Super healthy Wholewheat Carrot Muffins

I came across these super healthy (super yummy) muffins and decided to make them for my hubby and my toddler. They are a great alternative to unhealthy, sugar laden carrot muffins and are made with wholewheat flour and maple syrup instead of refined sugar. They were immediately wiped out in my house! Enjoy :)

Prep- Time: 30 mins
Baking Time: 15 mins

MAKES 12 MUFFINS

WET INGREDIENTS
1 Cup low fat greek yogurt
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil (I used Sunflower oil)
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Real Canadian Maple Syrup
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

DRY INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Plain Wholemeal Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 Tsp Ground Ginger

3 Medium Carrots, Grated (About 1.5 cups)

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F)
2. Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin 
3. Mix all the wet Ingredients and gently whisk to combine
4. Mix all the Dry Ingredients
5. Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients and mix
6. Gently fold in the carrots into the mix
7. Equally spread the mix between the 12 muffin holes
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes until a wooden skewer inserted removes cleanly
9. Allow to cool
10. Top with low fat cream cheese and devour! 

Original recipe found on mylovelylittlelunchbox.com 

Dolce & Gabbana Christmas Ornaments

It's almost my absolute Favourite time of the year - Christmas! I love the whole month of December with its festivities, Christmas parties, gifts, happiness, increased family time, and cheer all around. What I'm not a huge fan of though is decorating Christmas Trees. I find it super stressful to find beautiful ornaments and they never look quite how I want them on my tree. 

This year fashion has joined tradition with Dolce & Gabbana producing 3 of the most beautiful ornaments to add to your trees. I'm sure they will add that wow factor you may be looking for! 

Painted Christmas Baubles (Link)

If you want your house to 'smell' like Xmas,

The Carretto Candle is a perfumed candle with a spicy, festive scent

It is adorned with Dolce & Gabbana's new print for the Spring/Summer 2016 season, 

is topped with a silver lid and comes in a  beautiful box.

I'm obsessed!

The Carretto Candle (Link)

The Xmas Tree at Clardiges Hotel in London this season

Designed by Dolce & Gabbana

Happy Shopping! :)

Valentino x Goop

Today I have news of a REALLY COOL collaboration - Valentino and Gwyneth Paltrow's website, GOOP. Inspired by Wonder Woman, the collection includes 25 extremely limited pieces (and quite pricey) which are all adorned with stars. Paltrow said of the collection to the New York Times, “To me, it’s a fantastic and resonant idea because everybody is working, having kids, trying not to miss a soccer game while at the same time being on a conference call. The modern woman is a wonder woman.”

The collection will be sold at the Goop pop up store in New York City. Luckily for us fashionistas living in the UAE who don't want to miss out on the action, Goop.com is selling a few items but hurry because the collection is selling fast!

Here are a few of my favourite picks

Star Studded Tshirt (Link) & Shorts (Link)

Tulle Mini Dress (Link)

I'm beyond OBSESSED with this dress!! 

Camustar Printed Sneakers (Link)

Denim Jumpsuit (Link) & Tulle Top (Link)

Studded Shoulder Bag (Link)

To see more of the collection, CLICK HERE 

Burgers & Chateaux at La Cava

A few weeks ago, I was invited to an event at La Cava, Rosewood Abu Dhabi's wine cellar, to sample their new concept of Burgers & Wine. Every Monday Night, their chef Francisco Sanabria will prepare 2 delicious burgers, one red meat and another white meat, and their sommelier Isael Goncalves will pair each burger with a red wine or a white wine. 

The burgers include mouth watering concoctions like the Classic Wagyu Bacon Cheese Burger, the Acapulco Crab Burger, or the Hickory Barbecue Burger. Each burger is served with the MOST delicious fries with options like retro curly fries and potato skins and you get 2 wine glasses. What a great combo! 

Both my husband and I WIPED OUT our burgers (OMG hands down the best burger in town!) and I would have finished every single curly fry if someone didn't come to chat with me! I highly reccomend you take your friends and try these burgers on Mondays :)

La Cava is located at the Rosewood Hotel on Al Maryah Island. The wine cellar is stocked with about 1,500 premium wines and the ambiance is very refined, yet relaxed and inviting. Perfect for after work drinks or cosy dinners. The Burgers & Chateaux event is on every Monday from 6 to 10 pm. 

Gift in a Jar

Want a gift with that extra bit of oomph?? Check out Gift in a Jar... 

Gift in a Jar is a relatively new concept that grew out of two women's passion for creative gifts, Dalia and Caroline. This past Mother's Day, Dalia gifted moms manicure sets in jars and when she saw their reaction, realized the full potential of what it could become.

Dalia & Caroline with their Gift- filled Jars

They spent all summer compiling beautiful jars for all age groups and genders. They include Spa in a  Jar, Tool Kit in a Jar, Baking Jars, Arts & Crafts, to name a few. With products sourced both locally and online, the possibilities are endless! They even offer empty Money jars for the gift of money.

The Sewing Jar

Spa in a Jar

The Baby Jar

Arts& Crafts Jars

My favourite Jar -The Giveaway Jar which can be filled 

with anything that you like based on your chosen theme 

To order a Gift in a Jar, visit their Facebook Page HERE 

or email giftinajaruae@gmail.com

Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy- Celebrity Colorist Tracey Cunningham

For this week's Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy, I was lucky to get an interview with the most sought after of celebrity colourists- Tracey Cunningham. She is responsible for the luscious locks of the most famous celebrities that we love to watch on TV and and read about in gossip magazines. Some of them include Emma Roberts, Kate Beckinsale, Gywneth Paltrow, and Sienna Miller. To name a few! 

Tracey is a co-owner of Beverly Hills salon Meche, and together with her partner sees about 200 to 300 clients a week! That doesn't include her house calls which are anything from travelling once a month all the way to Barcelona to give Shakira her covetable highlights or travelling to premiers and award shows around the world to tend to celebrity locks in the bathrooms of their expensive suites. 

A few of Tracey's Clients at recent events this year

Tracey has become one of the world's most sought after celebrity colourists and yet is one of the most bubbly, fun, friendly, and sweet hair dressers I have ever visited. I  absolutely love booking appointments with her at Belle Femme when she visits twice or three times a year. I always leave with Fabulous hair and a huge smile on my face. She has a son who is 23 years old and while he doesn't quite need her as much as a toddler does, she is still a doting mom. How does she do it all???

Tell me about your family?

My immediate family is small, it's my son Max who is 23 and my partner Chris. We have been together for 23 years. I'm lucky - they are great men and I like being a Mom more than anything in the world! My Mom has 12 brothers and sisters, so I have a lot of extended family!! 

How did you manage being a mom with such a demanding career?

I had my son RIGHT BEFORE my career exploded. I've always been a busy professional - but I was lucky to have friends and co workers who understood I was a young woman with a baby and with that I was fortunate. I Always put my son Max first. Of course my partner Chris has been my greatest support!

A few of the celebrities who's hair Tracey has transformed

What is your typical day like?

I'll have your head spinning if I go into detail! ;) I get up at around 6am and I'm on the go till normally 8pm in the salon. Then on some days, I'll do (celebrity) house calls after that. I love it though so when you love your work you really don't care. 

You are always travelling for your clients but do you ever take any vacations for yourself?

I love Mexico!! It is very close to LA, but it feels worlds away. This summer I was in Positano- I loved that. And I love Washington state to visit my family! 

Every time I see you, you are always energetic, in a great mood and are super friendly with your clients. Tips for remaining energetic through long and tiring days?

Well over the years, these clients have become my friends. And I'm a natural people person! I love human contact. I eat very well, love my fresh juices and I like to have fun, so whenever I see another client it's catch up, laughs and it's always something new. 

What do you do for fun?

I LOVE TV and the movies - it's a great escape!! 

Any advice for women who want to be moms as well as have a fabulous career?

If I can do it - YOU can do it!!!!! Just go for it!