Easy DIY Natural Homemade Scrubs

September 2, 2019

Your skin needs rejuvenation to stay young, healthy and soft to the touch. A good scrub every now and then will work miracles to remove the dead skin and help you get rid of some light scars. Here are some easy DIY natural scrubs that you can easily make at home with just a few items from your pantry. DIY Natural Homemade Scrubs . .

Coffee, Coconut Oil, and Brown Sugar scrub

½ cup ground coffee
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup brown sugar

Mix the ingredients well then apply it on your skin in a circular motion for a few minutes, then rinse off. You can keep it in a jar and put it in the fridge to use it later.

Coffee, Coconut Oil, and Brown Sugar scrub

Coffee, Sugar, and Honey Scrub

2 full tablespoons ground coffee
1 tablespoon honey
1 ½ tablespoons sugar

Mix them together then apply on your skin in a circular motion, leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes then rinse off and pat dry. Use this scrub two to three times per week, it will moisturize your skin.

Brown Sugar, Sea Salt, Coconut Oil Scrub

1 cup sea salt
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup brown sugar

Mix the ingredients well, apply small amount to your face and gently massage in a circular motion for 10 seconds, then rinse off.

Brown Sugar, Sea Salt, Coconut Oil Scrub

Honey, Coconut Oil, Oatmeal Scrub

1 ½ cup oatmeal
½ cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey

Mix the ingredients, apply on your skin and leave it for five to ten minutes, then rinse off. Honey gives you anti-aging antioxidants while the oatmeal cleanses your skin, and coconut oil moisturizes it.

DIY Natural Homemade Scrubs

Back to School Fashion

September 1, 2019

Whether the kids are going to the club, a birthday party or hitting the pool after school, there’s an outfit for every occasion.

Cotton Candy Pyjamas
Facebook/Instagram:
@CottonCandyPyjamas

KAI Collections
Instagram: @kaicollections.eg
Website: www.kaicollections.com

Kidos Kids World
Tel: 0100 603 0230
Facebook / Instagram: @kidoskidsworld

LapinMignon
Instagram: @Lapinmignonegypt
Tel: 0112 061 1000

Mobaco
Instagram: @mobaco_cottons
Website: www.mobaco.com

Nash
Tel: 0112 002 0070
Instagram: @nash_eg

Nina Bambina
Instagram: @ninabambina_
Facebook: @NinaBambinaApparel

Opio
Instagram: @opio.official
Website: www.opioshop.com

Tea Party Apparel
Facebook / Instagram: @TeaPartyApparel

New Menu at Gracias in Capital Promenade

August 31, 2019

By: Mariam Elhamy

Whenever you’re craving authentic Mexican dishes head to Gracias, a small Mexican spot at Capital Promenade in Sheikh Zayed. If you’re looking for a cheap place to eat, this could be an option as a quick meal or for food delivery in Cairo. The freshly made tacos and burritos are authentically made; and the crunchy churros with caramel dip are simply irresistible. We went there on a Thursday evening to get a little taste of Mexico and we loved every bite!

Signature Dishes & New Menu Items Sampled

Gracias’ signature dishes include the Fried Chicken Tacos, Beef Steak Tacos, and Churros

First, we dove into the Beef Steak Tacos, new on the menu and made with Gracias’ signature corn flour based-soft tortillas. Two tortillas envelope small chunks of sliced beef cooked on a grill, a slice of grilled cheese and of course freshly diced Pico de Gallo.

The Fried Chicken Tacos came next; with no sign of the grease or oil you’d expect! The fried chicken strip was crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside with no trace of that frying oil taste that you usually get with fried chicken strips. We can safely say that the soft corn flour tortillas are our all-time favorite tortillas! The chicken is also covered in Pico de Gallo and a slice of grilled cheese with a side of zesty fresh guacamole dip and sour cream sauce. The balance of flavors and freshness of ingredients really makes this dish extra yummy!

Even though we were super excited for dessert already, we still had one more dish to go: mouthwatering Chimichangas. Two tortilla pockets exploding with melted cheese, grilled chicken pieces, sweet corn, kidney beans, topped with Pico de Gallo and drizzled with sour cream sauce.

Three mains later, we finally got our hands on the Churros! The long thin crispy fried choux pastry is coated with cinnamon and sugar and goes perfectly well with the warm caramel dip, but you can also try it with the chocolate dip.

Other Menu Options that Appealed

The nachos are definitely a must try on our next visit and so are the loaded fries and the fajita salad.

Photos

Décor & Ambience

It’s a ‘help yourself’ style restaurant so you order at the counter and have your food on comfy stylish chairs and garden bench tables. It has a very nice view of Capital Promenade.

Clientele mix: Small groups of friends and couples.

Price range: Very reasonable.

Contact Information

Location: Capital Promenade, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 12 pm to 12 am

Tel: 0122 579 6925

Facebook / Instagram: @Graciaseg

Indish’s Dahl Makhni

August 31, 2019

As autumn rolls in, it’s high time we start stocking our cupboards and recipe bookmarks with the ingredients for hearty soups and stews! Enjoy this delicious recipe for a traditional Dahl Makhni, courtesy of Chef Pandish at Indish.

Ingredients:

10 g green dahl

10 g chickpeas

10 g black dahl

10 g red beans

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon cooking cream

30 g ginger-garlic paste

30 g butter

1 tablespoon tomato sauce

10 g chopped onions

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

Pinch of red chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

1/2 teaspoon kastori methi

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon chicken stock

Preparation:

Pre-soak the dahl in water for four hours and then boil for 45 minutes on medium heat.

Add the butter to a heavy bottomed pan, then the ginger garlic paste, followed by the tomato sauce.

Keep stirring on moderate heat for 3 minutes, and then add the spices.

Stir for 1 minute. Add the dahl and the rest of ingredients and stir for 3 minutes on low heat.

Serve with naan bread.

A Healthy Greek Salad for Lunch

August 31, 2019

Crave’s delicious Greek salad celebrates a mix of fresh vegetables to boost your day and give you the energy you need for some real summer fun. A healthy relationship with food involves a trusting relationship with your body. You trust that your body is functioning to the best of its ability, and your body trusts that you will provide it with the proper nourishment in return. To eat healthy during summer, you need to take advantage of fresh produce. Slicing one cup of raw tomato for your lunch salad gives you as much as 40 percent of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and 20 percent of your daily Vitamin A. Bell peppers make a colourful addition to a snack, salad or meal, but there is more to this crunchy fruit than meets the eye. Bell peppers contain phytochemicals called carotenoids, which give them their bright colours – and a diet high in carotenoid-dense foods has been associated with reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and agerelated eye diseases.

Crave Greek Salad
Ingredients
• 6 cherry tomatoes
• 1 whole (large) cucumber, peeled and diced into large chunks
• 1/2 whole red onion, sliced very thin
• 1/2 yellow bell peppers
• 30 whole pitted Kalamata olives, cut in half lengthwise, plus 6 olives, finely chopped
• 200 g crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 olive oil vinaigrette
• 1 teaspoon sugar, or more to taste
• 1 garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black
pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Preparation
Add the chopped cucumber chunks, onion slices, halved olives, half the feta and cherry tomatoes to a large bowl. Combine the olive oil vinaigrette, sugar, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, oregano, pepper and chopped olives in a bowl. Whisk or shake together until combined. Taste and adjust. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, then add some salt and pepper. Toss with tongs or clean hands. Just before serving, top with the remaining feta and squeeze a little lemon juice over the top.

Animal Flow: The New Full Body Workout

August 31, 2019

By: Mariam Elhamy

Your workout doesn’t have to be tedious and routine anymore! Animal Flow will get you on the ground, sweating hard and working out every muscle in your body all at once, and you’ll be doing it all barefoot. Animal Flow certified instructor, UFC Trainer and PFTS (Physique and Figure Training Specialist) Ahmed Desouky has 8 years of experience in the fitness field and explains how this quadruple movement training uses both your upper and lower body at the same time, improving coordination and gives your muscles strength, flexibility, and mobility. Animal Flow also exercise the muscles that don’t usually work with any normal exercise.

Here are a few steps to get you hooked on Animal Flow!

Beast Reach

Starting on all fours, push your glutes back onto your heels, opening your knees and pushing your chest to the floor (Loaded Beast position). Launch your body forward, elevate your hips and reach one leg forward to your chest while keeping it tucked to your body. Reach your leg further past your arm until it meets the elbow; keep the other leg straight, your eyes should be looking forward.

Crab Reach

Start in the Crab position, reach your hand forward in an arch. Push through your heels and create a three-point bridge with your hips. Then reach your hand up and around your head creating a frame, with your hips and spine extended and rotated, keep your head looking towards the steady arm on the ground.

Wave Unload

Start in Loaded Beast then lift your hips up towards the ceiling, when you reach full extension tuck your head in and flex your spine. Keep your shoulders in front of your hands and move into a wave. Drop your hips down, open your chest and push your pelvis to the ground. Lift your chin from your chest looking up to the sky, then reverse the wave pulling your hips backwards and return to Loaded Beast.

Ape Reach

Lower yourself into a deep squat position, with your feet pointing slightly outwards, your elbows in between your knees and your torso upright. Reach your hands past your feet internally rotated, thumbs down towards the ground but without actually touching it. Your spine should be completely flexed and you’re your chin tucked into your chest. Then, shift your weight from heels to toes, bring your pelvis forward, and support your hips on your heels. Finally, extend your spine and abduct your arms horizontally at shoulder level, palms facing up.

Side Kick Through

From Beast position, lift one leg and the opposite hand up then rotate your whole body towards the raised leg. Drop the heel of your other foot to rest on the ground, kick the raised leg and point your toes. Lift the arm opposite to the raised leg to shoulder level or slightly higher with your palm away from your face.

Scorpion Reach

Begin in Loaded Beast position, reach one leg to the opposite wrist and make sure that your ankle is flexed. Then reach that leg up to a 90-degree position, keeping your head between two straight elbows. Keep your base foot heel rotated outwards so that you’re slightly standing on your toes.

Ahmed Desouky
Animal Flow Instructor at UFC Egypt
Instagram: @ahmeddesouky.ch
Instagram: @UFCGymEgypt
Website: www.ufcgymegypt.me

Egyptian House Music Duo The Disc Jockeys: “It’s how the melodies move all of our senses”

August 31, 2019

Egyptian House Music Duo The Disc Jockeys: “It’s how the melodies move all of our senses”

The Egyptian duo Amr Soliman and Ahmad El Saify, aka, “The Disc Jockeys”, teamed up in 2017 and achieved instantaneous success on the ever-booming DJ scene in Egypt; a scene that is teeming with talent, innovation, creative flair, and sick beats.

Known widely now for their repertoire of mood elevating, heart pumping electronic house music sets and mixes in their show called Digging Deep, aptly named for their deep research into various house genres from different cultures.

The duo took time from their infusion of tunes to speak to us about how it all started a couple of years ago, when they met at an event and started chit-chatting about music and their favorite genres. Good chemistry on their first encounter sparked what is now a powerhouse partnership that brings deep musical introspection and culturally combined house mixes to the fore via The Disc Jockeys.

Both boys find their major inspiration in life to be their respective mothers, musically however, the duo draws inspiration from Tale of Us, Solomun, and by Tarek Al Araby (Arrab) locally. For Soliman and El Saify, their most memorable night as fans of the house music genre was Solomun in Sahl Hasheesh. As performers, their most memorable night thus far was when the duo performed in the UAE.

We dug deep with the pair into their love of electronic house music, where it comes from and how it makes them feel. Almost in sync, both DJs said that it was pure emotion that drives them down this path. “It’s how the melodies move all of our senses,” said one, “when you listen to electronic house music, you experience too many mixed feelings, and this is what we love the most about it,” said the other.

What was your favorite night at The Tap so far?

Elektrolive/Elektronight & Break a Leg

What are the secret ingredients of a booming night for a DJ?

The crowd, and the venue team.

What is one subgenre you think doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Melodic Techno

What is one track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you hear it?

Whilk & Misky – Clap Your Hands (Solomun Remix)

Pjanoo – Eric Prydz

What festivals would you most like to play in?

Tomorrowland and Burning Man

Who’s your favorite band/DJ? And which artist from the scene would you like to share the decks with?

Carl Cox and Ahmed Eid

‘Eish Ya Alby is About Embracing Life’: Abu Opens Up About Love, Loss, and Following Your Dreams

August 30, 2019

By Mariam Elhamy

Just in time for Gouna Film Festival the Third Edition, Abu has released a new single Eish Ya Alby, inspired by a rough patch in his life. The song sends a message to listeners to follow their dreams and live life to the fullest.

Curious how a successful songwriter like Abu overcomes writer’s block? He shared the details, and spoke about what he learned as a newlywed and whether there is a career in acting on the horizon!

Is the new single based on any life experiences you’ve had recently?

Yes, Eish Ya Alby started out as a message to myself. After Talat Da’at, I went through a difficult time. My father got ill and passed away, which led to a very introspective period in my life. I decided my next single should address following your dreams and forgetting about fear, because it’s the biggest enemy. Love failure, because if you do, you’ll learn a lot from it. Eish Ya Alby, composed by Mino and written by myself and Mohamed Sarhan, is about embracing life, not just surviving. It’s about expressing, living and enjoying your life.

Have you ever faced writer’s block? Any advice for overcoming it?

It happens a lot, but I believe it’s a mind trick. Your brain just shuts down after doing the same thing repeatedly. Your mind adapts itself on whatever you’re doing, so it’s all about the mindset. In order to clear the block you have to change your scenery, and don’t accept the fact that you have a writer’s block, just think of it as something temporary.

If you could pursue a totally different career, what would it be?

A teacher! I would love to teach kids.

What is the one thing you love the most about being a musician?

Expression. You get to know how to express what you want to say in the best
form ever, something that everybody loves: music.

Your duet with Yousra became the theme song of GFF’s first editon, what are you expecting from this year’s third round? Would you ever consider acting?

I expect GFF’s third edition will be another episode of the ongoing success that
the festival has established so far, and I feel that there will be something very
special this time.

Have you ever considered dipping into acting?

Yes, I did consider acting, but I trust the process and the flow. It’s going to come
at some point.

You and your wife are going to be celebrating your second anniversary soon, any advice you can share with newlyweds?

Take it easy, don’t get married too young – men especially. I think that the best age for a man to get married is between 33 to 34. After you’re married, your family should always be your number one priority.

The secret of happiness is to find someone to share your life, have kids, create a family and grow old with. My final advice is to keep everything just between you two, in both good times and bad times.

Southern Italian Cuisine at Sapori di Carlo in Zamalek

August 30, 2019

Sapori di Carlo is the realization of an old dream of Chef Carlo. After many years acquiring experience abroad, this Michelin award winning chef decided to showcase his signature recipes in one of the leading Italian restaurants in Cairo. The menu is short and straightforward, this little piece of Italy serves no more than 20 covers – head here for a romantic dinner in Cairo!

Dishes Sampled

We started off with the Caprese Salad, a fuss-free appetizer consisting of four simple ingredients: cheese, tomato, basil and olive oil. Our version with burrata cheese was beautifully presented on a bed of green salad, halves of cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, garnished with a side strip of pesto and cuts of sun dried tomato. The fresh pouch of burrata cheese is produced in-house, guaranteeing an extra freshness to the dish, which is clear from its unusual soft texture. Our salad was followed by a portion of Arancini. Only two balls of deep fried risotto filled with melted mozzarella served on the top of a small garnished green salad, cherry tomatoes and sun dried tomato, drizzled with Parmesan fresh cream. To our surprise, the portion was quite small; we could have easily doubled the order.

For mains we opted for one of the pizzas and as suggested by the Chef, his fettuccine mushroom sauce with truffle oil. Sapori di Carlo is Neapolitan to its core – so to illustrate our review nothing less than the classic Napoli pizza. Charred crust, raised border, filled with my personal favorite toppings: black olives, anchovies, basil leaves and capers on the top of fresh mozzarella, and mouthwatering tomato sauce. Straight from the oven you cannot miss the fresh aroma of the baked dough, and the sweetness of the tomato sauce. The anchovies seemed to come from a special source. They were not your regular ultra-salty cured ones. Anchovies give an irreplaceable depth of flavors and these mild salted ones were just right.

Our mushroom fettuccine was not mentioned in the menu, however the dish was impeccable. The freshness of the pasta was coated in creamy sauce, tossed with sliced mushrooms and herbs, with a hint of truffle oil, which when used rightly, does not overpower the overall taste of the dish. The dish was also beautifully presented showing the care of the Chef with presenting his signature dishes. As we were rounding our meal off we were tempted to try two of their desserts. The classic tiramisu was served in a jar. The highlight of it was the softness and freshness of the mascarpone cheese. The second desert, Tarte Limoni, did not resemble what we had in mind, which was a lemon pie. We were served a lemony shortcrust pastry, which lacked the lemon merengue filling we had expected. We guess it is just a deconstructed version of the tarte au citron.

Other dishes that appealed: Ossobuco alla Milanese and Risotto.

Beverages: Soft options only.