LE BLOG DE CHANTY HAS A NEW DOMAIN NAME

Hello Readers,

 

It is with great pleasure to inform you that LE BLOG DE CHANTY  has a new domain name http://www.leblogdechanty.com/, kindly follow my latest updates there.

Bisous…

 

How To Spend Valentine’s Day If You’re Single?

I announced yesterday the start of my collaboration with Nisrette from Smarter Life Tips & Tricks.

Since it’s Valentine, and we know that a lot of you are celebrating it alone, so we decided to tackle the subject of how to spend this holiday when you’re SINGLE.

Who said you need to always have someone special for Valentine’s Day? There are a lot of things that you can do and make it a day/night to remember!

Here’s a list that we compiled:

1- Organize a secret admirers gifting (such as Secret Santa)

Where you and a group of friends draw names then deliver items like chocolates, flowers and teddy bears to each other, that way everyone can have a Valentine!

2- Plan a Singles’ Valentine’s Party :

 

A great Valentine’s Day isn’t exclusive only for couples. This year let the couples have their own customized celebration, and get together with your favorite friends for a party at home, pub or night ( You can check www.lebtivity.com where you will find many singles’ Valentine’s Day suggestions).

3- Pamper Yourself

This Valentine’s Day, devote time to yourself. You don’t need another person to make you feel special. You can do it all on your own! Get a massage, a facial, or a mani-pedi.  You will feel sexier and more relaxed.

You can choose to treat yourself at the Spa of Phoenicia Hotel .

Devoted to beauty, rejuvenation and relaxation, SPA Phoenicia specializes in Balneotherapy, Thalassotherapy, Thai Relaxing Therapy and Ayurvedic Medicine. Exquisite body treatments use the healing power of nature to stimulate the metabolism and circulation while cleansing, purifying and toning the body.

 

You can also try the massages and scrubs at Think Pink Lounge in Mansourieh.

They have multiple types to choose from: Hot Stones, Relaxing, Slimming, Reflex foot massage, back and face massage…

4- Plan a Week-end with your friends

Since Valentine’s Day is on Saturday, you can plan to spend a week-end with your friends who are single too, away from the noise and enjoy the peaceful nature, or visit historical places.

One of my favorite getaways is to plan a road trip to Deir El Kamar and stay the night at Mir Amin Palace hotel in Beiteddine. You’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of the palace, the tranquility of the area, and enjoy a night of oriental music at Le Serail.

Another option is for the ski lovers, you can definitely head to Faraya/ Kfaderbian, stay the night by the fire at Terrebrune Hotel sipping your favorite wine and enjoy a ski day the next day.

Bedroom – Type 1

If you prefer the view of the ocean, you can head to Jbeil or Batroun, there are a lot of nice places to discover. Waking up to the sound of the ocean, and have the clear blue view in front of you, will be so rewarding!

If you want something really relaxing, you can head to Bhersaf and enjoy a wellness retreat at Zenotel, where you can revitalize your mind, body and soul.

 

No matter what you choose to do on Valentine’s Day, make it an unforgettable week-end/night, enjoy it to the maximum maybe it will be your last single valentine’s party and you will find your soul mate.

If you think that we gave you a useful tip for celebrating single’s Valentine Day share it with us when u celebrate it.

For every single in this world Happy Singles’ Valentine Day! Let’s Celebrate 😉

Collaboration With Nisrette From Smarter Life Tips And Tricks

I have been blogging for more than 5 years now, and sometimes blogging alone could be a bit boring.

I met an old friend of mine, Nisrette, a while ago. We were together in university, she had her 1st blog in 2013 under the LazyNiss, she used to blog about fitness and Beauty in Arabic. I featured here in one of my #MeetTheBlogger series, you can check it here.

Chanty

Nisrette

Recently she created a new blog, where she will be blogging about Tips and Tricks for a Smarter Life!

While we were enjoying our afternoon tea, we realized that we have a lot of common.

We  both have a passion for beauty products, at it happened that we both have a combination skin and interested to find products that suit our type of skin. We’re active and energetic and enjoy the simple things in life.

And it hit us… Why not start a series of collaborations together!

 

We asked for a paper and pen and checked what is interesting for both of us. We will be covering different topics from beauty tips, psychological tips, financial tips and anything we find interesting…

We’ll be featuring our post every Friday morning… Stay tuned for our post tomorrow!!

Interview: Chef Fernando Canales Etxanobe

I had to pleasure to meet a while ago at Phoenicia Hotel Beirut the Michelin star chef “Fernando Canales Etxanobe” who was in Lebanon end of January 2015 to add a Spanish touch with refreshing and delicious dishes at Sydney’s Club Bar and Restaurant and Eau De Vie.

Since 1998, he runs his restaurant Etxanobe, which bears his mother’s maiden name. In addition to its activity in the restaurant, which boasts a Michelin star and two suns in the Repsol guide, he works with various media. For seven years he held the cooking show on Localia, currently airs in the US on the VME chain and in Moscow in the food service channel. He is also a regular contributor to radio. In summer 2009 live from Bilbao, he developed a cooking show for La 1 TVE.

Get to know him more here

1- When did you know you wanted to be a chef? And Where were you trained?

I was very bad at school, hyperactive child. I come from a family of engineers, and I used to see my father very happy while cooking, so when I was 19 years old I decided to go this way. I went to a cooking school and I loved it. I used to cook for my friends and family and read a lot about cooking. I was very curious and got details from people who are really dedicated to cooking. I studied at the School of Hospitality Leioa, then moved to France and from the hand of Francis Ducasse (Alain Ducasse’s first teacher) I started in the professional kitchen. I learned a lot in France because of the rich culture, and became very discipline in the kitchen “Il faut faire les choses comme il faut” There was a lot of competition too, but it was motivating me to do more and excel. I used to find a way to make things more interesting and keep motivating myself. Then I went back to Spain, worked for two years in Bodegon, then in Bilbao for 10 years. I worked with several chefs for around 20 years and it’s when I decided to have something for my own.

2- How do you get your inspiration?

I get inspired from anything around me, from experiencing new places and cultures. for example I tried the summak in Lebanon and I will implement it in my new cuisine. I am very spiritual, I can detect positive vibes in things, which helps me with my inspiration. I also love to relax by the beach, it calms me, gives me tranquility, spirituality and peace, which helps me clear my mind and find new inspirations.

3- What is your favorite kitchen equipment or gadget?

My Apron.

It gives me a sense of organisation.

4- What characterizes your cuisine?

My cuisine is about sea food. I live between the sea and the mountains and we have a very rich sea in Spain, where you can find different kinds of fish not existing elsewhere. My cuisine is also different from others, because I love attention to details, i’m very picky and I have no fixed rules, I can mix flavors as much as I want.

5- Is there a food that you hate?

I love food, there’s nothing that I hate. In Spain, we eat a lot of pasta and vegetables, similar to the food in Lebanon. But when I was a kid, few things I didn’t like chick peas.

6- What advice can you give for the housewives who are inspired by your style of cookery?

My advice for housewives, is to try the same recipe with different ingredients, to know how to choose the best ingredient.

 

Bon Appétit!

Magical Make-up Remover: Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Women take their time to choose their make-up remover, because they don’t want to come home late at night and spend a lot of time fighting with their make-up and clean their faces.

I got introduced to Bioderma Sensibio H2O a while ago, and I fell in love with it.

This famous micellar solution is very effective and soft on the eyes, plus you can use it for cleansing all your face! What’s amazing about it is that it needs no rubbing to remove your thick coats of mascara, and you won’t witness any redness.

How to use it?

Soak a cotton pad with Sensibio H2O and cleanse the face and eyes and/or remove any make-up. Repeat the application until the cotton pad remains clean.

It needs no rinsing. Dry gently. Dab your face with a clean cotton towel.

Can be used daily, morning, and evening.

It can also be used on no make up days, if you just want to remove all the dirt from the environment.

 

I had the small size first, but then I got addicted, I got the Large size 😉

 

 

Did you try it? I would love to hear your opinion? 🙂 

ANGEL

Angel, Eau Sucrée is a limited edition fragrance by Thierry Mugler.

It was the first time I try any of Thierry Mugler‘s fragrances, and believe me this one is SUPER!

A mischievous and delicious new interpretation of Angel, Eau Sucrée is an invitation to indulge in pure gourmand pleasure. It is described as being “A new ode to indulgence”.

The composition begins with juicy, tangy and frosted red berries sorbet. The heart includes a new gourmand accord of caramelized meringue cream. The final touch is oriental and sensual thanks to notes of patchouli and vanilla. The perfume is developed by Dorothee Piot.

The packaging is inspired by vintage confectionery and it evokes memories of childhood with its blue – white candy striped. The pearly star-shaped bottle is sprinkled with glitter that reminiscent of sugar. Available as 50 ml Eau de Toilette.

I also found out that the French gourmet food brand Fauchon has developed a limited edition éclair honoring Thierry Mugler‘s limited edition fragrance, Angel Eau Sucrée.

The new Fauchon éclair, named for Thierry Mugler‘s Angel, offers an exquisite union between two senses: smell and taste. At its center, the crunchy cake contains a bitter chocolate and almond praline, which contrasts with the Madagascar vanilla cream, accented by a touch of lemon and caramel.

The sweet Eau de Toilette ANGEL, Eau Sucrée is an irresistible treat, it is sure to tantalize the taste buds.

What’s In My Pretty Little Box? – December 2014

I was so delighted when I found out that the Pretty Little Box finally reached Lebanon, I visited their website and registered right away!

One day, the Courriel reached my office with the box in his hands, I was so excited to open it and see what’s inside 🙂

 

When I first opened the box, glitter popped out adding to it the magical Christmas spirit, then there was a cute little mug, the Pretty Little Mag, BB Cream by Garnier, Black Liner by Maybelline, a natural black soap by PURE, ia interapothek intimate gel, and essence nail polish.

 

1- BB cream by Garnier

The first BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector by Garnier is a daily 5 in 1 moisturizer that combines the benefits of both day cream and make up mineral pigments and Vitamin C.

With your  morning application, you get these 5 amazing results:

• Even skin tone

• Corrects fine lines and imperfections

• Hydrates for 24 hours

• Protects from UVAs and UVBs with SPF 15

• Brightens your skin instantly

I still didn’t have the time to try it on my skin, I will be updating you about the texture.

 

2- ia interapothek intimate gel

Developed from natural ingredients, this intimate gel contains oat extract known for its hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Besides its soft action, it has antiseptic properties and ensures a slightly acidic pH that maintains the ideal physiological conditions for any woman.

3- essence nail polish

I got the Glamour Girls shade from the metal glam collection by essence.

It has an easy brush for an easier application, plus it dries really fast, perfect for nail art.

4- The colossal Kajal by Maybelline

The Colossal Kajal is Maybelline’s best-selling with a new 12 hour formula.

Enriched with Olive Oil Esters, Vitamin E, Vitamin C derivatives and conditioning agents, the Colossal Kajal had the deepest black pigments, a unique tip and an exclusive color fix formula to give intense black color.

I still didn’t try it also, because i’m not a fan of black liners.

5- Black natural soap by PURE

6- The Pretty Little Mag

 

The magazine has information about the products, tutorials, recipes, ideas for activities…

 

It’s nice to have a surprise box with beauty products each month, don’t you think?

Monday Office Look

The storm is gone, the sun is shining again and i’m back to wearing pants.

I missed my shirts and my gilets, took the time to iron them yesterday, and got today’s outfit all calculated in my mind!

 

I matched my classical black pants by Med available at GS Stores, with my grey shirt from LTB By Littlebig available at BigStar Shops, and my black gilet from Tally Weijl.

To add a chic touch, I had my striped hat on from Mango

But what upsets me is that after taking the time to iron the shirt, you wear it for like 5 minutes and it’s a kaput again 😦 Does it happen to you?

If you’re wondering why my hand is always in the way in my pictures lately, it’s because I’m taking my own photos. I find it a fun way, to improve my photography skills and to distract me from my fear of the cam!

Happy Monday everyone!

Hair Care: Elixir Concentré De Nutrition By DESSANGE

A while ago, I was at the supermarket buying my shampoo and I took a look at the hair products available. I wanted to find something to nourish my hair, but without giving me the feeling of greasiness.

I am fond of DESSANGE products, so I took my time checking their hair care range, and I found this ultimate gesture of care from their tailored care program, “The Elixir Concentré De Nutrition”.

Formulated with smoothing agents, “The Elixir Concentré De Nutrition” without rinsing, is enriched with 2 rich oils, primrose and sesame. Its creamy and velvety formula infuses the dry ends with moisture to feed them intensively and reshape your hair without weighting it down.

How to apply?

After finishing your shower, comb your hair and then apply two to three drops on the tips of your hair and the very dry areas, rub gently massaging with your fingertips. Do not rinse! Just dry your hair afterwards.

Don’t forget to shake it before use!

What I liked about this product?

I have greasy hair and I don’t like the leave in products, because of their heavy texture that makes me uncomfortable. But “The Elixir Concentré De Nutrition” has a very soft texture and smell, it mixes with the hair quickly adding a nice sweet smell.

Intensely nourished, day after day, your hair regains volume, extreme softness and shine. You’ll enjoy smooth and silky hair!

 

Do you use hair serum?

Did you test any of DESSANGE products?

Swiss Ball Hamstring Curl

I started a new workout plan a month and a half ago at Healthy Lifestyle, and from the exercises I have in my plan is the Swiss ball hamstring curl.

To begin, I was scared of the ball because of a previous funny incident that I had when I went to the gym with my sister in Germany, I got a big ball to train with and I got stuck on it! Yup, I did!

So it took me a while to get friendly with the ball again, not to mention that this move needs a lot of focus to keep your balance. It was really hard for me at the beginning, but with time I can do 20 of it 🙂

 

How to do it:

• Lie on your back with a Swiss ball by your feet.
• Place your heels on the ball and raise your hips so that your body forms a straight line from shoulders to ankles.
• Brace your core and roll the ball towards you.
• Squeeze your hams at the top and lower under control

 

Benefits:

This move specifically isolates your hamstrings to maximize muscle exhaustion at the end of the set and improve strength gains. Because the Swiss ball is an unstable surface, your core will also have to work hard to control the movement.

STRONGER STRIDES

Your hamstrings pull your heels back toward your butt, while your glutes extend your legs back. Training both can lengthen your stride and offer more power to every push-off.

BETTER BALANCE

Many hamstring exercises also challenge your stability. The result is a body that can recover quickly when knocked off-balance.

HEALTHIER KNEES

Your anterior-cruciate ligaments (ACLs) rely on your hamstrings to help them stabilize your knees whenever the knees bend while decelerating. Having a strong set of hamstrings can help your ACLs do their job and lower your risk of injury.

 

Are you familiar with this exercise?