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 Pink Tarha Mornings in Jeddah, KSA

Over the weekend, this happened… 

Register here please, for a kit and a tea.

We're ready!

A different Piatto branch, a different set-up

How awesome is this option to have gelato for breakfast?! Haha!

Good morning!

It's on the little details.

The bag that contains the kit, the souvenir and the magazines.

The dining table 

The Pink Tarha, together with our sponsors, brought The Pink Tarha Mornings to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. You might be wondering why a Riyadh-focused blog would bring an event in another city that has little to do with it. Precisely our point. Jeddah needs a Pink Tarha-like blog. Or more blogs! And you know us, we love sharing! ;)

Again, why bring The Pink Tarha Mornings to Jeddah? WHY NOT? We were given a chance to do it… who are we to decline such an opportunity to meet good people in the Red Sea city? And met them we did! THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all who attended TPTM-Jeddah! We are so humbled by your presence. Some of you don't even know The Pink Tarha but you made time for us (a Friday morning at that!) to grace our event. We hope to meet you again soon. 

Have coffee! :)

What is it with us not wanting to sit in front?! Haha.

Eyecandy discussing blog writing and mobile photography

Kuya Larry discussing his idea for his future blog. ;)

Our Jeddah participants are active and so game! Thanks, y'all! :)

Thanks for coming!!! :D

It was a very interesting workshop because most of our participants were men! So cool. We didn't expect that but we're glad they weren't put off by the "girly-ness" of the event - from our kits to our souvenir bags. Haha.

The idea for this out-of-town workshop is not just a simple whim that we had. We thought it through and bless Piatto Restaurant, the official venue of The Pink Tarha Mornings - Riyadh, because they have a branch in Jeddah! (Does that mean we're looking at you now, Al Khobar?! Haha!) 

Always welcoming The Pink Tarha.

Refreshing resto; with good interiors and nice ambiance

The management and staff of Piatto has always been supportive of our endeavors and we couldn't have been more honored to have them in our event. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PIATTO! The manager, Mr. Adil Bubere, and the staff of Piatto Restaurant in Jeddah were all nice and very efficient. Thank you, guys! And my goodness, the food are all delicious! (Try their very much improved pizza and their wild chicken mushroom risotto! You won't regret it!) 

This workshop's kit

The souvenirs from Camel Corner

We were also blessed to have Camel Corner, the home of KSA souvenirs and gifts, in this leg of The Pink Tarha Mornings series. They gave us souvenirs - keychains, magnets, figurines, and coasters - to give away to our participants. Camel Corner is one store that doesn't stop amazing us; it continuously comes up with products and stuff that bears witness to our lives in the Kingdom. I would love to have a pink stuffed camel! *wink* Haha. THANK YOU, CAMEL CORNER! 

Mr. Kenji Solis of PEBA Inc.

As we said in the website of The Pink Tarha Mornings - Jeddah, this event is also being done to raise donations for the distressed OFWs in the Tent City in Jeddah. (Read about the Tent City here. An article coming up asap.) We asked assistance and help from the good people of the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards (PEBA Inc.) led by their hardworking founder, Mr. Kenji Solis. PEBA, if you remember, was the first award-giving body that gave us a trophy for being the second best OFW/expat blog in the world (at least in their side of the cyber-world). We believe in PEBA's cause and we know they have always the OFWs' best interest in their hearts. THANK YOU, PEBA INC.! Also, thanks for Sir Kenji for discussing Adsense... we learned a lot!

We would like to thank JOLLIBEE KSA (esp. to Mr. Billy Junn Tabares, marketing manager) for sponsoring the groceries which we gave to the people in the shelter inside the Philippine consulate in Jeddah. And to generous individuals who supported this cause: Mr. JULIUS ALFONSO and Ms. JOHARAH PABALATE for sponsoring the stuff we gave to the Tent City. Jou, our good friend and official photog of The Pink Tarha (naks, may ganon?! Hehe!), who is also the editorial manager of Destination Riyadh, was responsible for the copies of Destination Jeddah and Destination Riyadh. Thank you, Rumman Company, publisher of both magazines, for the free copies we gave to our participants. 

More details on the Tent City on an article we will publish in the blog soon.

Our friend Jou behind the lens.

To our friend, MS. JAMILA MAE FERNANDEZ, who didn't need to come but she did anyway for the sake of simply being our friend (such an awesome friend!)… THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ganda! Your presence made this event more meaningful to us. We would have been bored without your sunshine. Haha! To Sampaguita Pride who can't be with us because she's currently pursuing a career in the Philippines, we miss you, girl! We wish you could have been with us on this day.

To our families and friends who believe in us and encourage us to achieve greater heights in our personal and social lives… THANK YOU! WE LOVE YOU! 

Despite the fact that Nas Air cancelled our flight back to Riyadh (needless to say, we are never flying via Nas Air again… or okay, maybe not any time soon), that we met a few rude people in our stroll in Jeddah (long story!), and that we had to endure a 12-hour bus ride (which was better than we expected, really)… we are grateful beyond belief for all these blessings. We found greater happiness in making this event possible and successful and having the support of the best people in the world. We are surrounded by pure awesomeness! TYL. ~ Sundrenched

You can check out a few photos of the event in our Instagram: thepinktarha.