Life Lately: 3 weeks feels more like 3 years

I can't get enough of the sunsets at the moment; the sun falls early in these parts, but it brings with it some much needed relief from the soaring temperatures that bake the city to a crisp. The skyline becomes a harsh silhouette that almost disturbs the softness of the yellow sky. I don't I will ever tire of snapping a sunset. 

Taking the pooch for a stroll is becoming a daily challenge which needs to be executed with military precision, or so it seems. Between the 8am and 7pm, the pavement is too hot for her little paws. Even outside of those hours, the sun beats down on her and she looks up at me as we walk, with her bright red tongue, flopping out of her mouth as she pants to cool herself down, like errrr can I take this fur coat off now. This week an extra midnight walk along Dubai Marina which is dog friendly, was pleasant for her paws and it's nicer for us too. 

After just three weeks I found such a great breakfast spot, the 25 55 cafe at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, which conveniently or dangerously, depending on how you look at it, is about a 5 minute walk along the waterfront from our building. 

There has been lounging by the pool, which has become increasingly difficult since Ramadan arrived, a very traumatic afternoon at the beach (but more about that another time) and a job interview. The week has flown by and I feel more settled than ever as I take the brave steps of some solo exploration.

Flower Power: Adidas Originals x Farm Gazelle Trainers

About 6 months ago, I saw a picture on instagram; a preview of the Adidas Originals x Farm women's Gazelle trainers that were to be released in time for summer and I got excited. At this point you should know that I have never been a trainer person and it is only in recent years that I have not only come to understand the trainer, but enjoy it for its style and above all, comfort!

The exclusive collaboration brings together two formidable fashion brands; combining Adidas Originals iconic silhouettes and history with Farm's eye-catching signature prints,  has resulted in a pretty explosive collection. With a range of feminine and fashion forward pieces, exotic prints and a bright, punchy colour palette, the collection screams hot, tropical summer.

The collaboration is one of several which see Adidas continuing to push the boundaries of sports apparel and blur the lines between functional sportswear and fashion forward street-wear. A second Farm collection is about to be released into stores, there was recently a collection with Topshop and for AW/14 a collection with Mary Katrantzou is on the cards.

The 1970's classic Adidas shoe, the Gazelle has had a strong and vibrant make-over and although all four prints caught my eye, the green tropical flower print, with flashes of purple and orange and those lime yellow accent stripes, made my heart skip a little beat.

One of the comfiest trainers I have ever worn and now one of the most feminine, they look perfect with denim shorts and a classic white t-shirt; because when you have shoes like that, you should let them do the talking. Accessorising with a bit of a tan is optional.

The full Adidas Originals x Farm collection shorts, tracksuit, t-shirt and tank top.

This first phase will soon make way for the second drop of the Adidas Originals x Farm collection, which will continue the tropical theme with four more exotic prints in bright purple, red and a whole rainbow of colours! Check out the adidas website for the full collection. 

wardrobe dilemmas during Ramadan: Moving to Dubai with Expatsblog.com

Arriving in a new country as a month long holy period is about to commence, may not be the smartest idea i've ever had. 

Ramadan for a new expat in Dubai can be a little daunting, especially when you start reading the (unrealistic) portrayal of the rules and regulations on the internet. My saving grace has been the fact that I am currently unemployed, so I don't have to worry about eating in public during day. But even if your not working, you have to really break down your day because actually, you will be affected one way or another. At least until the sun sets. 

During Ramadan I can't drink tea on the balcony in the morning, I can't chew gum while I walk the dog and I can't take a sip of water in a shopping mall, no matter how thirsty I am. And the rules concerning dress codes in public places, should be adhered to strictly during the Ramadan period. 

Which meant, as I prepared for an interview yesterday morning, a small meltdown occurred as I realised the wardrobe dilemma that faced me. In Dubai being respectful with your clothing extends to your wardrobe choices for an interview, especially one that falls during Ramadan. So covering my knees and shoulders is a must. Which is fine except it's 42 degrees outside and wearing a cardigan is not really optimal. Sacrificing comfort for half an hour to maintain a respectful approach is worth it though. 

It is these types of situations that you never really think about when taking on expat life. But learning about the culture you are living within is all part and parcel of moving abroad. 

If you want to know more about the preparations involved in my move to Dubai, the second article in my moving to Dubai series is now live on Expatsblog. And if you want to catch up with the first, I talked about it here. 

midweek mix #27

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The Dubai Fountain

There are a million things to do when you arrive in Dubai; go up the Burj Khalifa, go to the Dubai Mall, do a desert safari, watch the dancing fountains. The what? Yes the dancing fountains. And we are not talking about some small, insignificant fountains trickling water like a hose that has a kink in it. No, if there is one thing you need to know about Dubai, it's that they do everything bigger and better and their dancing fountains are a spectacle. 

The weekend I arrived in Dubai, my stepbrother had popped over from Doha, my best friend and the boyfriend were both excited to see me and to mark the occasion they arranged dinner. They know me too well and wouldn't tell me where dinner was in fear that I would start googling. I thought dinner would be on the 47th floor of some skyscraper to take in views of the city. 

But then we arrived at Souk Al Bahar, sitting neatly under the towering presence of the Burj Khalifa and I was a little surprised. It turns out dinner was at Mango Tree and as we were shown to our table on the terrace, I commented that it was a little a hot and humid for a newbie like me to be eating outside. A few seconds after plonking myself down at the table I soon realised why we were outside, as the lake at the foot of the Burj Khalifa came to life and the sound of music filled the air. 

In all honesty, I have never seen anything quite like it. Set on the 30 acre Burj Khalifa Lake, the Dubai Fountain includes 6600 lights, 25 colour projectors shoots water 150 meters into the air, the same as  a 50 storey building. This isn't any old fountain. The water, the lights and the music combine to create one breathtaking show, that drew out my emotion, and had me feeling a little numb by the end of it. 

The music and routine is continually changing and during our dinner, we saw four different versions, each as good as the first. While you can watch the dancing fountains from waterfront promenade, if you are a food lover like myself, you might as well watch the show from the Mango Tree terrace whilst tucking into some yummy thai food. 

And on that note, I will leave you with a video.