How to Wash Fresh Berries

Whenever I buy fresh berries (Raspberries and blackberries) from the grocery store, I emmidietly wash them and keep them in the fridge. And by the next day or the day after, the berries seem to loose its plumpiness and turn mushy... So I asked around and googled, and found out that it's wrong to wash the berries and refrigerate it, because they absorb too much water and may lead to the above results...  

Here is what I found for the best way to store your berries:

1. Refrigerate the berries as soon as you get them without washing them until you are ready to eat them. This will help them remain firm and plumpy.
2. Before serving the berries, rinse it delicately with cold water. The video below will show you the best method on how to rinse the berries.
3. Consume the rinsed raspberries as soon as possible or place the berries into an airtight plastic bag and freeze. They will keep for up to one year.

And here is how to wash them, BEFORE SERVING!!!

Make Your Move

Here's what I recommend you to wear for running outdoors in a cold weather:

American Eagle Outfitters fleece top, $30
Dri-Fit T-shirt: Nike blue shirt, $22
Nike pants, €55
A proper running shoes: Skechers lace up wedge shoes, £80
Sports Watch: G Shock g shock watch, $99
If it's really cold, it's better to wear gloves: FAIR true wool knit glove, £15
To protect your ears, with a feminine twist: Crochet hair accessory, $20
Nike Sport Water Bottle - SportChek.ca, $25

Nothing Like A Morning Jog

In this beautiful morning, I woke up bright and early at 7a.m and went jogging/walking with my sister. The weather was pretty cool and little bit windy with some clouds, it was a beautiful morning. We jogged/walked for about 45 minutes and as per my watch, I burnt almost 220 calories -I know, it's not much, but felt really great-, much better than the treadmill, especially with this perfect weather...

It's not a very clear picture, but here's what I wore:

Nike yellow T-shirt (Not clear in the pic at all =p)
American Eagle grey hoddie
Nike Tight Fit Women's Training Capris
Skechers Shape up Shoes
Beurer Sports Watch; Heart rate monitor + Calorie consumption in kcal + fat consumption

P.S: I will be posting some great running tips soon; maybe by next week, so check back often. =)

Versace for H&M: What I Got

Yesterday I had the craziest morning ever -In an adventerous fun way-... Since it was Thursday, and you all know, it's the morning before the weekend, and you also know what that means; it's still an official working day!!! And you all will be wondering, why the hell am I telling you all these very silly little details??? Well, all the working ladies who have attended the Versace for H&M launch at the City Center Bahrain on THURSDAY MORNING, have either taken a day off (paid or an unpaid leave) or sick leave TO SHOP!!! I'm telling you, it was insane...

Me and my beautiful freinds and sister were there before everyone else, we were standing in line since 7.15 am!!! Whereas the store opens its gate at 8 am... As soon as the gate opened, everyone went to grab as quickly as they can their favorite pieces, some girls have been using some of their aggressive technics to get what they want by kicking other girls, pulling the clothes, and ugh it was soo exhausting....

And I must tell you, that I am very sad for not getting the lovely leather jacket, there were only Three or Four pieces of them, as shown in the pic below... =(

Anyways, check out the pics of what I got from this wonderful experience...

Me paying, Cha-ching... =D , -Ignore the messy hair, this shopping experience was a battle for me- LOL

Content... =)

My stufffffff...

Short leopard print silk skirt with a large print on the front and pleats at the side and back. The pleats have this very pretty metal detail in the corners

Lovely scarves...

Hot pink sleeveless silk dress with metal rivets in a pattern at the front and small rivets at the back

Black leggings -stretch- with gold rivets details on the sides

 Golden bracelet

And finally, I got this Jacket, but it's with my sister now, since we only got one and we both liked it, so why not pay half the price and share it ;)



What do you guys think of my shopping skills??? ;)

Hope you have a lovely weekend...

xoxo

Alla

Versace for H&M: Teaser

Just came back from the Versace for H&M launch in the City Center Bahrain. It was Crazzzzzyyyy!!!

Well, I didn't get anything from the manikins you see above, but I got some of the stuff that I also wanted from my previous post... And nooo, I didn't get the leather jacket I was dreaming of ='(

Anyways, I got many other goodies for myself that I will be posting them up later to you guys...

xoxo

Alla

This Thursday: Versace for H&M

This Thursday, the 17th of November 2011:

In The Kingdom of Bahrain Finally =D

Can't waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.... I am all ready for this Thursday... =D

Here are the things that I hope I will be able to get from the Versace for H&M collection:

Todays Randoms

My friend was wearing a lovely Elie Tahari Vena Ballet Flats

Having my favorite drink "Shirley Temple" after getting my car from the service.. =D

Hello...

At Riffa Views Golf Club

Our Breakfast... Nomnomnomnoooooom

Today was a very casual day, due to some errand I had to run so that's what I wore:

Top: Forever21

Pants: Zara

Bag: Carolina Herrera

Flats: H&M

My Car is Back

 

Woowhoo just got my car back from the Volkswagen Service Centre, my baby is back =D

Last Piece

Oh nooo... This is my last Macaroon =(

Why don't Laduree open here in Bahrain!!!!!

Product of the Month

As most of you noticed, Clarins is one of my favorite products.. The Body Treatment Oil "Tonic" by Clarins is becoming my new best friend... This oil treatment firms, tones and prevents skin slackening by improving skin elasticity, while also helping to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. It leaves the skin hydrated, soft and satin-smooth to the touch.

Application: For a better result, apply it in a damp skin or after a cool shower. Apply a small amount over the whole body or concentrating on problem areas and lightly massage starting from your feet going upward. To enhance the use of this tonic, I use the High Definition Body Lift which is also by Clarins before going to the gym and the tonic after showers.

Big difference, amazing results...

Snow White and the Huntsman

I am sooo excited about next summer's movie "Snow White and The Huntsman", probably will be released by June 2012... Starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth - I love every single one of them-, this is gonna be one hell of a movie that I can't wait to watch...

Baked Veggies in White Sauce

Since the weather is getting pretty cooler in the Kingdom, I decided to prepare myself a warm dish "Baked Vegetables in White Sauce"... My lunch was pretty satisfying and verrrrryyy easy to prepare...

The veggies that I used were all frozen, the only thing that needed the most attention was preparing the white sauce...

Ingredients:

Any kind of frozen vegetables you like, what I used was: potatoes, carrots, corn, and asparagus

2 frozen sausages

Salt and pepper for seasoning

For the white sauce:

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsps all purpose flour

1 cup low fat milk at room temperature

2 Low fat cheese slices

I used a handful of french shredded cheese "Emmental français", you can use any other shredded cheese "Cheddar/ Monterey Jack/ mozzarella" for the white sauce

Grated cheddar or masdaam cheese, I used masdaam

Some bread crumbs -if desired-
Salt and pepper to season

Direction:

pre-heat the oven at 200 C.

For the vegetables, place them in colander or strainer and rinse with warm water until thawed… then drain well and set aside.

Boil the 2 sausages and cut them to small pieces and set aside with the veggies.

Melt the butter in a saucepan add the flour and mix it well  by cooking it in a low heat for 2 minutes and try not to brown or burn the flour. Keep stirring and slowly add the milk little by little to avoid getting any lumps, then add the rest of the milk. 

Stir and bring to boil. Reduce the heat, add the salt and pepper.

Add the cheese slices and the shredded french cheese and mix well till the cheese melts. Simmer for few more minutes till the sauce thickens.

Put the vegetables and sausages in a baking dish -I recommend you use a less depth of baking dish than the one I used here, similar to the one I used in the very first picture above- and pour the sauce till it covers the veggies.

Add the grated masdaam cheese and the bread crumbs over it and bake in the oven at 200 C till the cheese starts to brown for about 15 minutes.

And it is ready to be served, I had it with bread and brown rice..

Bon appetit... =D

Something New

This month I went all crazy for perfumes and trying out new scents and actually ending up buying them... During my lovely trip to Dubai, I came across Jo Malone's store at the Dubai Mall, and I couldn't help myself but to sniff all of their scents, but there is only one scent that I fell in love with which is their recent fragrance "Wild Bluebell Cologne"... It is a delicate floral, watery, dewy, fresh and slightly fruity fragrance...

This is the scent breakdown:

Top Notes: Fresh Bluebell, Clove

Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, Eglantine (a rose variant), Jasmine

Base Notes: White Amber and Musk

Look what I found!!

Today when I was grocery shopping, I found this Starbucks Seattle Latte from a cold store near by home!! And there is also another flavour; chocolate... =)

The drink is high in caffeine, and as per my calculation and findings for the normal serving (220ml), it has approximately 160 calories, but what the hell, I love it... ;p

Happy Weekend

Well hello everyone... It's been a long time since my last blog!

We just came from Dubai and had an amazing time there, lots of people I know was there too -Alot-... Shopped alot and ate ALOT! Now, my favorite restaurant there is Le Petite Maison at the DIFC -It's AMAZING-, and we tried Shake Shack at Emirates Mall -Best Burgers and fries EVER-...

Anyway, tonight I will be watching one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn collection 'Funny Face' as my late night movie and eat all the junk food I can before I get back to the gym on Sunday... During the time that I'm checking out my Tumblr account and eamails, I am watching "It's Complicated"; another one of my favorite movies...

My Eid holiday was beautiful, hope yours was the same too and even better...

Dubai Here We Come

Have a lovely holiday, and Eid Mubarak mu8adamman... =)

xoxo