Farewell 2013!

I know you are busy preppin' up for the new year! So, I made this post really short and sweet. I just want to thank YOU for making my 2013 amazing! Cheers to 136 posts, over a dozen of sweet escapes, hundreds of new experiences, thousands of calories, loads of laughter and a million smiles! :)

Here's my attempt to squeeze ladyandhersweetescapes.com's 2013 highlights in a 15-second Instagram video. 

Thank you for being with me through all these! 

Happy New Year! Maligayang Bagong Taon! 

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The White Winterland at BurJuman

I went window shopping at BurJuman Centre yesterday and was delightfully surprised to see a portion of the mall covered with snow! I heard the Ice Queen paid a visit, sprinkled some magic snow dust and turned BurJuman into a White Winterland! 

This Festive Season, the mall of high-end boutiques has a great treat for the shoppers (window shoppers, like me, included). There's a Snow Zone where the kids can make snow angels and have a snowball fight. BurJuman also placed a temporary ice rink where shoppers can enjoy free skating lessons and world-class entertainment. And to top it all, there's a live snow fall every hour! 

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A "Merry Christmas" Lunch at Boardwalk

Our Christmas was too perfect for words! I never thought I could say that a week ago! I was actually down and not feeling the holiday vibe as Ed and I had to do things differently this year. I had to be at work on Christmas Eve and was a little scared that I will still be in my white lab coat when all the others are on their holiday outfits! To avoid disappointments, no Christmas Eve plans were made. We looked forward to a simple celebration for two on Christmas Day instead. 

Right after a solemn Christmas Day Mass at St. Mary's, Ed and I went to Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club for lunch. Out of all the hotels and restaurants that offered Festive Lunch, we chose to dine at Boardwalk primarily because of its location; it is just a few minutes away from the church and fairly in between our workplaces. Yup, no holiday break for us! Little did we know, we chose the best! 

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We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

Sending you the warmest of wishes 

for a holiday filled with LOVE and LAUGHTER!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Love, 

Ed and Lady

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Christmas Spectacle at the Souk Festive Market

With the winter solstice on the news over the weekend, I had my thoughts on what to do and where to go on the "longest and coldest night of the year" in the UAE. Though it was written on the news that it may rain, I chose not to bury myself under the warm fuzzy blanket at home. This sun-drenched girl officially said goodbye to the hot and humid summer days and welcomed the winter chill in an Arabian Winter Wonderland!  

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Beauty Talk and Treatments at Purity Med Spa

I was invited to Purity Med Spa's grand opening two weeks back. I immediately gave the invite a big 'yes' as I needed some pampering to chase the holiday blues and boo-boos away! I love to indulge in spa treatments and hair care, especially now that I could already feel the Christmas rush. I don't want traces of exhaustion (and homesickness) to be seen on my face. A boost of 'feel-good' hormones and a healthy glowing skin are what I needed, and Purity Med Spa guaranteed that I could have that and more! 

Purity Med Spa is every woman's beauty haven. Their two-storey villa in Al Wasl road is exclusively for women; a tranquil spot to receive treatments from the beauty experts and skin therapists. They only use high-end products and state-of-the-art technology. 

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Crazy over Cronuts

It is round and flaky, crispy on the outside, soft and creamy inside. It has taken the world by storm ever since it was launched by Chef Dominique Ansel in New York last May. It is a unique pastry, a cross between a doughnut and a croissant. For a foodie like me, the Cronut is definitely the creation of the year!  

The croissant-doughnut hybrid has been the talk of the town. Although Chef Dominique Ansel had it trademarked, bakeries across the globe couldn't resist to have their own versions. Probably because of the demand from pastry lovers who can't fly to NYC just for a cronut! 

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Weekend on Ice at Dubai Ice Rink

Every time I hear the word 'winter', I often think of snow! Since there is a zero chance of snowfall and it doesn't get as cold as the weather up North, I usually get my dose of "winter fun" at the indoor snow park and in the ice rink. Skating, skiing and making snow angels are actually available in Dubai all year round; even at the peak of summer! I just get to appreciate these activities even more during the cold season, when I'm finally on my knitwear and boots.

I went skating at the Dubai Ice Rink last weekend! It was my first time to be in an Olympic-size rink. I learned how to skate on my own at a smaller venue with lesser spectators at the now defunct Stargate. So being at the prime ice rink in the city, armed with only the basics of skating, was really nerve-wrecking. 

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Christmas Craft: Build Your Own Gingerbread House

What's your favorite Christmas tradition? Mine is setting up our Christmas Tree; hanging balls, ribbons and colorful blinking lights while holiday songs fill the air. It's my favorite childhood Christmas memory! The gifts under it and in my Christmas stocking were just an icing on the cake! :) This year, since I am away from home (again!), I couldn't build and decorate our artificial tree, but I got to experience another Christmas tradition for the first time! I built my own gingerbread house! 

In Europe, it has been a tradition for families to build a gingerbread house days before Christmas. It is a Christmas decoration made by children using hard gingerbread as the house's walls and roof, white sugar icing as the snow, and variety of candies to make it just like the witch's house in the novel "Hansel and Gretel".

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Biking at Downtown Dubai with Nextbike's Byky

I have another confession to make. I can't ride a bike! Do I sound weird? My husband thinks that my childhood is abnormal. I grew up with dolls and plastic cooking sets... and it seemed normal for me. Actually, I tried to balance myself in the two-wheeled vehicle in one point of my life. Year 1995, I was quite inspired to learn after I watched the movie Now and Then, but it never worked for me. Playing in the streets was never my thing, so I am now 31 and still learning the basics of childhood life! Hashtag late bloomer here! Hehehe.

I have been eyeing the Nextbike's Byky at Downtown Dubai since summer. Whenever we passed by the rental stations, I'd always tell Ed that we should rent one, and he'd say "but you don't know how to bike!" Then last weekend night, due to the 'convincing prowess' of my husband's cousin (Thanks, Ciel), Ed finally agreed that we'd rent and share a byky for 30 minutes. 

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