ranks of the best things to come out of this unprecedented time of lockdown and work from home, as many of us test-out how green our fingers are. Whether you have a garden or a balcony in the UAE, you may have already tried your hand at growing your own vegetables, herbs or fruit, successfully or otherwise and if you’ve only just started toying with the…
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