The Pink Tarha is FIVE!

FIVE YEARS. The Pink Tarha blog has been online five years. It's been five years since we started sharing our thoughts and experiences with you, dear readers. And I am put in a spot wherein I think I have a lot of things to say but feel like there are no more worthy words to say them. I will try nonetheless. ;)

I am speaking in behalf of the other Pink Tarha ladies in telling you all how much grateful we are to all of you for reading the Pink Tarha and following our social media sites. What started as a love for shopping evolved into a love for a flexible Riyadh lifestyle that works not only for us, but also for you. We've been molded and shaped by Riyadh, the city we see as our second home. It hasn't been easy because let's be frank: it is challenging to live in Riyadh. Even among all the cities in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is strict, controversial, and smothering sometimes. BUT it's also smart, engaging, and adventurous. If it's so easy to live here, then might as well lead a perfect life (which doesn't exist huh). No matter where we are, we are trying every day to create the kind of self we want to live with all our lives. No matter how many obstacles and trials we face, we persevere and pursue our goals and dreams in our own ways. Most of us, especially expatriates, see our life in Saudi Arabia as a sacrifice. We are here because we're doing this for our families back home. Then just remember that great achievement are usually born out of a great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness. 

Thank you very, very much for reading and supporting The Pink Tarha! We cannot express our gratitude enough. We have been so blessed for the five years we've been online. Some are saying that we've been influential in their lives but I'd like to hear more people say we've inspired them. So yes, The Pink Tarha wants to be INSPIRING. I guess for me, inspiring is a better word. It portrays what the objective and goal of the Pink Tarha is. 

Personally, The Pink Tarha has been (and is still is) a journey for me. Writing has always been my passion and now, The Pink Tarha being an avenue of my writing (I hope you're not bored or tired of my writings yet), has become my passion as well. What I learned in the five years that The Pink Tarha has been online is that if you're not passionate about something, you tend to give up somewhere along the way. Thank you for being in this journey with me, with us. THANK YOU for being our inspiration, for giving us boosts of confidence with your comments, emails, and messages, for riding along our crazy ideas. I hope you continue being with us until the time we decide it's time to move on. (Hopefully not soon huh?) 

Because we're celebrating our fifth anniversary, (and I love you so much I had to rush my way into gathering prizes as soon as I got back my vacation, haha!) we're having the THE ULTIMATE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY! Wow, will you look at that. Haha! In our years in living in Riyadh, we've already discovered our favorites in some aspects of living in the city. So, we're giving away ONE huge anniversary package containing our "favorites" to ONE lucky reader!!!

Just answer the questions you'll find HERE. The most creative, substantial answer will win ALL of the following: 

• 1 pink infinity tarha (scarf). There's only one of this veil around. The Pink Tarha ladies don't even have this so you're really lucky when you get this because you can use this tarha in a lot of ways (you can click here to see some ideas). If you're a guy winner, then give it to a woman you love. ;) 
• 2 Pink Tarha mugs + 1 Pink Tarha eco bag. These are special to us because we only gave them to participants in our The Pink Tarha Mornings events. And they're the last pieces. Exclusive na rin, hehe!
• 1 full access of the Entertainer Riyadh 2014. An app filled with BOGO coupons to restaurants... what's not to love?! Read more about the Entertainer here. 
• 1 pack of Curio art supplies (worth over SR 500). Curio is our favorite art supplies store in Riyadh. Personally, I get my Sharpies, pens, and Moleskine here. Artists can definitely find high-quality stuff here. And Curio's owner has been very generous in giving us stuff for our anniversary! Let Curio ignite your creative streak here.
• 1 voucher from Piatto (worth over SR 300, good for 4 persons). Oh Piatto, how can I even say how much we love Piatto? When you win this, don't miss their chicken mushroom risotto, meatball pizza, bacon and potato pizza, and chicken mushroom dish. Muy delicious! We've written about Piatto here.  
• 1 gold-plated bracelet from Camel Couture. I love Amber of Camel Couture! She's so friendly and creative as seen in her Camel Couture's first product. This camel bracelet is gorgeous and for expats, it's the perfect souvenir from Saudi Arabia for your lady friends. Check out Camel Couture here. 
• 2 dozens cookies from All Kinds of Cookies. I was surprised when Sarah of All Kinds of Cookies gave us a huge cookie cake last year for our anniversary. Just out of nowhere. And throughout the year, she's been surprising us with freshly-made cookies in delicious flavors! You have to try her S'mores; it's my favorite! And Sarah is one of my most favorite persons in Saudi Arabia! Get to know All Kinds of Cookies here. 
• 1 sans rival from Cielo's Sweet Treats. I haven't tried Cielo's sans rival but if it's anything like the quality of her coconut macaroons, creme puff, and cheesecake... then I'm sold! You're lucky to be tasting this sweet creation. More of Cielo's Sweet Treats here. 
• 1-year subscription of Destination Riyadh Magazine (including back issues). Yes, one of our best friends in Riyadh, is the editorial manager of this magazine but it's not the only reason why we read it. This magazine is chockfull of insights and best-kept secrets of Riyadh. It also has a directory of popular stores and restaurants. Handy! Check out Destination Riyadh here. 

If I'm not a Pink Tarha, I would want to win all of these! Hahaha! But wait, there's more!!! I'll be choosing 2 more winners who will win the following: 

RUNNER UP PRIZE A: 

1 full access of the Entertainer Riyadh 2014 

1-year subscription of Destination Riyadh Magazine 

RUNNER UP PRIZE B: 

1 voucher from Piatto (worth over SR 300, good for 4 persons) 

1 gold-plated bracelet from Camel Couture

All these and more!

Of course, we have a lot more favorite stuff in the city but my time was limited in gathering them so I hope you like these! By the way, you have to live in Riyadh for you to win okay? Again, click this link and answer the questions as honestly as possible for a chance to win! Your answers will help us improve the blog and our social media sites. We'll close the form at 12am, January 24.

Again, thank you very, very much dear readers! Please continue reading and supporting The Pink Tarha! Cheers to more fun, fab years! Remember our motto for this year Riyadhizens... For women: Act like a lady, think like a boss! For men: Act like a gentleman, period! Haha! 

We love you! Hugs and kisses from all of us! ~ Sundrenched

The Top 5 Pink Tarha Experiences Of 2013

The year 2013 is coming to an end and here comes another dilemma: what to write for the all-important year-end entry? My brain is not properly functioning right now because of the booze and lechon (cholesterol mehhhn) I consumed during the holiday so I had to resort to Google for year-ender ideas. Of course there's always the new year resolutions but we Pink Tarhas are really not known for keeping up with ours so how can we advice you to do so? Then there's the best entries of the year but we've done that. Year-ender/opened messages? We've done that too! We even wrote individual entries. While we did that for the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, the messages are still applicable now so you may want to read them again here: Sampaguita Pride, Shoegarfreeruby, Eyecandy, and Sundrenched.

Anyway, I decided to pick the top 5 Pink Tarha experiences we've had for 2013. I was reading a magazine a while ago and I stumbled upon this phrase, "People who spend money on experience instead of new things are happier over all." I couldn't help but agree. The Pink Tarha ladies have a lot of experiences in 2013 that we will never exchange for any gadget or any amount of clothes and shoes (well, we might have to ask Shoegarfreeruby again about this, hehe). Here are the best of what we had in 2013: 

1. TRAVELING TO MALDIVES 

Hands down the best travel experience we've had this year is going to the Maldives. It's a dream travel come true. First, because it's the first time our group of friends went on a trip together all at the same time to the same place. Second, because it's Maldives!!! C'mon, if you have one country in your bucket list, it would have to be this paradise. There were countless friends who approached and asked us about our trip to Maldives and they can't help but be inspired to save up and go there too. The fact that the islands of Maldives is said to be sinking might also double your efforts to go… hurry! 

We miss you, Maldives!

Other must travel destinations: SRI LANKA and THAILAND 

2. THE PINK TARHA MORNINGS GOES TO JEDDAH 

When we staged the Pink Tarha Mornings in Jeddah, one thing became very apparent: Men Loves The Pink Tarha. Okay, let me explain that (for the fear of a tough conservative might be reading this and misinterpret it). Unlike the TPTM Riyadh, the one in Jeddah was co-ed because Jeddah is more relaxed on their gender mixing rules (we're not abusing it though) and most of our participants were men (thanks to the PEBA officers who have been supportive since the beginning) and we love how active and eager they were. It actually inspired me to write an entry on why men should read The Pink Tarha. Another experience we value during our Jeddah tour is the chance to go to the Tent City and meet wonderful people who, despite of their hard circumstances, were still hopeful. We feel grateful for the opportunity to reach out and help in our own little ways. 

A memorable Pink Tarha Morning!

Realization and Lesson: A City in Gridlock

3. ATTENDING EVENTS IN RIYADH 

When we started this blog, we hardly get invites from events. It wasn't only because the blog was just a newbie; it was because events are rare, almost non-existent. But 2013 saw the boom of these events in the city, be it in fashion, beauty, bazaars, newly-opened restaurants, and coffee mornings. And we love attending these events because we get to meet interesting people and get to know their products and services. In a way, we saw how the event landscape in Riyadh has opened up to more people and has changed throughout the months. In turn, these are shaping Riyadh to be a cosmopolitan city with its traditions and values intact. To be a part of this burgeoning trend is priceless. 

More Riyadh events please!

Events We Love: GAP Be Bright, New Look AW2013, Creative Japan Fashion Flair, Best Of Britain Fashion Show, Riyadh Fashion Days

4. EATING WELL 

The restaurant scene in Riyadh leaves more to be desired. There are many world cuisines that are not yet represented but we're willing to wait. After all, some of the most interesting restaurants are already here; they're just waiting to be discovered. Take for example the hamburger that is being lined up for hours, the bubble tea that I drank day after day after day (it's already embarrassing), the most-talked about bread store, the restaurant that serves mostly chicken dishes, the Japanese restaurant that takes the cuisine up a notch, the steak house that renovated itself, the psychedelic Chinese restaurant that owns a building, etc etc! Readers often ask if we eat in these restos for free. Why, wouldn't it be AWESOME?! But no, we pay for our food just like you do most of the time and that's quite awesome too because we enjoy the food and the companionship of the friends we're with without thinking of the consequences. Of course, we do get invited by restaurants once in a blue moon and that's a pretty awesome blogger perk too. 

Yummy Riyadh!

Foodies Liked: Burger Boutique, Saison Du Pain, Garden Barbecue at the AlKhozama

5. MEETING YOU 

The experience of meeting readers all over Riyadh is priceless! Sometimes, we don't even meet you personally. Most of you just comment and message and we're still very much grateful. Sometimes, friends of friends bring up The Pink Tarha in conversations and meet ups. It's funny and awesome how we're all connected in more ways than one. I remember when I got back from Maldives and it was the first time my brother saw me, his first words weren't "How was your Maldives trip?" His first question was "Can I have one of your Pink Tarha mugs?" I asked him why and he said that his friend's wife reads the blog and he plans on giving the mug as a birthday gift. Haha! Or how the doctor of Shoegarfreruby's aunt actually asked her, "Do you know The Pink Tarha? They're Filipinos and they blog." Or how we just recently received an appreciation email from a reader just before the new year ushers in! Here's an excerpt of her email to us:

Hi there girls! I just want to let you know that I am an avid reader of your blog. Since I first set foot on Saudi, I searched for an informative blog and found The Pink Tarha. I just want to commend everyone of you because you have helped a lot of people especially fellow Filipinos who are trying to adopt to the Saudi lifestyle. I first came across your blog in 2011 and have been following everything until now. I also recommend your blog to visitors and first-timers, and to almost everyone that I know of. I know how appreciation works a long way. And in this simple way, I hope I have extended it to all of you. Well, gusto ko lang malaman nyo na marami kayong natutulungan at napapasaya. Keep up the good work! God bless you all.  

Lovelots, Joyce Ann

Thank you, Joyce Ann! This is a nice gift for the new year. What a morale booster! What an inspiring message. :)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU DEAR READERS FOR EVERY THING! You don't know how much you make us go 'awwww' every time you send us your comments and feedback. We will continue writing to the best of our abilities. We will continue to help, guide, and inspire! YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Cheers to a more fabulous 2014, Riyadhizens!!! - Sundrenched

Sublime at 29

WHO HERE IS thankful that The Pink Tarha exists? Blow your air kisses and wave your thanks along Sundrenched's way as we celebrate her 29th birthday today! It's overwhelming to imagine how this is the fifth time we're greeting her on our blog and I think it's only fair to say that The Pink Tarha has really, really gone a long way.

I looked back in our past birthday greetings to her and it's been well-known to our long-time readers that The Pink Tarha is S' brainchild. She's also our resident "Woman of Wisdom" and is clearly on the forefront of steering the direction of where the blog is going (or not going).

To stir things up a bit, let me throw in some trivia into the mix. Something you might not know about S? Well, I'm one of her closest friends and just to share some stuff you might want to know...

1. She doesn't like her eggs runny. Well-done is the way to go.

2. She's actually a big fan of wrestling.

3. She's not fond of fresh vegetables (she prefers the cooked ones).

4. She was actually raised in the province and was never brought up as a city girl.

5. She's actually pretty shy (at first!).

Also, we have some messages from her closest girls here in Riyadh.

Shoegarfreeruby: 

"There's no stopping this lady in blooming into a more beautiful woman as the years pass by. The Pink Tarha is a reflection of how vibrant, colorful and wonderful Sundrenched is inside and out. Not only is she blessed with wisdom, but with respect because of her beautiful heart.

Happy birthday dear Sundrenched! May you continue to inspire others to see the brighter side of things everyday. You always are an overflow of brilliant ideas! Thank you for being a trustworthy friend, like a rare gem that is hard to find (and expensive, LOL!). We love you."

From our Honorary Pink Tarha girls.

Jamila F.:

"Sundrenched is a witty and snobby lady....at first! hahh kidding!!

She has introduced me to see the world in a different perspective most especially Riyadh.  Enjoying life even with its restrictions, and loving whatever the situation is.  She's a very understanding and opinionated person who is on top of most of things.  I hope and pray that you enjoy your day! Happy happy birthday!! And may you be more blessed on your special day!"

Jou P.: 

"Have you ever heard of the Midas Touch? The king who was cursed with being able to turn everything he touches into gold? I've come to believe that S has that, only difference is, she turns everything she puts her mind and hands on into something beautiful; one look at Pink Tarha, her brainchild, and you'll see what I mean.

S is brilliant but unassuming, logical but passionate. She's just one of those people who would move you with her quiet confidence and meaningful stares (this one I've learned from experience in more ways than one). In the four years that I've come to know S, she has become one of my closest friends, my confidant, my mentor (she continues to inspire me not just to write but to create), my telebabad (this almost reveals what generation we're from), over-cofee partner and most recently, my favorite travel buddy (her wonder&wanderlust is simply contagious).

Anyway, Eyecandy just called to say that this isn't supposed to be a lengthy testimonial. Hence, let me just say, Happy Birthday, I wish you more miles to cover, books to read and wonderful things to discover. Your Mahn, Jou."

--

So to the lady who started it all, who never flinched at the thought of living in Saudi Arabia and even went on ahead writing about all the good things in it, let's raise our coffee mugs this morning to toast our beloved premier blogger, a trendsetter in all things pink and positive in Riyadh, imitated but never duplicated...truly one-of-a-kind...

Happy Birthday S! 

You might not know this, but she owns Maldives! :P JK

She will probably kill me for posting this photo of hers because she's one of the most modest people I know (not obvious from the posing, but it's true)...Nevertheless, in our true online birthday greeting tradition, here's our birthday girl in her best shot in Maldives!

Feel free to send your birthday love and wishes to Sundrenched in the comments section below.

As for me, I know how you like things simple, so my message to you is: "You know I love you girl." xoxo ;) Oh, and I baked a cake for you! 

Cheers!
#Eyecandy

The Preloved Sale 2.0

Hello lovelies! Remember our Preloved Sale last February? We're coming up with a part 2! It's part of our ongoing spring cleaning, or rather, summer cleaning this time. So, if you're free in the afternoon of May 30, 2013, come and join us at the G-Complex Lobby inside the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Takhasussi Street, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We'll be open from 4:00PM to 7:00PM. 

Most of our stuff are slightly-used but there are a few which are new. Dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, shoes, bags, and accessories... we have them! Sizes will vary, depends on what our sizes are but we're pretty sure you have a loved one or friend who'll fit into them. Looking for pasalubongs because you're going on vacation? Here you go! SHOP OUR STUFF! 

So, see you? Yes please! Again, this event is for ladies only (no kids allowed too, sorry!). If you're having problems with directions, kindly message us in our Facebook page. Follow The Pink Tarha in our Twitter and Instagram accounts too. 

Thank you, lovelies.

The Saudi Expat Podcast x The Pink Tarha

We just looove how much social media is starting to uplift the image of Saudi Arabia over the last year, and recently, a new duo has come around the information block, slowly establishing themselves as one of the (if not the only) pioneer podcasts that talks about expats in Riyadh and life in the city in general. Everyone, say hello to Grant and Amanda Wilson -- the brains and voices behind the Saudi Expat Podcast. 

For the uninitiated, podcasts are downloadable digital media usually composed of audio/video which is broadcast on a periodical basis. They actually took the world by storm when the early iPods came out and has now been a steady refuge for those with a passion for the good ol' days of radio broadcasting and even, audio learning. Nowadays, podcasts can also be downloaded and listened to in Android phones. 

Now, the inventive idea of this American husband-and-wife couple was to tie up their love of talk with their new life together here and helping others learn about Saudi Arabia as well through the power of a podcast. As they wanted to broaden the scope of their episodes, they later on chanced upon The Pink Tarha blog and asked us if we can do a podcast with them.

Leave it to Sundrenched to be the shy type and Shoegarfreeruby to be the dutiful wife, Sampaguita Pride and I, being the Toastmasters from the group, were sent for the assignment of meeting Grant and Amanda for the podcast recording. We then arrived to their far-flung compound to find a fancy set-up of their "studio" right in the middle of their dining area. It looked fairly professional with all the gadgets and electronics involved so we knew from there that these two were serious about engineering a podcast. 

Before starting, we got to know Grant and Amanda a little better. Grant is a photography enthusiast and an auto drifting aficionado (he's modified a couple of powerful cars himself and a regular judge for the Saudi Drift Racing Championship) while Amanda, who is actually half-Filipina, is currently new in Saudi Arabia and has taken on a liking to home-baking (much to Grant's benefit, hehe). 

An hour later, armed with pizza, cupcakes and a list of guide questions, our "interview" with the Saudi Expat Podcast turned into a fun, hearty and sometimes-diverted-but-gets-back-on-track conversation. And when I mentioned earlier that this couple loves to talk, that was no understatement. And, mind you, pair that up with a set of equally talkative girls (points to me and SP), then what you get is a three-hour podcast. Yes, you read that right, we talked on and on for almost THREE HOURS! Time sure flies when you're having fun. Thus, Grant had to cut them out into three episodes. :P We managed to talk about the early beginnings of The Pink Tarha, a little about ourselves and the other Pink Tarha Ladies, various issues in and about Saudi Arabia, and plans for the blog's future activities. 

The podcast episodes came up one by one on the iTunes site and we were all excited to hear what we were like on air. If you want to hear all three episodes while you're doodling on your computer or playing Candy Crush Saga on your iPad, visit these links below: 

The Pink Tarha on Saudi Expat Podcast - Part 1

The Pink Tarha on Saudi Expat Podcast - Part 2

The Pink Tarha on Saudi Expat Podcast - Part 3

Please subscribe to their podcast via iTunes  and they also have a website that they regularly update with the recent episodes and more. Visit them at: www.saudiexpatpodcast.com. They're also looking for more contributions from you, guys! They're looking for people, businesses, restaurants, and services that can benefit the expat community to be in their podcast. So if you feel you can contribute or know of anything/anyone who would like to contribute their ideas, experiences, thoughts, and events on a podcast episode, contact Grant at saudiexpatpodcast@gmail.com. 

Again, it's just really great that another avenue is being expounded to help expats have a better idea of what Saudi Arabia is like. Thank you Grant and Amanda and we wish more power to the Saudi Expat Podcast! 

Cheers! 

The Pink Tarha Quiz

We haven't forgotten that we promised limited edition mugs in celebration of our fourth anniversary.  And because we're taking 'limited edition' literally, we can only give away 20 mugs to our readers. (Sorry about that because our funds are not exactly 'sky is the limit.' Hahaha!)

All we're asking is for you to answer this quiz bee and the first 20 persons who answer all 10 questions correctly will get the mug (one mug for each person only). Simple? YES! Hahah! The mugs, being limited edition, are not for sale. (Well, come to think of it, we haven't sold mugs like ever. :P)

This quiz bee is also like a 'walk down memory lane' for us. If you've been reading The Pink Tarha since our beginning then it's joining us in this trip. If you're new to our blog, then you're invited as well. Good luck and happy searching for answers! ;)

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING! We super appreciate it!

*** Original no. 7 question is "What is the first and only restaurant that Shoegarfreeruby reviewed/wrote about?" You can answer the original question OR the question posted in the questionnaire now: "What is the name of Shoegarfreeruby's dog?" Answer to either of the two is accepted. :)

This 'contest' is open to all but if you're outside Riyadh, getting the mug is your responsibility. Hehe. Sorry!

Update: Winners are already contacted on how they can claim their prize. If you think you should own a Pink Tarha mug, email us at thepinktarha@gmail.com and tell us why and who knows? We might give you one! We're feeling pretty generous. ;)

Online Since 2009

Today, The Pink Tarha turns FOUR.

January 24, 2009... we published our first entry in thepinktarha.blogspot.com. 434 entries later, we're still here. The Pink Tarha ladies have grown with the blog over the years. We've discovered a lot more about ourselves and have changed for the better. 

If you noticed the lack of posts for January, it's because we're thinking of entries that would start 2013 right. There's no restaurant review, how-to guide, or fashion update that seem worth the 'first entry of 2013' tag. This anniversary entry seems worth it. So from this day forward, expect updates and entries. Ehermn. ;)

Here's how we spent today:

Celebrating fab FOUR years! Sundrenched, Shoegarfreeruby, Eyecandy, and Sampaguita Pride

Our ever supportive friends! Thank you, ate Grace, Jou, and ate Jennie! We looove you!

A simple picnic on a 'Pink Tarha morning'

Cake pops from Cielo's Sweet Treats in pretty pink and white, yey!

So our cake isn't pink... but it's yummy! :P

Allow us a moment of gratitude... Behind The Pink Tarha are the people behind The Pink Tarha ladies. We'd like to thank our families for being supportive. For always telling us to look behind our back (in case we're being checked by the MOI or the religious police, hehe!) and for encouraging us to write more. We'd like to thank our friends who make us simply happy every day and who accompany us in our retail therapies. To Maryhadalittlehump who started this blog with us... we miss you and we pray the best for you, M! :) A special mention to our boss who believed in us when we told him we're starting a blog (and after, he scared us by saying that the muttawa might read our blog, hehe!) and who now believes we have a brand. To the people behind brands and companies who are very supportive of our events and other endeavors.

And to you, our dear readers, we can never thank you enough for the support and LOVE you've showered the The Pink Tarha over the years. In our fifth year online, we hope you're still there to support and help us grow in and out of the Net world.

Here's to more years of painting Riyadh (and beyond) pink! CHEERS!

THE PINK TARHA LOVES YOU!!! 

Now, we end this entry with the first line we write in our first ever entry because it still holds true for us, four years later: Life in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia isn't that bad. In fact, we happen to cherish it! ! :)

PS. We will be announcing the mechanics of how you can get a limited edition mug (naks!) in the next couple of days. Stay tuned! ;)

A Date with The Pink Tarha

Hello, lovelies! We celebrated The Pink Tarha's third anniversary last January 24. We actually kind of forgot (eeeep!) that's why the girls and I didn't have a proper celebration. No dinner. No clinking of (Saudi) champagne bottles. No fireworks. Echos, parang meron naman noon (as if there were before). 

So anyway, we'd like you to celebrate with us! We're treating one of you to a dinner at The Noodle House, one of our favorite restaurants in the city. 

We know we offered this before when we were chairing the Where The Heart Is Photo Contest. However, we didn't get to pick a 'liker' because we became busy with work, with extracurricular activities, and with vacation. So, we're amping up our prize this time. We'll really treat you nicely and bongga-ciously! :P But due to some limitations, this is available to LADIES WHO ARE LIVING IN RIYADH ONLY. Please take note of this as this is really important. We don't want to send a different message especially in using the words "dinner DATE". This is an all-girl date. Okay? (FTR, we are not a dating site, haha!) 

So, here's what you have to do:

STEP 1. Visit The Pink Tarha's Facebook page.
STEP 2. If you're still not a fan, please like our page. 

For those who are already fans, proceed to step 3.

STEP 3. LIKE this photo.

And that's it! Easy peasy! All you have to do is LIKE this PHOTO! 

LIKE!

We'll choose ONE winner (from among the likers) by using an online random raffle generator. Or, we'll write all the names of the likers in pieces of folded paper and pick from there. Don't worry, for transparency and honesty, we'll show you how the winner is chosen. We'll choose the winner on 12:00PM (KSA time), February 14, 2012. So you have all the time to 'like' from today until Feb 14. :) The dinner will happen on a date and time we'll agree upon so we can accommodate everyone's schedule. If you're our personal friend (as in we/one of us know you), you can join. :)

Again, ONLY LADIES WHO ARE LIVING IN RIYADH CAN JOIN. If you have any questions, just comment here.

Don't worry, ladies, we don't bite. Haha. We'll have fun! :)

Eyecandy Day!

Today is October 5, guess who just turned a year older, wiser and prettier? None other than the Queen of food, fashion and eloquence, EYECANDY!

E, sans make-up... still beautiful.

She was my first friend in Saudi Arabia. We met 18 years ago in grade school. At an early age, Eyecandy loved to meet people and make new friends. Perhaps a tell tale sign of her PR-savvy skills later in life. 

Who says she looks like a guy? Shame on you! :P

Eyecandy is a wonderful friend, a loving daughter, a caring sister, a great mentor, a patient and hardworking colleague and most importantly, a beautiful person with a big heart.

She may not be perfect but she makes every day as perfect as can be, not just for herself but for the people she cares about.

E, thank you for being your fabulous self! We love you!  

Ready to face the world, always!

Happy Birthday, Eyecandy!

Double Celebration

We're having a double celebration today as we celebrate Sampaguita Pride's birthday and Father's Day! (Okay, triple na since birthday din ni Jose Rizal (the Philippines' national hero)! :D

As you all know, our newest member Sampaguita Pride is this blog's DIY Queen. She does not only act on things she's set on doing but she find ways, sometimes going as far as being eco-friendly and organic, to do them. Behind the beautiful face is a more beautiful personality that had us at first sight... she is a welcome fit to The Pink Tarha!

For the hard work and patience in your studies and career, for the gift of hope you share with the kids in your advocacy, for the care and love you shower your family and friends... we're proud of you, P! Thank you for being a part of this blog, and our lives. ^_^

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sampaguita Pride!

And since you're on your vacation in the Philippines, we're expecting a birthday feast when you get back. Lol!

Of course, today is father's day too. So to all fathers out there, including the men who serve as the pillars of The Pink Tarha's lives...

HAPPY, HAPPY

FATHER'S

DAY!

For Shoegarfreeruby and I (the remaining Pink Tarhas in Riyadh because E and P are on their vacation in Manila), we consider ourselves our fathers' daughters... in all the sense of that phrase. And this quote has always been true:

"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself."  And their "guiding hand will remain forever in our hearts." 

To our fathers, we love you! :)

Pink Packs A Punch

An Editor's Note

Over two years of writing in the blog and we've been thinking the Pink Tarha has defined us, turning a spotlight into our otherwise lull, boring lives in the desert. We're doing things for the blog, always for the blog. But in doing things for the blog, we  are improving ourselves too. We transformed from being just the kikay girls into ladies of action: women who are always up for a challenge, show strength and grace under pressure, and cast a new light (and raise an eyebrow) into a supposedly men's world. Now, we already pack a punch!

But if you think we're just the Pink Tarhas around, think again. If you are a woman thriving in the heat of the desert sand, meeting the stares of strangers with dignity, and standing up for what you believe in, you are a Pink Tarha!

And welcome to our newly transformed blog.

Dear readers, we shed the old skin and acquire a new one as the Pink Tarha enters its third year in the online world. This year, the Pink Tarha is edgier and fiercer as we campaign for women empowerment. WITH.A.PASSION. We're still kikay to a tee though so don't fret. It's still us, only better. (And men, don't worry. You're still welcome in OUR world, haha!)

Okay, before we go on explaining about the design, we're sure the photograph in our sidebar is the first one that caught your eye. In particular, that new face with chinita eyes. Who is she? You see dear readers, our lay-out and design are not the only changes in our blog. We also have a new member. However, the Pink Tarha Ladies did not go from four to five. We remain four because our resident funny, pretty girl Maryhadalittlehump excused herself for a hiatus to concentrate on her family and career (we miss you, M!). She's passing her pink tarha to another beautiful and smart lady, Sampaguita Pride (P). You'll get to know more of P on the next entry. Or you can check her profile in the new About The Ladies page, along with the profile of the other ladies. We added some nifty, personal facts so you get to know us better.

The new Pink Tarha (L-R): S, R, E, and P

Onto the design and lay-out... we're using 2011's color of the year, honeysuckle. Is it a pink or a what? It will definitely make you wonder. It's different from the usual hot pink, bordering on fuschia, color that we use. It's a little bit dainty and easier on the eyes. We've re-arranged the elements of the blog and we hope you don't get dizzy and lost on the renovation. Just click on every button and tab you see and hopefully, you'll like where it'll lead you. Tell us what you think and we will have to nudge-nudge the most patient code guy ever, AJ, to make adjustments. We're still ironing some kinks so please be patient with us as well.

We added three new categories: People + Features which will talk about Filipino clubs and organizations in Riyadh, Campaigns + Wellness which will help you improve your over-all well-being, whether it involves helping worthy causes or exercising. (We hope after reading our craziness in the blog for 2 years, you'll still believe in our pieces of advice.) And lastly, Health + Beauty which is just the English version of "magmamaganda tayo, baket ba?!" :)

...at nagmaganda nga! LOL!

Don't worry, we won't bombard you with our photos from now on. Just this one (and a few scattered over the year) because it's a special day. Speaking of the photos, we stressed AJ to put a "polaroid" effect because we're currently hooked with Instax Mini (we'll tell you about this later). We have a lot more of stuff in store for you but we're keeping the metamorphosis to a limit for now. We don't want to raise blood pressures, do we? There are more edits to be done. Oh well, this blog is a work in progress! (Yan naman ang excuse!)

We promise to blog every day more than we blogged last year. To read is to believe so we'll just shut up and get to typing. We hope to bring more inspiration and cheer in your day through our entries. Please don't forget to connect with us through our social media sites: Facebook (we alert you for sales faster there), Twitter (random what-are-you-doing? phrases), and RSS feed (subscribe na!).

Again, we would like to thank each and everyone of you who continuously read our blog.  Thank you, dear readers, for inspiring us to write. Thank you, AJ Sultan, our go-to HTML/CSS guy who made the re-design and re-layout possible. (Pwede kang mag-eat-all-you-can sa Noodle House care of Eyecandy, lol!) Thank you everyone!

Let's raise our non-alcoholic champagnes and bloody marys to a toast for brighter, pink-ier years ahead! CHEERS!

We're not done, we've only just began... again!

Lovelots,
Sundrenched, EIC

PS. P's introduction entry is coming up! Also a fashion/style post featuring what we wore to the shoot of our blog's new photographs.

The Big 3-OH!

One of the Pink Tarha ladies is finally graduating from her twenties today!

We kick off the New Year with a banging birthday greeting to our resident, superduperultramega SHOE FANATIC and timid yet eccentric, all-around fashionista, Shoegarfreeruby!

And not only that, she's the first one to step in the shoes (so to speak) of the dreaded 30's. But leave it to a positive Pink Tarha lady to look on the bright side of things. She is welcoming the next 10, 20, and even 40 years ahead with open arms and more fuel than ever by saying on her FB status to "..Bring it on!"

R with her smart companion, Betchay.

Out and about in one of her travels this year to Dubai. Now who would say she's a day over 30!?

We're throwing this one in for S, who we miss dearly! (You missed the foodfest!)

To our "ate" (haha), HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And thank you for the wisdom and beauty that you share with us and the whole sisterhood of The Pink Tarha.

We LOVE you!

Enjoy the 3-OH! ;)

Season's Greetings!

This is perhaps a late, yet still, a heartfelt message from The Pink Tarha...

Share the gift of TIME. The gift of SERVICE. And the gift of LOVE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

A Letter From E

Dear Pink Tarha readers,

Hello all! How are you this cold, yet festive holiday season? :)

It's me Eyecandy holding the fort for the rest of The Pink Tarha Ladies. S is enjoying the of Quirino Highway as we speak, whilst R and M are quite preoccupied with their work and families. I, too, am juggling several activities with my two bare hands, however thanks to the recent (hyper)activity on our Facebook page, I was reminded that we have a blog with a steady following, and it would not do the readers justice to just stop writing about the beauty and wonders of living in Riyadh.

Having said that, please bear with me for the next month and a half as I try to uphold some Pink Tarha blog lovin.'

Meanwhile, in behalf of The Pink Tarha ladies, I would like to congratulate the recently concluded PEBA 2010 Awards Ceremonies. I personally watched it live via Ustream and we applaud all the efforts contributed by all bloggers and blog-lovers worldwide! Ain't that amazing?

So stay tuned dear readers as I churn my creative juices...


xoxo,
E

Got Eyecandy?

We sure do!

Eyecandy celebrates her 25th birthday today! (Don't tell her we told you her age!)

Now a baby lady woman!

Our resident fun, fearless PR manager is currently busy with her Toastmaster's Club and sidelines that's why you haven't heard from her lately. You'll see her in the hallways, roads, and events these days garbed in her block colored clothes, chunky eye-popping necklaces, and statement shoes. Still fasyon even if she's stressed out to the max. And she still can manage to squeeze in a little bit of shopping despite looming deadlines. It's all good because all those activities are part of her successful stab at life.

Oh, did we mention she likes taking pictures in her MAC Photo Booth in the morning? Yes, she does.

See, told you.

Her wishes right now is to throw a bonggang-bonggang birthday party and get a blue passport. We sure can help her with the first one as we girls are known to throw exclusive and themed birthday bashes in town. (Okay, just our and our friends' parties, hehe!). As for the second wish, we're still looking for a blue dye to help in the coloring portion. :P

Happy Birthday, EYECANDY!

Presents Time

The Pink Tarha ladies received gifts yesterday.

What are these?

It was so unexpected that Shoegarfreeruby and Sundrenched who were present at the gift-giving ceremony moment eyed the small boxes as, well, small boxes, like afterthought freebies of some sort, until they were opened. Mary threatened to return the box pronto after a friend joked that it was given by a secret admirer. Eyecandy, who was on leave, did not know what was happening so she hurried to the office after reading the Pink Tarha's FB status.

Will you... what?

No, they're not proposals for four. They're gifts from our biggest fan and supporter (and benefactor, hahaha)... our big boss, our "KUYA!" (Yes, as in literally boss in the office.) He gave us... tsaraaan!

The new Ipod Shuffle in vibrant pink!

With special engraving to boot.

He said this is for the good feedback and reviews the blog has been getting. This is also for our past, present, and future birthdays. LOL. (We're actually wishing for the Ipad next year, hehe!) We're tickled pink. :P

For us, this is a huge motivation and inspiration to go back to writing and blogging more often. No more excuses to not update the blog. Diba, Pink Tarhas?! ;)

Thank you very much, Kuya!