[Men]: Hottest Boys Without Beards

And we use the term 'boys' very loosely here. Because these boys have more to offer than their bearded counterparts. They are smooth, suave and gorgeous in the honey on fresh cream way. Down right delicious!

This list is by no means exhaustive. Please add your own Boys Without Beards in the comments sections.

1. Daniel Craig
By far the most rugged Bond to date but still retaining the clean shaven look. This is how it's done gentlemen. He doesn't even care about the disportionate thickness of his lips... he's James Bond! But I suppose it is rare that such a man be born every 100 years or so.

Curves.

Yes. Please explain why you think beards are manly

2. Hugh Jackman

Although Jackman is best known and visualized as the rather hirsute Wolverine, there is no doubt that shaving does him well.Singer, dancer, model husband, entrepreneur, Wolverine and full time stunner - he's the kind of man most men should grow up to be. 

Hottie Next Door

I dare you to look away

3. Aaron Aziz

Singapore's darling Aaron Aziz is always the good guy, never the bearded guy. However, the most strikingly beautiful aspect of Aaron Aziz is perfectly caramel skin which makes him damn near ageless. Malay men do not age it seems. But he really needs to work on a new pose for pictures.

Am I 23 or 43?

Dah makan?

4.  Arjun Rampal

In any list of any kind of hot men, Arjun Rampal WILL be there. Doing South Asia proud, he is a classic brown beauty. However, the one aspect of his personality that is ignored is his beardless avatar. 

India Shining

Professor Rampal

5. Michael Fassbender

While it is not easy to explain the cold appeal of Michael Fassbender, most of us who do have a taste for him understand how hot the steely cold stares are.

Yes.

Hottest Grinch ever!

Honorable Mention: Tom Hiddleston

Because only Loki could make you fall in love in 20 seconds. 10 for me.

This blog post is partially inspired by the conversations about clean shaven vs bearded men at the premiere of the latest James Bond movie 'Spectre' hosted by Gillette Pakistan. Some of my friends even got their own Bond makeover. Check out the details here.

[Event] Sweet Touch Bridal Shower

Remember when I could not stop Instagramming pictures from the Sweet Touch Bridal Shower for Sana Sultan? Yeah, I am still not over it. Everything was pretty in pink, so thoughtfully put together... not just a brand handing out their product for free... but making the experience all about the bride to be - giving her and her bridesmaids a complete makeover, presents, a beautiful venue and decor and so much more! It is this kind of engagement that builds a relationship with a brand.

It was a beautiful day at Orrery. The decor was detailed yet understated. The only thing more beautiful that day was the bride herself!

Makeover under the watchful eye of the Chief Bridesmaid

                                

Presents for everyone! Yayy!

I wonder what kind of advice the bride really got *teehee*

Such a happy bridesmaid!

But first, lemme take a selfie

Is that Umair Mirza?

Isn't she lovely.

Blogstars - Amber and Umair

Too pretty to be touched!

Here's wishing Sana lots of love, joy, happiness, never putting on a pound regardless of how much cake she eats, always looking good and every shade of lipstick in the Sweet Touch collection!

[Contest] Win a winter outfit from Shamraf's

I wasn't kidding when I said I had lots and lots of giveaways lined up this winter. Last week we started with an original CD from New York indie band Grace McLean and Them Apples and this week it's something closer to home...

I have a winter outfit from Shamraf's to give to one lucky lady. Or gent.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Join Shamraf on:
www.facebook.com/shamrafs
www.twitter.com/shamrafs
www.instagram.com/shamrafs

2. Join me on:
www.facebook.com/sundusrasheed
www.twitter.com/sundusrasheed
www.instagram.com/sundusrasheed

3. Go to my Facebook or Instagram page and comment on the Shamraf giveaway post. You must tell me who is the one person you would give this outfit too and tag that person in the comment. And don't forget to share and regram the image too! Use the hashtag #SundusGives so I can keep track of all the entries.

4. Wait for me to announce the winner.

Let's go!

[Contest] 'Tis The Season

Hey hey hey....
The year is almost ending and while it may or may not have been a good 2015, there is still time to make it better.

And the easiest way to make oneself feel better is to score some freebies. Starting today the 15th of November until the end of 2015, I will be giving away lots and lots of goodies on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Just follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @sundusrasheed and like my page www.facebook.com/sundusrasheed.

In my treasure trove, I have:

Jewellery
Make Up
Apparel
Food Vouchers
And much more!

Let your friends know! Share the spirit of giving!

[Contest] She Said Yes!

No, no I am not getting married to a woman! 'She Said Yes' is the latest campaign by Sweet Touch England as a 'sweet' gesture for one lucky bride to be to indulge herself and her guests in a luxurious bridal shower - absolutely free!


Having put together many such giveaway campaigns in my previous life, I can safely say there is nothing more satisfying than making someone's dream come alive - whether that involved a new fridge, a trip to see the F1 or just a copy of the latest best seller - combine that with wedding dreams and woah! We have a big case of happiness on our hands.

So here's how we do this:

Go to the registration app on the Sweet Touch England Facebook page and register!
(Make sure you do this from a computer, and not your phone)

Simple enough right?

Here's what the blushing bride gets:

• Makeover for the bride and her bridesmaids
• Custom invites for the guests
• Decadent hi-tea spread for the guests
• An essential bridal shower cake
• Games and gifts for the guests
• A photo and video session to document the day
• 
  

Now that's a pretty sweet deal.... Makes me wish I was getting married. Share this with friends who are getting married and make one girl's dreams come true with an all expense paid #SweetTouchBridalShower and who knows, karma may come find us soon!

For more updates follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

[Travel]: We're Dreaming Of A KL Christmas....

So finally I have been able to put together a trip to Kuala Lumpur that is not the same old boring tour operator list of '10 Things To Do in Malaysia' but one that let's you experience the city like a seasoned travelled and not a tourist. And the bonus of having ME as your guide to the city and beyond

Here goes!

Let's getaway to tropical Malaysia this Christmas! 10 days in magnificent Kuala Lumpur with day trips to Malacca and beyond! You will be exploring the temples and markets of old Kuala Lumpur, the hip night spots, budget shopping and the best of Asian cuisine. And top it all off with New Year Eve celebrations in the heart of Kuala Lumpur! All for Rs 180,000.

Includes:
Return Tickets
Malaysian Visa Fees 
Accommodation 
Airport Transfers

Entry to Tourist Attractions

City Tour of Kuala Lumpur

Day Trip Malacca City

Lots of freebie surprises along the way and a KL Kit with all your travel essentials!

You will be guided by cool, hip young folk who know the city inside out. At Have Love, Will Travel we believe in stretching our dollar as far as possible, but not comprising on comfort and quality. And we like taking the road less travelled, so do not expect the same old ’10 Things To Do in KL’ kinda tour. We will get under the skin of the city and beyond!

Contact us on www.facebook.com/havelovewilltravel2012  or havelovewilltravel2012@gmail.com for more details.

[Event]: #MagnumParty15

Did someone say chocolate party? Yep, I am SO there! Lots of decadent chocolate to be consumed and worn was on display at the Magnum Chocolate Party - a high end, dress less to dress up, lots of celebrity spotting kinda affair.

The party showcased the luxury of the Belgian chocolate dessert with chocolate inspired fashion created by some of Pakistan's most creative fashion brands - Shehla Chatoor, Nomi Ansari, Republic by Omar Farooq, Elan by Khadija Shah and Maheen Karim. Fahad Husayn and Ali Xeeshan created chocolate inspired fashion installations for the event.

Frankly, even before the show started I was blown away by the decor. Just stunning! The chocolate displays, the runway, the bar, the ceiling centerpiece were right out of a high end night club.

But the highlight of the night remained the fashion. Brown, especially chocolate brown is not a color that is frequently seen on Pakistani/Asian runways. Let's face it, brown on brown does not really work. However, some of the pieces forced me to rethink  the color brown. However, I did feel that the designers could have been more creative with their 'chocolate' inspired fashion - after all chocolate isn't *just* brown. That said, the designers covered the Magnum brand on all counts - rich and decadent.

Of course, this was also a great time to take selfies because we all looked really good *teehee*

But check this - there was an automated selfie taking mirror at the event too! Yup, a mirror that took selfies for us without the awkward stretching. Hoping to see this at more events by Creative Chaos, That said, I still managed to mess it up.

Pro-tip for the next Magnum Party - keep your eyes open, phone charged and schedule empty. The fun and games will last for a while. Oh also, great grilled chicken sandwiches! 

[Recipe]: Juicy Orange Chicken

With a five day Eid break and not much to do, I decided to return to my experimental ways in the kitchen. There were plenty of Eid goodies around the house and of course in the true tradition of desi families, the freezer was stocked sky high with meats and vegetables. I also received some juicy Eidee from Nestle Fruita Vitals - their new 'kinnow' juice. After downing two cartons of the juice, I wanted to do something fun with the remaining juice.

Juicy Orange Chicken

Here's what you need:

1 whole chicken breast - filleted into 4 pieces
1 cup Nestle Fruita Vitals kinnow juice
1 tablespoon Mexican chilli paste
1 teaspoon Garlic Paste
Salt

 


Here's how you do it:

1. I have a stash of hot Mexican peppers but a regular large 'dhegi mirch' works too. Soak the chilli pepper in hot water for a couple of hours and blend it together with one small onion and a 2 to 3 cloves to garlic. Add water for a smooth consistency.
2. Mix together a cup of Nestle Fruita Vitals kinnow juice, the chilli paste, garlic paste and salt to make a marinade.
3. Make three cuts along the width of the filleted chicken breast and pour the marinade on to the chicken.
4. Let the chicken marinate for at least a couple of hours.
5. Heat up a non stick pan and place marinated chicken breast on it. Make sure you shake off any excess marinade or it will burn immediately and discolor the chicken.
6. Once you have 'colored' the chicken to your liking turn down the flame, add a tablespoon of the marinade cover and cook for another couples of minutes.
7. Done! and Serve!

Juicy!

If any of you have an awesome idea for a kinnow cocktail to go with my recipe, share it!

[Throwback]: Khushiyan Chakh Lo

It's been a while since I came back from college. Obviously, I have settled back into the good life - help at home, Mum's cooking, no need to clean up after myself, but I do remember those days in Johor Bahru when I had cook and clean for myself. God, that was hard. But more than anything else, it was lonely at times.

Yesterday, when my sisters told me about the new Shan ad, I assumed it would be another one of those over-the-top families frying food advertisements. Maybe it had Hamza Ali Abbasi for an added flavour. But this was a refreshing concept that I instantly connected with - away from home, hungry and missing Mum. I am pretty sure most of us who have been away from home for college understood it immediately. And the emo jingle just made it even better!

What's also interesting to note is that finally a food product saw the light and decided not to make the usual fried food in an unusually luxurious setting ad. And that they decided to release it digitally as well only ensures that it reaches the right audience.

Here's to more happiness and deliciousness this Ramzan! #KhushiyanChakhLo

Celebrating the precious moments we share with our loved ones.Shan. #KhushiyanChakhLo
Posted by Shan Foods on Saturday, June 20, 2015

[Men]: Hottest Muslim Men in Power

'Twas the night before Ramzan, and a young girl's fancies turned to .... politicians...
While traditionally not seen as a desirable lot, some politicians really stand out on the strength, power, credibility and honesty of their good looks. I am not very politically inclined, but when these men talk, I watch intently.

However, this list is by no means complete. In fact, it is far from it. I am sure there are many beautiful, powerful men I have been missing. Please feel free to add any suggestions in the comments below.

Let us begin.

Khawaja Asif, Minister for Defence and Water & Power, Pakistan

Hello ladies, can I get you some water and power?

First up, someone close to home (and heart) of course. Always sharply dressed with his grey hair perfectly in place, Khawaja Asif is the fabled Pakistani beauty of romance digests - with his perfect nose and coy smile (although it's rare). I find his angry old man avatar to be the most romantic. There were some serious feelings brewing as he scolded some members of the opposition in a recent parliamentary session. Even AR Rahman agrees! *cue Khwaja mere Khwaja*

*teehee*

Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister for Youth & Sports, Malaysia

Where are you going Mr, Minister?

Equipped with the signature Malay charm, Khairy has pulses racing across the nation and beyond. From a journalist to the federal minister for youth and sports, this outspoken Asian delight is best viewed in the traditional Baju Melayu outfit. Because real men wear pink skirts and still look hot!

Keeping it ethnic

Sediq Sediqi, Spokesman for Interior Ministry, Afghanistan.

That early grey

Regardless of the fact that every other man in Kabul is drop dead gorgeous, Sediq Sediqi is just special - with this affinity for pink shirts (that match this cheeks so well), contemporary hair cut from Kabul's finest barbershop and the ability to shake his what his mama gave him during an all male 'attan' dance. Even when he was spewing hate for Pakistan, inches away from me, I kept watching. Packaging is everything. And Sediq Sediqi is a coveted package for any ministry - good looking and gracious.

Talk to me baby, scream and shout....

Omar Abdullah, Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, India

How does one say 'I love you' in Kashmiri

Now that's a Kashmir worth fighting for. That hair, that skin, those glasses - what a stunning man! Born to an English mother and Kashmiri father, Omar Abdullah deserves more pictorial evidence than the other men on this list. JUST LOOK AT HIM! India, you can keep Kashmir, just send Omar across.

Grey hair, charcoal suit, hearts on fire

Amagad! Shalwar Kameez!

Lead me oh Quaid

Once again, I urge you to add to this list of hot Muslim men in power. Ramzan Mubarak ladies and gents!