Lone Wolf - the ending

I finally inched my way to the end of Jodi Picoult's Lone Wolf. The secrets that emerge, the bonds that are re-forged and the surprise ending all contributed to the confirmation of my gut feeling that the Lone Wolf would be a good read. It is a story that is rife with drama and high on emotions, and so sometimes, it's difficult to take it in all at once - hence, the staggered reading pattern I adopted.

It wasn't necessarily a happy ending, but that depends on the perspective from which you view it. Usually, when one door is closed another one is opened, so tragedy can somehow be turned into  joy. When the truth is revealed bit by bit, the puzzle is completed. The final picture goes to show that everything isn't always what it seems to be. Several of the choices that the characters make are with good intentions but have devastating results, which lead to the Warren family slowly being torn apart. Jodi Picoult shows how, through a disastrous car accident, the family is painstakingly knit back together.

When reading this book, you can't help but join in with the characters in pondering on the value of a human life and whether anyone has the right to take a person off life support. It's such a sensitive matter that never has a black and white solution. The arguments on both sides seem valid, but unfortunately, there is no answer that can please both parties. The case in the book is rather unusual because two siblings are fighting against each other to gain custody of their comatose father, each wanting a different outcome for him. The motivations behind their desires are not as obvious as they seem at the beginning. At the end of book, the brother and sister are able to overcome their differences (and six years of separation) to see eye-to-eye and make the inevitable decision regarding their father's life.

My conclusion on the book is that it is very interesting and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who isn't necessarily looking for a light read. I enjoyed my journey through the book and look forward to more work from Jodi Picoult. The next book on my reading list takes me across the seas to America and my bags are all packed!!

Happy reading!

Strawberry mania

My all-time FAVORITE fruit is the strawberry. There's something about the berry goodness of this red, scrumptious fruit that has my mouth watering, so it's no surprise that I take every opportunity possible to try a new recipe with strawberries. Even if the recipe calls for another fruit, I substitute it with my favorite berry.

The first recipe I tried out was a white chocolate strawberry parfait. I simply layered yogurt (with vanilla essence and some sugar), roasted almonds, white chocolate shavings and strawberries to create this delish dish.

My next venture was a strawberry jelly pudding of sorts. The bottom layer comprises strawberries suspended in strawberry flavored jelly. Once that was set, I added some vanilla/chocolate ice cream mixed with yogurt on top.

My final recipe is a strawberry fool. Don't be 'fooled' by the name - it's a light, fluffy dessert that leaves the tummy quite satisfied. I combined mashed up strawberries, orange juice, custard and whipped cream and that was all it took. The natural sweetness from the strawberries ensured that I didn't have to add any sugar.

These desserts taste as good as they look. I hope they inspire you to add some sweetness to your life too :)

Happy cooking!

Playing dress up...in real life

Like most girls, I love to dress up, but some of us don't get the opportunity often. I mean, heels aren't really appropriate for grocery shopping across the street are they? But that doesn't mean giving up on being fashionable. I like to incorporate some stylish element into each of my outfits, such as a pop of color, a cute accessory or a new hairdo (even parting your hair in a different way can make a world of difference!). While some outfits take careful planning to turn out right, others may be thrown together in a matter of minutes and still look just as good. Either way, there comes a certain satisfaction in paying attention to how you look. It shouldn't become an obsession but can be kept to a healthy limit.

Sometimes, I like to just pull out all the clothes in my cupboard and mix and match the items for future reference. That way, when a last minute occasion comes up, I don't have to be fumbling through my closet and tearing my hair out exclaiming the ever-famous phrase, "I have nothing to wear!!!". It also helps me to rediscover pieces that have got lost in the piles of clothing (because face it, we are all guilty of going for the t-shirt or jeans that's on top of the lot, a lot of the time). I also use this as an opportunity to discard clothes that I know I will not wear and which make me wonder what I was thinking when I bought them!

Like I mentioned before, hair plays a very important role in the entire look. Being a curly girlie, I can tell you that curly hair is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because you can keep it curly and then straighten it when necessary, but it's a nightmare when you try to tame it and keep 'frizzasters' at bay! With that being said, I LOVE having curls (despite numerous comments that I should straighten my hair) and I probably take to a hair iron 4 times a year, the last time being 9 months ago ( it's such a rare occurrence that it's hard to forget :P). Even though my hair is short, I try to play around with it and do different styles. My go-to hairdo is the simple twist back and (tiny) bun at the nape of the neck. Sometimes, adding a headband can instantly spruce up an outfit. I also like pulling one side of my hair back with a cute clip that complements my outfit.

One of my biggest style inspirations is Rachel Bilson of O.C. fame. Her wardrobe in her latest series, Hart of Dixie, is absolutely perfect ( and I love the fact that we have very similar body structures!!). All the pieces she dons are cute and comfy, and ooze style in every aspect. They complement her petite physique and highlight the best parts of her figure. Below are two of my all-time favorites of Dr. Zoe Hart's ensembles.

Here are some of my recent ensembles:

For the women's meeting, I decided to go with pink, pearls and curls :)

I chose this fun, cute outfit for a day of gallivanting in Dubai. The jumpsuit(American Eagle Outfitters) and leggings were gifts, the black lace pumps are from New Look and the bag is from Accessorize.

I incorporated an arm party to add pizzazz to the whole look.

This traditional look was what I opted for when we attended church in Dubai. I love having my shalwars tailor-made because they fit so perfectly!

I put together this outfit of black culottes, a pink tee and belt for our day stay at Al Barsha.

Happy styling!