Ice Queen Lipstick (Lipstick Queen)

“Once upon a time, there lived an Ice Queen, whose cool and crystalline beauty captured the magic of sunlight sparkling on snow.” - POPPY KING

Thank you Tishtash for this lovely gift


 

The above completely sums about what Ice Queen is. It’s a lipstick that belongs in fairy tales. My first thought on seeing the lipstick was that of a Disney princess, where butterflies and fairies kiss your lips with sunlight and it sparkles.



The overall color is truly beautiful; a shimmering white lipstick flecked with silver and gold that works like an illuminator for your lips. But will I use it over a plain lip, No. It does give you a shine; however for pigmented lips like mine it just doesn’t look great. However, I love the way it looks over other lipsticks adding dimension and sparkles! It makes it seem as though your lips are drenched in seductive colors with a luminous kiss of shimmering stardust.

If you have gorgeous natural lips, then this A+ product is so good. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and nourishing oils to ensure that your natural lip color shines through as flawless and flake-free as can be. However, for those like me, you can layer it over any other lip color to instantly winterize your look.

Just look at this gorgeousness, stunning right?



"Get kissed by the moon and travel to intergalactic gorgeousness with Ice Queen"

It’s so simple you can apply it without a mirror, or even a steady hand.



Nellara

Have you ever felt that food can actually change your mood. I just realized that recently. I was FAMISHED and we went to Nellara for their  South Indian meals.  I was all sorts of angry and annoyed (hunger makes me a monster), but the moment  I sat down I just felt super happy either it was the understanding that food was just minutes away or intution that I was going to have a wholesome meal.







We ordered for meals/thali along with fish fry, and lo behold we were take to a land of food. We were served rice (matta rice), along with two fish curry's, two vegetable curry, sambhar, rasam, buttermilk, tamarind ginger chutney, coconut chutney, papad, payasam and also raw mangoes soaked in salt water (heaven).









I ate every morsel and was so content. The food was so tasty, it felt as though it was made with loads of love. The service, hospitality, hygiene was all very good.

We left with a smile and a full happy stomach. I would definitely recommend Nellara to those who enjoy tasty South Indian meals.

Details

Meal for two: Dh 25-40

Location: 

Bu Tina, Sharjah

Masala Pot

For an Indian, food is cooked with dollops of love and sprinkled with masala's. They are all stirred together and magic is served on plates. Every morsel bursts with flavors that take you to a land of foodness (not a typo). 







When I was invited for food tasting at Masala Pot, my expectations were of similar nature, since they catered to Indian and chinese cuisine  I looked forward to a gastronomical treat, The first thing that you tend to notice is how your food is served. The way it looks definitely alters your thinking and taste buds. At Masala Pot, they took care of both quality and taste.

We walked in to an ever smiling staff who ensured we were well served and comfortable.

As soon as were seated, we were asked about our preference, spice levels etc. We were suggested to try their Chinese cuisine and we readily agreed.

We started off with a mocktail aptly named Pinky Moon. It was refreshing and just the amount of sweetness. Pinky moon was a blend of fresh grapes, vanilla ice cream, ice and sugar. It was thick and yum.






As soon as we were comfortably settled in with the mocktail, we were served Broccoli soup. The only place I ever loved broccoli soup was Jazz by the bay, and now I have another favorite at Masala Pot. The soup was creamy and had you could easily taste all the elements - ginger, garlic, onion, green chilly, broccoli, spring onions, pepper were all in the right amount. It was literally soul food.




The soup was cleared and we were served with Lemon coriander chicken. I particularly, am not someone who likes the taste of coriander powder. So for me the dish wasn't all that amazing. However, I loved the way it was presented and I did like the subtle taste of lemon and capsicum.




We were then served Veg. Hakka noodles, Chicken fried rice and Hanan fish gravy. I loved the noodles, the vegetables were fresh and crispy just the way I like it. The fried rice did taste a little too much of soya sauce which wasn't something I particularly enjoy. However the Hanan fish gravy was just the best ever. The fish was perfectly cooked, the gravy was just perfect. It was a mouth watering curry, and I just couldn't stop eating it.






I always love concluding every meal with a nice dessert and we opted for Gudbud. Yes it sounds pretty off, but I loved the way our server described it to us, and we opted for it. I loved the way it was served. It was just so beautiful to eat. I loved the bit where you could munch in to crispy cornflakes, coupled with chocolate sauce and dry fruits.




Overall it was a wonderful spread. 

The food coupled with the service and ambiance makes it a must- visit joint. Don't forget to order Pinky moon.

Details:

Meal for two: Dhs 100

Location: 

Meena Bazaar,




I was invited to Masala Pot and all views and images are © Urbanmodish, unless stated otherwise.

Herbal essentials


I’m very skeptical like most of you to try out new skin products, however I’m a total sucker for organic and natural products. When TishTash gave me a goodie bag with Herbal Essentials I was over the moon. Herbal Essentials is 100% natural and it’s made in UAE with imported Himalayan natural ingredients.





Herbal essentials Problem Skin Scrub contains natural clay (Gopichand) – a magnesium iron and aluminum yellow earth – similar to Bentonite along with neem, brahmi, turmeric, basil, walnut shell, sunflower oil, coco palm wax.

It smells very earthy, and oddly enough I felt it smelled like cumin. I loved the fragrance, it had a soothing and relaxing effect.




It comes in n easy to use wide plastic jar with a screw up lid. The texture is that of soft clay with tiny beads which are not harsh, but easily cleanse your skin. You can use it as a scrub or as a mask. I usually apply scrubs as a mask and then scrub em away when dry. Best of both worlds isn't it?




My Review: Since I do have sensitive skin, I take a patch test before generously lathering anything on my face. If the product passes the patch test, it gets slapped on my face. Herbal Essentials problem skin scrub passed the patch test, and was generously applied on my clean face. It took around 15-20 minutes to dry. Usually with clay masks, you feel it drying as it stretches your skin absorbing all excess oils. However, I didn't feel the same with this one. I had to keep checking if the mask dried, which was a plus.




I splashed my face with lukewarm water and then scrubbed away the mask in circular motion, paying more attention to problem areas like my nose, and chin. I scrubbed away gently on my neck in upward motion and loved the soft, smooth and supple effect it left.




I didn't moisturise my skin so as to check if the scrub dries out my skin, and to my surprise it didn't.

You will start noticing the effect post the first use itself. It’s a perfect pamper jar that you could gift yourself or your loved ones, and its calming fragrance will relax your mind as well.

Put on some music and pamper yourself with the Problem Skin scrub for a more radiant YOU!


Ready to Iwok

Eating healthy is more of a necessity than a passing fad. A lot of people try and make healthy food as interesting as possible as the eyes taste the food even before we put it in our mouth. Healthy food need not always be bland food or loads of green vegetables thrown into a salad. Healthy food can be just as tasty and appealing  as compared to the not so healthy version.

I was invited to review 'Ready to Iwok' , and being someone who loves Asian food, I couldn't resist.




Ready to Iwok is an Asian fast food concept that serves healthy food cooked in less oil. Their food is also free of MSG. Ready to Iwok is a tiny restaurant located in Dubai Marina. Judging by the place, it seems to be a popular takeaway and home delivery joint.

The menu is very simple (phew), I always get confused between what to choose. Their menu doesn't offer many choices, but it's enough to not waste one's time.




You can customize your order in three steps:

Step 1: Choose your base
You can select between a variety of bases. From their popular egg noodles and Udon noodles, to buckwheat, vegetable mix, jasmine rice, quinoa etc

Step 2: Choose your Ingredients and toppings

Their are options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. From shrimp, calamari, mushroom, beef, chicken to broccoli, tofu, bean sprouts etc and topping like peanuts, fried onions, sesame seeds etc

Step 2: Choose your sauce

You can always try your sauce. My favourite is the Korean chilli from garlic sauce, oyster sauce etc.

The sauce isn't too spicy, especially if you are used to having spicy Indian food, you can ask them to spice up the sauce.

I ordered Buckwheat noodles, with shrimp, calamari, broccoli, tofu and topped with peanuts in Korean chilli sauce. Along with that we ordered hot and sour chicken soup.






My noodles was served in a takeaway box, and the steam that hits your face when you open the box is on another level of gastronomical delight. I loved my noodles, it was tasty and fresh and just divine. The tofu, shrimp, calamari were perfectly cooked and the broccoli had just the right amount of crunch.

We were also given fortune cookies which was a blast from the past of sorts, and I thoroughly loved breaking it open to reveal my fortune.





Both me and my husband didn't like the soup that much. I would go again only for the noodles and for the fortune cookies.



Watch the full Video HERE



Details
Meal for two: Dh 80
Location
Behind Pearl hotel apartments, Dubai
Timing: 11am to 11pm 


TILAL LIWA - An Arabian Getaway

Tilal Liwa is nestled snugly in the middle of the desert. It's the perfect getaway if you are looking to unwind and relax far away from the city. It took us a fun filled 3 hours 20 minutes to reach Tilal Liwas from Dubai. So if you want to travel alone to Tilal Liwa, you might want to reconsider considering the journey to Tilal Liwa.




Our first interaction with the Tilal Liwa staff was a very unpleasant one, We called to confirm the status of our booking and it took two efforts from my end and the final one from my husband to confirm that we could check in late. We were already having our doubts about the place, but boy were we glad we decided to go to Tilal Liwa.

It was a never ending journey and as we edged closer to Tilal liwa, we were enveloped by unending desert strips on either side. It was a treat to the eyes and made us more excited towards our stay.

We arrived close to 8:00 pm, As soon as we entered the premises, we were left gaping with the beauty of Arabic architecture and the magical vibe that the place resonates off. We were checked into the Oasis room which overlooked the pool. Our room was breathtakingly beautiful. It was simple yet had such a comfortable feel to it, that you just wouldn't want to leave.



The staff decorated our room with petals and swans made from towels and ensured that our experience was one to be cherished. A bottle of bubbly, along with a heart shaped cake and fruit basket waited for us. We were beyond happy and excited. We were welcomed by a gust of wind as soon as we opened the door facing the pool. It was soaked in blue lights and the wind just cajoled our tired bodies to its hypnotizing rhythm.





We were soaking in the ambiance of the place when our stomachs growled with hunger. We headed to the Al Badiya restaurant and were very graciously welcomed by the staff who escorted us to a table specially reserved for us. Candle lit dinner with a glass of wine and a buffet spread (aahh, what more can we ask for).



The Buffet was a never ending array of contemporary and regional cuisine that would satisfy both vegetarians and especially non vegetarians. From seafood in varieties of curries, grilled, baked to meat, salads to pastas, the main course had something for everyone. The dessert section was an art in itself which was bound to leave you awestruck. The food, the ever smiling and ready to assist staff and impeccable service and hospitality made it a worthwhile stay.

The next day post breakfast and taking pictures we booked ourselves a desert bike ride and a camel ride with the recreation team. The desert bike ride (not as easy as it looks) was super fun. We also got caught in sand and were rescued by the team, but had so much fun inspite of the scorching heat

The Camel was made to sit on all fours so that I could sit on it (feeling guilty already), as I could sense it was forced to do so. Word of caution, be prepared when the camel stands up, as it stands first stands on front two and then the rear, so hold onto your dear life. It was an enjoyable ride, however as I saw flies around its mouth, and the camels vain attempts to shoo them off, I felt my heart drop down to my stomach. The sight of the person walking the camel in the hot sand, made me cut short the duration and I asked him to take me back.



Post that we decided to take a dip in the pool. The pool overlooked the desert and it was such an overwhelming view. A realization of how small we are, and how lucky we were to soak in the beauty of nature. The staff organised a romantic bubble bath for us, which just was just the perfect way to end our day.





Tilal Liwa is a perfect getaway, away from the hustle and bustle and away from the stress and noise.




Watch the full video HERE



RAJU OMLET

'Don't put all eggs in a basket, put them in an omlette' 


The name Raju Omlet in itself is a very distinct and unique name for a restaurant. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try out the restaurant at its newly opened branch in Sheikh Zayed road. When you enter the restaurant it hits you with a feeling of nostalgia. You would agree if Bombay is home for you. The place is one of those joints you would snuggle in with your friends and chit-chat over a cup of coffee or chai, It reminds me of those places you would bunk college and laze around in. It doesn't demand that you dress up, you can come in your PJ's and soak in the beauty of the place. The brightly colored walls, egg quotes, petromax lmaps, kettles are all reminiscent of those lanes and college vibes in Bombay. 





The menu starts and end with eggs. The menu has an eggtravant array of eggs in every possible way imaginable. From scrambled to boiled, omlettes to crushed you name it, they have it. Their mouth watering egg recipes are served with Indian breads from parathas to pavs served with a dollop of love and butter. All items on the menu are affordably priced, and the quantity and assortment is a foodie's dream


Special Orange juice






We ordered the power omlette which would have made Popeye proud, along with special orange juice with that needed dash of rock salt. Along with chicken tikka roll with egg and coffee that was served by waiters dressed in Yellow and white. 
How cute are they!


My only complaint is that the outlet at SZD is only open till 7:00 pm. I hope they extend that. And for people living in Sharjah don't worry at all, they are opening an outlet soon in Safeer Mall.

Coming soon in Sharjah







I super loved the food, service, and the vibes and ambiance of Raju Omlet. 
Definitely a place I would recommend.


Details
Meal for two: Dh 60
Location: 
Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Timing: 8am to 7pm  - Weekdays
           9am - 7pm - Weekends