Crackin' at Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill

I've been wanting to dine at Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill ever since I heard about it last month. The thoughts of crab-cracking and juicy crab meat made me drool. However, upon seeing the steep price tags on the online menu, I just hoped I could win the dinner for two contest at Claw's Facebook page or magically find a voucher somewhere. Then last week, I found a 2 for 1 voucher in a magazine! Yay! I frantically cut off the voucher and scheduled a weekend date night with my husband.

Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill is the newest, hottest and hippest bar/restaurant in Souk Al Bahar. It was jam-packed on weekend night. The staff at the entrance sadly told us that we need to sign up on the waiting list and probably wait an hour for a table for two. We were also given the option to dine at the bar in case we couldn't wait. Since it was past eight in the evening, I was already hungry, impatient and excited, we immediately took the latter option!

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Customize with Customyze.co

Ever since Ed and I began refurbishing our place, we have been squabbling on every home detail. Oh yes, our life isn't always about rainbows and butterflies, and sweet escapes! We are just like other married couples who quarrel now, but cuddle later! :) I couldn't live without bows and frills, while Ed, on the other hand, wants everything to be basic. He imposed a house rule for me to follow: no pink sheets and curtains, no fancy wall decals; and that made our bedroom wall lonely and bare for several months! 

Recently, we decided to adorn our empty bedroom wall with our wedding and travel photographs. All the while, we thought it would be easy, but then we realized that detailed photo frames are quite costly and photos printed on paper tend to discolor as time goes by. We wanted to have not just wall decors but lifelong keepsakes. So, instead of printing on matte photo paper, we decided to have the pictures printed on canvas at Customyze.co. Canvas can always turn a basic photo into a classic masterpiece, and Customyze.co can turn our portraits into artworks which are not too fancy for my husband and not too basic for me!

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A Reason To Smile During Flights

I love airplane rides; the quick short-haul flights and even the long butt-numbing ones. I know some people who love going on vacations but hate the "travelling part"; bus, boat, train and airplane rides. Others may find it weird that I actually enjoy every minute of the flight (not the jet lag that comes after though). I'm not the kind of passenger who wishes that the aircraft would reach the destination sooner, not even the type who would rush outside the cabin once the pilot announces that the exit doors are open. 

How do I  make airplane rides worthwhile? Two words: In-flight Entertainment! I usually watch a movie or two and play video games, but the first thing I look for once I settled on my seat is the inflight magazine! I read it from cover to cover on the first half of my flight, and browse it again before arrival. Inflight magazines can magically take me to my dream destination and I also learn some travel tips while I am glued to my seat. 

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My Flashpacking Must-Haves

When Ed and I were planning for our honeymoon trip two years ago, he mentioned that he wanted to go on a backpack adventure around South-East Asia. I loved the idea of visiting more than two countries within our budget, however I couldn't promise him that I can avoid all the fancy extras, after all I am a flashpacker not a backpacker! He stared at me blankly as it was the first time that he heard  the "flashpack" word. I'm pretty sure he thought that I can pack my luggage in less than a minute. But before he even said a word, I told him that Flash means fancy, not fast! 

Flashpacking, according to Wiki, "has an association of more disposable income while travelling and has been defined simply as backpacking with a better budget". A typical flashpacker stays in an accommodation with an ensuite bathroom, eats in a fancy restaurant, and has a light-weight luggage instead of a heavy backpack. It is NOT staying in a 5 star hotel and dining in Michelin-starred restaurants, as that would be Poshpacking (travelling with more style and money).

Aside from the fact that I often choose comfort and convenience over cost, I love everything fancy! Yes, I love fancy hotels, fancy restaurants, fancy travel accessories, and I couldn't survive a day on the road without my flashpacking must-haves:

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The Cove Rotana: Delightful Dishes at Cinnamon

An awesome getaway would never be complete without delicious food! For our romantic rendezvous at The Cove Rotana in Ras Al Khaimah, Ed and I indulged in healthy and freshly prepared meals. We were on a half-board weekend escape package that included an exquisite dinner buffet on our first day and a classic breakfast buffet the morning after at Cinnamon.

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Romantic Weekend Escape at The Cove Rotana - Day 2

Waking up on a bed of roses gave our second day at The Cove Rotana a perfect start! I wanted to stay longer on a bed with soft white linens and sweet-smelling rose petals, but then I remembered how the temperature can be unbearable once the sun is fully up. So, Ed and I decided to go on a morning stroll at the beach and take a dip in the infinity pool by 7am, have breakfast at 9 and return to our romantic hideaway before noon. 

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Who are the Lucky Juans?

It has been three months since Cebu Pacific launched 100 Lucky Juans, a fantastic contest for OFWs in the Middle East. There was an outpour of sentiments and creativity as 100 Dubai-Manila roundtrip tickets were up for grabs. But as they say, all good things must come to end, it is time to wrap up the 100 Lucky Juans competition.

Here are the Lucky Juans who will be flying home for free on October 7, 2013:
(list of winners from Cebu Pacific's Official Facebook Page)

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The Mermaid Show at The Dubai Mall

When I was little, I was so fond of Disney movies and Disney Princesses. If you ask me what my favorite Disney movie is, I'd immediately answer 'The Little Mermaid'. I grew up wanting to be Ariel. I knew every line of the song 'Part Of Your World'. I used to act like I have a mermaid tail every time I was in a pool, whether it's a big resort pool or a small inflatable one, though I wasn't really a good swimmer! :)    

I was and will always be fascinated with mermaids! That's why, I was excited when I learned that there's a free mermaid show at The Dubai Mall. The show is held at Dubai Aquarium, the holder of Guinness World Record's largest acrylic panel! 

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Romantic Weekend Escape at The Cove Rotana - Day 1

Ed and I felt it was just right to celebrate Lady and her Sweet Escapes' first blogversary by an escape from the chaotic city life. Since we were too caught up with a long-term goal, a trip abroad was out of the picture. Instead, we decided to have a mini-vacation within the UAE, but in a place that can magically make us feel like we are out of the country. With that magical getaway in mind, The Cove Rotana in Ras Al Khaimah was the first and only resort that I could think of. 

With idyllic water inlets and a long stretch of pristine beach on a prime location adjacent to the Arabian Gulf, The Cove Rotana is breathtaking, unique and romantic. It is perfectly made for sweet escapes as it resembles a beautiful Mediterranean village by the sea.  In fact, The Cove Rotana is one of the recipients of the prestigious Signum Virtus (Seal of Excellence) from the 2013 Seven Star Global Luxury Award; an honor given to the creme de la creme of hospitality and lifestyle companies around the globe! 

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The Cove Rotana: Refresh and Revitalize at Bodylines Spa

It's been more than a week since our perfect mini-vacation at The Cove Rotana in Ras Al Khaimah, yet I am still in a state of pure bliss! It was the sweetest and the most relaxing getaway we ever had in the UAE. I had a lot of wonderful experiences at The Cove; great memories that couldn't fit in a single blog entry! So, let me begin "The Cove Series" with exactly how the stress-free weekend started.   

Ever noticed how stress can totally knock you down? I can honestly say that I tend to neglect some of the great things whenever I feel strained. I am not really very hard to please, but I can be grumpy whenever I feel stressed out! I know, it's bad and it's not healthy! I am glad that our weekend getaway at The Cove started with a journey to a relaxed body and mind. 

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Millions Have Chosen Cebu Pacific

In the first half of 2013, 7.5 Million guests traveled via Cebu Pacific. Statistics have shown that Cebu Pacific's passengers have increased by 8% compared to the same period last year. The Philippines' leading budget airline had 9% growth  on its International routes and 7.5% growth on its Domestic routes. 

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A Year in the Blogosphere!

One sleepless night, I sat in front of the computer and logged on Facebook; my favorite way of coping up with insomnia attacks. I almost went through my entire Facebook account when I realized that private messages and photo comments were mostly inquiries about the places I've been. It suddenly dawned on me that I should have taken my friends' advice to create a blog a long time ago! I had brushed off the idea several times because I felt it would be very hard to maintain a blog. But that night, I wanted to start on something that could make my sleepless nights productive, and in return, could be of great benefit to my friends. I signed up on Blogger, started typing and was able to  publish my first post at half past four in the morning. I envisioned Lady and her Sweet Escapes to be an online travel guide for my friends and an online journal for my ramblings whenever I can't sleep; nothing more, nothing less. 

Now, three hundred and sixty five days after that sleepless night, this personal blog went far beyond my expectations; and it wouldn't be possible without YOU, my dear reader! I am truly grateful for every page view, every comment and every minute that you have spent on my blog. 

Let's celebrate Lady and her Sweet Escapes' first blogversary by looking back at the wonderful journey that we have shared.   

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Eid Fireworks at Dubai Festival City

Eid Mubarak! 

How's your holiday so far? I'm pretty sure you're enjoying every bit of the long weekend. :) Ed and I are just spending the 3-day Eid break in the city. Having no getaway plan this year is quite bizarre, but that doesn't mean we're having a boring holiday. 

The city of Dubai celebrates Eid Al Fitr with a bang! There are various activities in store for residents and tourists. There are astounding events and great shopping deals at the malls, and fantastic fireworks shows at Dubai Creek and Dubai Festival City every night! :)

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Pasta Celebration at TGIFridays

TGIFridays is well-known worldwide for its casual dining, authentic American food and great drinks. It has an invigorating ambiance, a "Friday vibe", anytime or any day of the week! It is probably a restaurant that needs no further introduction; everyone knows and everybody loves TGIFridays! The red and white stripes TGIFridays logo has been a symbol of fun and feast. In my case, it has always been a venue of get-togethers and birthdays, or it is simply a restaurant I run to whenever I crave for a great American meal.

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Where in the world is CEB?

CEB is Cebu Pacific's official mascot. The lovable, well-travelled mascot has visited almost every tourist spot in the Philippines and in some Asian countries. Recently, CEB was sighted in the "City of Dreams" or the "City of Gold" or shall we call it "my second home". CEB was here in Dubai!

I'm pretty sure CEB had fun, I can tell it through through these photos:   

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From THE COVE with L♥ve

Ed and I are currently on a mini-vacation at The Cove Rotana in Ras Al Khaimah as we are celebrating Lady and her Sweet Escapes' first blogversary! Time flies so fast, this blog is turning 1 in a couple of days. :)  We were looking forward to this out of town trip, but we never expected it to be this grand! Though I don't usually blog whenever I am away, I can't let this day pass without writing a quick, yet heartfelt THANK YOU post for all the staff of The Cove. I will be blogging more about our wonderful weekend getaway very soon. In the meantime, here are some photos (all taken by my handy phone, so please forgive the low quality) and a short message to all who made this escape the sweetest one.

"Thank you so much The Cove Rotana for the warm hospitality and the great service. We truly appreciate everything; from the simple details to the lavish treats, from the pristine white sand beach to the stunning infinity pool, from the splendid Iftar dinner to the hearty breakfast buffet. Your generosity is beyond compare! You have given us much more than what we deserve! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for this very memorable sweet escape."  --- Ed and Lady

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Frolics at Wild Wadi Water Park

I was browsing my Facebook pictures and realized that I have four albums dedicated to Wild Wadi! Yes, FOUR, which simply means I have visited the water park four times for the last five years. The old photos brought nostalgia. I can somehow say that I have witnessed how Wild Wadi changed, along with my life. 

Wild Wadi is a great place with fun summer memories. Since the weather has been scorching hot the past few weeks, let me share this refreshing post about Dubai's most refreshing attraction; my favorite water park in the UAE, Wild Wadi.

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