How To Tell Someone You Like Them (And NOT Ruin The Friendship)

tell someone you like them

A lot of people have trouble talking about their feelings especially when it comes to someone they really care about. Life is too short to wait around for something to happen. Don’t let someone special pass you by. If you admit your feelings early on and they don’t share them, you can control them before they develop any further.

There are a few ways to ease things when you’re finally ready to tell your crush that you like them. How do you tell someone you like them? Follow this advice and hope it works!

By Mariam Elhamy

Choose your time and place. Nothing could be worse than if you tell them while they’re really stressed and there’s a lot going on in their life. Pick a timing and an intimate place where you’re both relaxed and alone.

If things aren’t far too complicated between you then ask them out on a date first. That’s way more casual and far less intimidating than pouring your heart out which might come as a shock. If things go well then it’s safe to admit you like them.

Don’t be a coward and do it over the phone or in a text, make it more personal and do it face to face. That also allows you to see their reaction.

Ease into it. Don’t just come upright and say it. Tell them a joke or give them a compliment before you break the news. tell someone you like them

Here are is an example of something you could say: “I’ve been thinking about you a lot and I want you to know that I like you.”

tell someone you like them

Stay calm and be confident but humble. If you sound unsure they’ll think you’re not being serious about it. And if you’re overly confident like you’re entitled to have them, it will mess things up if they don’t share the same feelings. tell someone you like them

Keep it simple while explaining your emotions. Don’t go overboard make them feel like you’re obsessed with them (there will be plenty of time to do that later).

tell someone you like them

Don’t pressure them into responding right away. Everyone deals with emotions differently so give them some time to process. Tell them that you just wanted to let them know how you feel and don’t talk about any commitments just yet. Hear them out first.

Manage your expectations. You’re not sure if they like you or not so don’t expect a loud “I LOVE YOU TOO!”. If they say it back then wonderful! If not, then at least now you don’t have to keep wondering and can move on. Just stay graceful and don’t get mean. Remember, if you do it the right way and don’t make a drama out of it so you can carry on as friends. tell someone you like them

Don’t overreact if they don’t share the same feeling. Don’t stress it and quickly take it back. Eventually, they may or may not feel the same way and if they don’t, again just move on.tell someone you like them

Remind yourself that, whether or not this particular person is attracted to you, you’re an incredible person who’s worthy of and will find love. tell someone you like them

Here’s a cute baby monkey that will make your day

tell someone you like them

10 Summer Home Essentials You Need To Buy Now

We’re opening up our summer homes and discovering a lot of missing items and necessities. The next time you go shopping keep in mind these amazing items that will make your summer home comfier than ever! Summer Home Essentials

By Mariam Elhamy

Pure Linen Bed Sheets by Ariika

You will sleep so much better in these light soft beddings.

Visit Ariika’s website

Light Throw Blankets by Zara Home, Matalan and Ikea

Hot weather calls for lighter throw blankets. Summer Home Essentials

Visit Zara Home’s website

Visit Ikea’s website

Visit Matalan’s website

Turkish Towels by Ariika

These lightweight fast dry Turkish towels are perfect to dry with after a dip in the pool.

Visit Ariika’s website

Glass Pitcher by Tulipe

The perfect lemonade pitcher makes the perfect mint lemonade or ice tea.

Visit Tulipe’s website

Citrus essential oils by Areej

A Summer home needs to smell like fresh-cut grass, warm Summer sun and all things Citrus! You can use lemon and orange essential oils in diffusers and cleaning supplies.

Visit Areej’s website

SATSUMAS Plant Pots Stand by Ikea

Add a touch of greenery to your summer home with this minimal pots stand.

Visit Ikea’s website

Artistic Throw Pillows by Egypt Factory

Egypt Factory also lets you design and print your own designs. Summer Home Essentials

Visit Egypt Factory’s website

Beach Themed Vases by The Ego Gallery

Who doesn’t need some sandy shell-themed vases for decor?

Visit The Ego Gallery’s Facebook

Ice Box by Bouri 

To store watermelon slices for those hot days on the beach.

Visit Bouri’s website

Kitchen Trolley by Ikea

For when you want to sip on some coffee or have fresh fruits out on the terrace.

Visit Ikea’s website

Ideas for Outdoor Hammocks, Pots and Planters

Summer Home Checklist: Things to Check Before You Head to The Beach

We know that once you get to Sa7el you want to change and head off to the beach but there are important things to check if you want a comfortable, trouble-free summer filled with great memories. We’ve created a quick summer home maintenance checklist for you to check off.

By Mariam Elhamy

1. Repair and repaint any chipped, cracking or faded exterior paint. Besides improving your home’s appeal, it will also help protect it from moisture.

2. Inspect foundation for cracks and pipes for leaks. Foundation cracks can be an entry point for groundwater and insects. summer home checklist

3. Get air conditioners checked, serviced and filters cleaned. Regular AC maintenance can extend its life and reduce the need for costly AC repairs. Your filters should look this clean.summer home checklist

4. Inspect electrical cords and wires for wear.

5. Clean and reseal your deck. If you have a wooden deck, balcony or fence, resealing and repainting will help prevent any wood from splitting, graying or cracking.

6. Clean out faucets and sinkholes to eliminate clogging mineral deposits, rust and debris. Simply unscrew the end of the faucet with pliers, flush out the debris and clean thoroughly then place back. summer home checklist

summer home checklist7. Clean your washing machine. Want your laundry to be crispy clean? Wash your machine in 3 steps:

  1. Spray the washer drum and the rubber gaskets with vinegar and wipe them off.
  2. Pour 2 cups of vinegar, half a cup of soda in the washing machine and run it on its longest cycle on the hottest temperature.
  3. When it’s done, leave the door open and let it dry out.

8. Make sure your ceiling fan runs anticlockwise. This forces the air downwards creating a cooling effect. summer home checklist

9. Clean and Prep Your Grill for Backyard BBQs. Clean and test your grill to make sure it’s ready for burgers and hot dogs season. BBQ Essentials for Sa7el

10. If you have a pool, inspect and clean its filters. You’ll have to check and change valves and filters, inspect all its equipment and treat the water. You could hire a pool service to get the job done.

Landscaping: How To Choose The Best Plants For Your Garden

Landscaping

Landscaping can be tough if you don’t know the first thing about plants but with a little research, you won’t need an expert to design your garden and charge you a ton. Skim through these tips and they’ll guide you through picking the right plants for your space.

By Mariam Elhamy

First, pick the right color scheme for you:

Just like when designing a room, a garden needs a color scheme so that it doesn’t look messy or haphazard. Pick the colors that suit your style, garden structure and your home style.

Try to stick to a maximum of 3 colors. However, feel free to use more if you prefer a wilder feel or if you have a wide area and you’re planning on creating differently themed patches or flower beds.landscaping

Remember that cool colors like blue, green and purple add a relaxed feeling, whilst more vibrant colors like red, yellow and orange are more energizing and exciting to the eye.

The easiest way to create a color scheme is to throw in different shades of the same color. If you’re afraid that it will look too monochromatic you can throw in some whites to break it apart. landscaping

Assess the size of your garden:

It goes without saying that you need to know how big or small your space is. So get a measuring tape and take measurements before you go plant shopping. landscaping

Start with trees and shrubs:

Trees set the foundation on which you will plan your landscape. Before buying, know the different types of trees like flowering trees, fall-foliage trees, fast-growing shade trees, evergreen trees and dwarf trees. Same with shrubs.

Keep in mind that seasons change and so do plants:

Each plant has a different season for flowering and dying. Don’t plant large areas of plants that only flower once every 11 months because they will lay bare all year round. Select different varieties so that you have flowers every season.

Plan with variance but don’t go crazy:

When you vary the size, shape and length of your plants it helps shed a spotlight on each plant. Plants with thinner leaves look good with plants that have broader leaves.

Taller plants give way for shorter plants and add another layer of visual interest that keeps the garden from looking all the same. Repeat the same plant more than once so that you create coherence between each patch in your garden.

Pick the correct spots for the correct plants:

You will need a little help from your gardener to know the spots that are sunny or shady most of the day. Ask your vendor about the necessities of the plants you buy, do they need a lot of sunlight or go in the shade? How much water? How much moisture? What weather conditions can they stand? landscaping

Consider the maturity size before buying:

You don’t want to place a plant that grows up to 6 feet long in the middle of your garden. You might look at the current size of a plant in the pot and plan accordingly. However, most plants will grow MUCH bigger once they are in the ground. landscaping

Make sure you do a bit of research about the size and length of each plant after it matures before choosing the right spot for it and try not to overcrowd your plants.

Consider the amount of maintenance that needs to be done:

How much work are you willing to put after you’re done designing and planting your garden? Some plants will need to be kempt and pruned regularly so if you’re not willing to do the work and you don’t have a gardener, pick the plants that are less high-maintenance.

Buy perennial plants that last long:

Annual plants can only live for a year which means you have to buy and plant new ones each year. To save time and money, only buy perennials that will grow year after year so you only have to plant them once.

Know the type of soil you’re planting in:

You can actually amend your soil when you know its type to create the right conditions for your plants. This will also help you choose the right type of fertilizer.

Try container gardening if your space is limited:

landscapingMost small flowering plants will be right at home in a pot, box, or planter. Pick up a few containers of the appropriate size and plant your mix of flowers there.

So, to sum it all up, before buying any plants you need to ask yourself a few questions:

  1. How big will this plant get?
  2. How much space do you have to offer it?
  3. How easy or difficult and how frequently will you need to prune and maintain it?
  4. Does it fit in your color scheme?
  5. Is it annual or perennial?

The answers to these questions will guide you through your plant shopping process.

Surprising Ways to Use Tea (Other Than Drinking)

Hot Summer Fashion by 16 Designers!

Hot Summer Fashion

As August kicks in, temperatures rise and summer goes into full swing. Get with the summer program in these hot looks that we’ve curated for you and live your best summer! Hot Summer Fashion

1. KAI Collection

Red Aztec Swim Shorts

2. Znvabyz 

Hot Summer Fashion
AELIUS earrings
Hot Summer Fashion
Coral Collection, Zena Ring

3. Massimo Dutti

4. In Your Shoe

Abstract maxi flowy wraps

5. Shopfufa

Every Vacation earthy top and Slit Air Pants in beige

6. Zara

Denim skirt
Basic white tee

7. For The Bold and Refined

The Other Girl dress
Love and Lust dress

8. Matching Case Sets

Pierre Williams

9. Aliaa El Esseily

White crop top and white flowy skirt set

10. Duet.eg

Zelda Set

11. Hue Splash

Pedalo swim shorts

12. Phoxx

Hot Summer Fashion
Petra clutch sliver

13. Tommy Hilfiger Hot Summer Fashion

Hot Summer Fashion
Destroyed relaxed-fit jean

14. Polo Ralph Lauren

Light weight linen shirt

15. Tommy Hilfiger

Hot Summer Fashion
Icon leather sneakers

16. Notfoundco

Cotton Jersey Set

Hot Fashion Pieces You Have To Have This Summer!

Steigenberger Alcazar: Highest Rated by Travellers Around the Globe!

Steigenberger Alcazar Sharm El Sheikh

2021 is a special year for the castle of luxury Steigenberger Alcazar Sharm El Sheikh; which celebrates an outstanding number of Guest Reviews Awards from various superb websites in the field of travel & tourism around the globe.

On top of the awards was the prestigious Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best, which Steigenberger Alcazar Sharm El Sheikh received for the second year consequently. The website also recommends the hotel as one of the top 1% hotels worldwide.

The popular Russian Tophotels.com came next, granting the hotel the highest audience rating of 5*, followed by the famous Booking.com, which rated the hotel 9.3/10 based on guest reviews, in addition to the Swiss HolidayCheck.com, which listed Steigenberger Alcazar Sharm El Sheikh as one of the best travel getaways with a rating of 5.9/6.

The hotel was also well-recognized by several websites of the global Expedia Group, described as Exceptional with a rating of 5/5 on both Orbitz and Travelocity, Loved By Guests on Hotels.com with a rating of 9.2/10 and finally Excellent with a rating of 4.5/5 on Expedia.

Thanks to all our dear guests around the world. Your sincere support is the main reason behind our success.

Former President Adly Mansour Stays at Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan

Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan

Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan Ras El Bar had the honor of welcoming H.E. Mr. Adly Mansour – former President of Egypt – during his annual vacation. H.E. planned his first vacation this year at Damietta governorate and specifically in Ras El Bar due to its epic and iconic location.

The hotel’s team was thrilled to have His Excellency pleased by the charming atmosphere and immaculate service extended during this vacation and hope to welcome his Excellency back again to grace the hotel. Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan Ras El Bar is a masterpiece nestled in an iconic location where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea.

It is the first five-star entity in the area boasting 153 well-appointed rooms with spectacular views, access to a private sandy beach, numerous leisure facilities, a range of regal restaurants & bars in addition to 4 elegant ballrooms & meeting rooms perfect for business and special events.

20 TV Shows to Catch in August!

TV Addicts, rejoice! To keep you plugged into what is premiering every month, we put together a monthly list of new TV series set to air! We’ve added a description and a trailer for each show, so all you have to do is choose what sounds good and start streaming!

By Mariam Elhamy

*Shows are listed in alphabetical order.

AlRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The bullied outcasts at the prestigious Al Rawabi School for Girls plot a series of risky takedowns to get back at their tormentors.

Mark to watch on Netflix

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE SEASON 8

With Jake and Amy having their first baby boy, we expect that this season will center around their relationship as working parents in the eighth and final season of the comedy.

BAKE SQUAD

In each episode of Bake Squad, four individually brilliant bakers will battle it out to see whose dessert will be chosen for someone’s extra special big day. These bakers have been personally selected by Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi, who built an empire on delicious cookie dough.

Mark to watch on Netflix

CAR MASTERS: SEASON 3

The colorful crew at Gotham Garage overhauls an eclectic collection of cars and trucks trading up to a showstopper they can sell for big bucks. As Gotham Garage’s star rises, Mark broadens his business strategy beyond “upgrade and trade” as he courts clients with big ideas and deep pockets.

Mark to watch on Netflix

CONTROL Z: SEASON 2

A hacker’s plot to reveal damaging stories of individuals at a Mexico high school and the one socially isolated girl named Sofia that attempts to uncover their identity before her own secrets get made public. The techno drama thriller shows the darker side of social media and how the difficulty of navigating high school only increases as technology expands.

Mark to watch on Netflix

COOKING WITH PARIS

With the help of her celebrity friends, TV personality Paris Hilton navigates new ingredients, new recipes and exotic kitchen appliances, going from the grocery store to the finished table spread.

Mark to watch on Netflix

CORONER: SEASON 3

The third season opens with Toronto coroner Jenny and homicide detective Donovan McAvoy (Roger Cross) investigating the death of a health care worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DC’S STARGIRL: SEASON 2

Season two introduces Thunderbolt (voiced by Jim Gaffigan), Eclipso (Nick Tarabay), and The Shade (Jonathan Cake).

FANTASY ISLAND

Guests’ fantasies come true at a luxury resort run by Elena Roarke (Roselyn Sanchez) with help from Ruby Okoro (Kiara Barnes), and pilot Javier (John Gabriel Rodriquez) in this new version of the 1970s series of the same name.

HEELS

Set in Georgia, wrestler Jack Spade (Stephen Amell) acts as the villainous antagonist to the hero played by younger brother Ace (Alexander Ludwig) as they seek to continue their late father’s dream of an independent wrestling league in this drama series created by Michael Waldron.

HIT & RUN

A man searching for the truth behind his wife’s death becomes caught up in a dangerous web of secrets and intrigue stretching from New York to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Mark to watch on Netflix

MODERN LOVE: SEASON 2

Modern Love is an exploration of all different kinds of love and relationships, this season has been filmed all over the world, with episodes set in Albany, New York and Dublin.

MR. CORMAN

Failed-musician-turned-fifth-grade-teacher Josh Corman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) struggles with how his life is going after a breakup with his girlfriend in this dramedy created and directed by Gordon-Levitt.

RESERVATION DOGS

The comedy series from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi follows four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma as they find ways (including stealing) to save money to move to California.

RIVERDALE: SEASON 5

From an epic senior prom to a bittersweet graduation, there are a lot of emotional moments and goodbyes yet to come—with some couples breaking up, as everyone goes their separate ways to college—or elsewhere. Then, they return as young adults, all returning to Riverdale to escape their troubled pasts. And life—and romance—will only be more complicated now that they’re in their twenties…

Mark to watch on Netflix

THE CHAIR

Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh) becomes the first woman of color named Chair of the English department at Pembroke University in this dramedy series written by Amanda Peet.

THE L WORD: GENERATION Q: SEASON 2

Sarah Finley, Gigi Ghorbani, Micah Lee, Shane McCutcheon, Dani Nùñez, Bette Porter, Alice Pieszecki, Angelica Porter-Kennard, and Sophie Suarez continue to juggle work and relationships in Los Angeles in the second season.

TITANS: SEASON 3

The live-action series based on the Teen Titans characters introduces the Scarecrow (Vincent Kartheiser) and Barbara Gordon (Savannah Welch).

TOP SECRET UFO PROJECTS: DECLASSIFIED

The series will explore the idea that aliens exist among us and that this knowledge has been covered up by the government for years.

Mark to watch on Netflix

VALERIA: SEASON 2

A Writer in creative and marital crises finds support from three friends, who are also discovering themselves. Based on the novels by Elisabet Benavent. Valeria and friends are back with a second round of love and drama.

Mark to watch on Netflix

Check out our weekly in-theaters movie updates here! 

10 Avocado Recipes Everyone Is Trying and You Should Too

avocado recipes

Avocado is widely loved by a lot of people, we use it in guacamole and we love its rich and creamy taste. Let’s take avocados beyond avocado toast and dips and try these 10 new recipes.

By Mariam Elhamy

Kiwi Avocado Salad

The perfect summer salad for a light and fulfilling meal. Buy some fresh avocado and kiwi and whip this up in no time.

Ingredients:

  • 5 kiwi, peeled and diced
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup chopped red onion
  • juice and zest of 1 to 2 limes (about 2 tablespoons of juice)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
  • sea salt

Method: 

  1. In a small bowl, combine kiwi, onions, avocado, cilantro, red onion, lime juice and zest, garlic, jalapeño, and generous pinches of sea salt.
  2. Season to taste with additional sea salt and/or lime juice.

Creamy Avocado Smoothie

Drinking an avocado smoothie is like floating on a cloud. It’s so creamy and smooth that it feels like you’re dreaming.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup cubed frozen pineapple
  • 2 cups packed fresh spinach or 1 cup frozen spinach
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup light coconut milkcanned or from a carton
  • 3 tbsps fresh lime juiceplus 1/2 teaspoon zest
  • 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
  • sea salt
  • 8 ice cubes
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powderoptional

Method:

  1. Combine the pineapple, spinach, avocado, banana, coconut milk, lime juice, maple syrup, salt, ice, and protein powder, in a blender. Blend until creamy.
  2. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, add more maple syrup or honey. If the consistency is too thick, add more coconut milk, and blend again.

Baked Avocado with Smoked Salmon & Eggs

This is our dream breakfast, we just can’t get over how good this baked avocado with smoked salmon looks and we don’t mind having it every day! avocado recipes

Ingredients:

  • 3 large avocados, halved lengthways and seed removed
  • 6 small eggs, egg yolks and whites separated 
  • smoked salmon, 3 slices, cut into pieces 
  • chives, finely chopped to make 1 tbsp
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper
  • toasted dark rye bread or any preferred bread

Method:

  1. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut a small slice off the skin-side of the avocado halves to stop them rolling then scoop out some of the middle, add a little salmon to each and then add the egg yolks.
  2. Beat the egg whites quickly, so it’s consistent and pour in avocados as much as you can. Grind over black pepper and bake for 10 minutes, or until the whites have set.
  3. Scatter over the chives and a pinch of cayenne. Serve with rye bread for dunking.

Halloumi Fajitas with Avocado

avocado recipesFajitas are the best, this halloumi fajita is not only vegetarian friendly, but it’s also delicious and has avocado!

Ingredients:
  • 2 x 225g blocks light halloumi, sliced into strips
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 red onion, halved and sliced
  • 2 mixed peppers, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 8 small or 4 large tortilla wraps
  • 1 avocado, stoned, peeled and sliced
  • small handful of coriander leaves
  • chilli sauce or sour cream, to serve (optional)

Method:

  1. Heat half the oil in a frying pan over medium heat, and fry the halloumi strips for a few minutes on each side until golden then remove. avocado recipes
  2. Heat the remaining oil in the pan over high heat, and fry the onion and peppers for 5 mins until just soft and starting to char. Add the garlic, paprika and coriander with some seasoning and cook for 1 min more. Pour in the lime juice and fried halloumi, and stir very gently so the halloumi doesn’t break.
  3. Warm the wraps and pile the halloumi filling into the warm wraps, with a few slices of avocado each, some coriander leaves, and spoonfuls of chilli sauce or soured cream.

Avocado Chips

What’s better than snacking on healthy chips made out of avocado? Dip these avocado chips in hummus, tahini, sour cream or even guacamole. Best part is: it’s keto diet-friendly. avocado recipes

Ingredients:

  • 1 large ripe avocado
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper