Few pictures I have taken in the UAE throughout my 7 years here. 

Tired of the gym (boring) and not able to go running (too hot), this weekend I was fortunate enough to get an invite to go wakeboarding with a few pros. Dubai's skyline was the perfect framework for pictures, the water was lukewarm and the wakeboarders were all in a great mood.

Since I am not too keen on the usual Billabong/ Quicksilver colour mania I opted for the Black Mamba look! There is a niche on the market for cool watersports outfits for sure.

Anyhow anywho, the day after despite sore muscles we decided to go for a Stand Up Paddle surfing lesson - supposedly the favourite work out technique of both Jennifer A. and Cameron D. If it's good enough for them....

If you are in Dubai and want :

- to have a very tasty coffee and some really tasty mini cannelonis (I'd know, I just came from Italy...)

- to look at a Some Really Big Fish whilst at it..

head to the cafe opposite the Aquarium at Dubai Mall. Unsure of the name but this was one of the many coffee breaks me and Lisa had whilst sourcing outfits for the POSE editorials and I remember it being a hidden gem amongst all the nasty chains of coffee houses all over Dubai.

Nasimi PLAY (Atlantis Hotel, The Palm) - the best way to spend a lazy Saturday. Kids, gotta try it if you haven't! Free beach access (!), soul and funk beats in the background, super delish bbq and fizzy drinks in the sun. I like! 

Bästa sättet att tillbringa en lördag i Dubai är strandhäng på Nasimi Beach (Atlantis Hotel, The Palm). Ett måste om du inte redan har testat! Gratis tillgång till hotellets finfina strand, soft musik, supergod barbeque och lite bubbel i solen. Jag gillar't!

Blazer MONKI, shorts 2nd hand, t-shirt james Pearse, sunnies Burberry, sandals Les Tropeziennes.

Hi everyone, how have you been? I have so much to tell you!

I've had such a fun filled weekend I could write a solid 4 posts about it! Everything from getting a press invite to a night of Depeche Mode remixes by Andy Fletcher (one of the band members) at Trilogy, to a VIP invite to Nasimi beach - an afternoon in a sun lounger with friends, bubbly and chillax muxic and last but not least a La Mer facial with a goodie bag and followed by cupcakes at Magnolia.

Gotta say, I am currently on 2 weeks vacation from work and initially I planned travelling somewhere exotic but I am now happy I stayed in Dubai. Since I travel most of the year anyway I'd much rather invest in Candy&Cookie by going to all the events I get invited to (such an important part of having a successful blog and something that is my weakness due to my 2 day jobs), catch up with all my friends and wake up to the sun sipping through my sheer curtains instead of the alarm of my blackberry!

Anyway - I have spent the whole day chillaxing with Selina - my wonderful flatmate and friend who turned 30 today. We got mani pedis, had lunch at Wagamama and went to the beach and I realized that doing 'nothing' is much more draining than actually doing stuff so before I fall asleep standing up here's a today's outfit - all very nautical and Riviera chic! Ciao for now...

Hej alla härliga läsare, hoppas att ni har haft en bra helg? Jag har hur mycket som helst att berätta!

Min helg har varit helt fantastisk, det kommer nog att ta i alla fall 4 blogginlägg for att täcka allt som har hänt.

Jag fick ett presspass till en spelning me Andy Fletcher som är en av medlemmarna i Depeche Mode, gick på en VIP invigning av en skön strandklubb där jag sippade på drinkar, lyssnade på fantastisk chillout soul tilsammans med mina vänner och som grädde på moset fick jag en La Mer facial incl. en liten La Mer goodie bag. Allt detta avslutades med en Magnolia bakery cupcake! 

Jag måste säga att jag är pa semester just nu och i början på veckan ångrade jag att jag valde att stanna i Dubai o inte resa men den känslan har garanterat släppt! Jag reser ju ända mestadels av tiden och nu har jag äntligen tid att gå till alla events jag blir bjuden till (viktig del av bloggandet!) och jag har tid för mina vänner och får massa skönhetssömn. 

Innan jag somnar (har lungt och stilla firat min bästa väns födelsedag idag me mani pedi, lunch på Wagamama och 2 h på stranden) så lägger jag upp en dagens outfit.

I am glued to my computer, working to meet the POSE deadlines. Have I taken too much on too much with a full time job, full time magazine editing and a blog? For sure. Would I have it any other way? Hellz no. Doing what you love is such a priviledge and I am feeling beyond fortunate. If I wanted to go all 'Eat Pray Love' on you i would say that I am feeling blessed.

Kicked back after a long day with some Moroccan tea in Dubai Marina. Pretty, no?

What's everyone up to today? Scored any goodies at the Lanvin / H&M fiesta? As much as I love the pieces I hate sample sales, cheap designer collaboration launches etc as they simply bring out the worst in us consumers and bring out a helpless claustrophobic geek in me.

Onto a different topic, are you enjoying the fantastic weather in Dubai? The UAE winter means one thing in the 1 man Karpinska household - it's topless season baby!

When I say topless, I am referring to the car and not myself naturally.

Slowly getting used to always looking like a floor mop too, as it's impossible to have anything resembling a hairstyle when going roofless. On the plus side I get to experiment and funk up my outfits with hats, beanies and Grace Kelly - esque headscarves. 

Make the most of your Ramadan experience and make sure to enjoy the spirit and food to be found in the iftar and suhour tents at many of the city’s hotels.

One of the best evenings lately was the Iftar experience I shared with my BFF Charlie and a few other friends in good ol' Abu Dhabi. The highlight of the evening must have been the 55+ years old chef that fell head over heels for my stunning Charlie. The two enjoyed a very rewarding conversation held in Arabic (the chef) and Swedish (Charlie) over the different lamb dishes on the buffet. But it's one of those 'you had to be there' stories...

Who said a dinner out has to cost more that 40 dhs?