Al-Shaya card

I like the new Al-Shaya card system. While in a shopping spree last weekend, I purchased an article of clothing from one of the many Al-Shaya retail shops and changed my mind about it once I got home. When I checked the receipt I was surprised to see that they don't allow refunds, but I can have it added as credit to an Al-Shaya card. When I went back to the shop the next day, the sales lady explained to me that I can add the amount of the returned item to this card and I can use the money to purchase anything from ANY of the Al-Shaya owned shops within a time-frame of one year. Amazing! I can also use this card as a gift card by adding any amount of money to it and giving it to someone as a present. I love that idea! There are so many options to choose from!

Among my favorite Al-Shaya shops are: Kiehl’s, Boots, MAC, Debenhams, H&M, TopShop, and River Island.

Hi..

My name is a la Mocha..

And I am a Cheerios addict.

I luv luv luv the honey one!

I heart winter

The weather is moving in a downwards slope. I’ve been paying attention to the temperature in my car every morning at 7 am . It started out last week as 35. Then 33. Then 33 again. Then 32. And this morning it was 32 again. Today is September 21 so it makes sense that we’re experiencing cool weather in the early mornings and at night, although our weather doesn’t always make sense.

Am so looking forward to winter. Looking forward to my weekends and waking up in the morning to go for an outdoor breakfast or brunch. Love those days. Winter in Kuwait is so energizing. It seems like we hibernate indoors almost 7 months out of the year so when it’s cool outside I just wana do as many outdoorsy things as possible.

One of my favorite breakfast spots in Kuwait during the winter is Soug Al-Mubarkiya. My friends and I go there and have yummy chai oo 7aleeb on fa7am and f6eer mishaltit with 7aloom/olives and gaimar/3asal. #YUM! Then after we eat and chill, we usually go around walking and checking out the little shops with nik-naks, herbs, perfumes etc. #Goodtimes

Hopefully by next month the outdoors will be possible and pleasant. Until then, enjoy our so-called "autumn" season. :p

Who knew?

I was just backing up my iPhone and going through my photo albums when I came across some pics my friends and I took during our New Year’s day brunch this year. It was exactly 8 months and 17 days ago. I saw a pic of my best friend who was single back then but is married now. I couldn’t help but think of how fast things in life can change. One minute you’re one place and the other minute you’re somewhere else. In a matter of months (days even) a person’s life could transform out of the blue. 8 months and 17 days ago, she had no idea that she’d be where she is today. Who knew? 8 months and 17 days ago, I thought I’d be somewhere else today, but am not. Who knew?

#Life.. so unexpected.

The wisdom of wisdom teeth

I used to think that wisdom teeth were useless. I was never taught, I never heard, and I never read anything about their significance until last year. I was in a domestic flight during my India trip from Mumbai to Delhi and while flipping through an English local newspaper, I found an article talking about how wisdom teeth are a new found source of stem cells. I remember thinking "YES!" Thank God I still have 3 left in my mouth.

The article stated that "international studies conducted with stem cells extracted from a wisdom tooth have shown tremendous promise in regenerating damaged bones, cornea and cardiac muscles." Apparently, stem cells are the IT thing in the future for curing all sorts of disease. I even heard that they can somehow help with the aging process. Can it be that my wisdom teeth are my fountain of youth? It seems I may have to pay India another visit to store one of my wisdom teeth in their dental stem cell bank.

Link to the article here.

ShoooSh كله من

Starting a business

One of my goals is to start my own business one day. What’s delaying me is that I still haven’t found that GREAT and INNOVATIVE idea; the one that I’d be passionate about and that will be unique & competitive. Ideas pop up in my head every now and then, but still.. None of which is THE ONE.

I’m trying to organize my thoughts to think clearly. In doing so, I made a couple of points to organize my chain of thought and to better explore my options:

I have 2 product options:

    1) Tangible product and 2) Service product

I have 2 approaches for the product:
    1) Franchise and 2) Original concept

If I go with the ‘Tangible product’ + ‘Original concept’ combo, then I have 2 strategy options:
    1) Local supplier and 2) International supplier

I also have 3 business life-span options:
    1) One-time thing, 2) Occasional thing, and 3) Long-term thing

Moreover, I have 3 selling-point options:
    1) Physical store, 2) Online store, and 3) Phone-call & delivery

With these points in mind, I’ll keep hunting for the opportunity that I’ve been waiting for. Fingers crossed I’ll come up with something GREAT soon!

9 months later..

*long drum roll*

And..

We're..

BACK!

*tiiiissssshhhhh*