Unpacking: February

The month that sets the tone.

It’s the month of love, and thankfully, February has been a bit more exciting than January - it’s felt like a bit of a whirlwind. Obviously, it’s a much shorter month, so in all honesty, I feel like I’ve been trying to keep up.

Why does February always feel like it’s preparing you for the rest of the year? Like it’s almost giving you a rough idea of what this year will be about. January seems to be the month of good intentions - you set your goals, think about how you’d like to approach the year and kind of reinvent yourself (or at least hope to). But February seems to be when you get a real idea of what it’s actually going to be like. The good intentions set in January are either on their way out the door in February, or you’re one of few who stick to them.

Am I one of those few sticking to my intentions? I’m happy to tell you I am. I’m also really happy with how many of you loved my Unpacking: January. It was such a pleasant surprise because, in all honesty, I didn’t know what people would think. I thought it would just be another newsletter I write, hoping it resonates with people. But it seems it did - so let’s get this started…

I wanted this month to be the one where I actually got started on some of my vision board goals. Because when you put a vision board together, it suddenly makes the year feel very short - like there’s not enough time to get everything done! I just want to make it clear that I’m not delusional - I didn’t create a vision board thinking all my goals would magically come to life just by looking at it every morning. But I have realized that it’s a good reminder of what I’m aiming for.

Have you ever had things you wanted to achieve throughout the year, only to lose track of what and why? That’s where the vision board has helped me. Whenever I take a moment to look at it, it brings me back on track. Some goals are already underway, some I haven’t even started yet. Honestly, some of them will probably have to roll over to next year’s board…and I’m okay with that.

One of my goals this month was to clean up my diet - okay, technically that was a January goal, but I made excuses, and here we are. It’s easier said than done - another excuse.

Waking up earlier was another little goal of mine. Ever since my trip to London in January, I’ve been waking up anywhere between 7.30-8.30am (my usual routine was around 7am). Did I manage to change this? You’d be surprised… because I was.

I had my blood work done - and it turns out I have (in my doctor’s words) alarmingly high cholesterol. The bad kind. So now I’m on a health kick by cutting out all ultra-processed foods and added sugar. It’s definitely not as easy as it sounds. Would I rather be sipping on a diet 7Up and planning what takeout to order tonight? I’d be lying if I said no. But when my doctor told me that my cholesterol is alarmingly high, she kind of put the fear of god into me. So much so that I’m also focusing on putting goodness into my body - it’s no longer just about trying to lose weight, it’s also about feeling clean and looking after myself. So here we are. I guess this is the start of something new.

A while back, Bobby introduced me to the spicy tuna sandwich at Joe & the Juice, and I loved it. Less than 500 calories and it also helps that I love a tuna melt. Seeing as I’m taking this health kick pretty seriously now, I went back for the Stress Down smoothie - apples, strawberries, and ginger. Can you even get any cleaner than that?

The unplanned trip to London last month meant most of this month has been about catching up on all the work we fell behind on. It also meant turning down some great events - another thing I’ve been working on. For me, 2024 was the year of setting boundaries, which meant embracing saying no. It felt great and I’m so glad I did it. But after a well - deserved break from the limelight last year, I’m feeling re-energized and ready to say yes. Whoever this new me is, I’m loving her at the moment.

I was on a winning streak of saying yes to events…until I caught a cold. And suddenly, I was stuck at home - what I did surprisingly learn, was that I actually missed it. The old me would have loved that I had a valid excuse to stay home and miss an event. And even though I’m definitely the girl who feels sorry for herself when she’s unwell, I soldiered through and stuck to my clean eating. I can’t help but wonder what changes this new healthy lifestyle will bring. What I do know is I can’t wait.

What I did manage to attend was the Sephora PR event. It wasn’t as big as it usually is but I quite liked how intimate it was. There were a few new brands that have launched in UAE and some I hadn’t heard of, so it will be interesting trying out new products. The goodie bag was to die for - as usual. Full of new and iconic products!

Valentines Day has become pretty chill over the years for us - Bobby and I have been married for just over 11 years and although our love for one another has only grown stronger, we’ve also both mellowed out a lot more. We love our evenings in…with Nico!

I much prefer a lunch date with Bobby rather than an evening date. We go a bit crazy and throw in an evening date now and again - but honestly? We love an early night and an early start. So this Valentines, it was a day out shopping (this just makes me happy), a lunch date and a cute evening in with a movie, popcorn and blanket….and it was exactly what I needed.

My cousin (technically my uncle) organizes Taste of Dubai every year - as he lives in London it’s a great way for us to show some support but also enjoy some of the food from places Bobby and I have been meaning to go and try out but never got around to. For some reason, I felt incredibly socially drained after the day - not sure if it was the heat, but both Bobby and I felt exhausted by the end.

The last week of February my Sister and brother-in-law flew in from London. Thankfully they visit Dubai quite often, which means we get to spend time catching up, trying new restaurants and playing Padel. They’re still here as I’m writing this - we always have so much fun - especially since my brother-in-law is Bobby’s first cousin! It’s a win win for us both - I get to spend time with my sister and he gets to spend time with his cousin who, to be honest, is more of a brother to him.

I can’t help but think about how crazy it is that I grew up in a house full of siblings, and then one day, we all went our separate ways. It’s such a weird thing - growing up together, sharing everything from food to fights, and then suddenly, we each find a stranger to build a life with and go off to do our own thing. In my case - in a different country.

Obviously, Bobby is no stranger to me - he’s far from it. But it’s wild to think that somehow, out of all the people in this world, I found him. I mean, yes… I found the wrong one first (we don’t talk about him), but thankfully, I got it right when I met Bobby. And that’s the thing about life - you think you have it all figured out or that its all falling apart, only to realize the universe had a better plan all along.

I’m glad I stuck to eating clean all month. It may not sound like much, but for me, it’s a huge deal. My pattern for so long was eating clean Monday to Friday, only to go all out on the weekends. Sounds oddly similar to binging, doesn’t it? So you can imagine how happy I am that I managed a whole month (even if it was the shortest month).

And while we’re on the topic of unexpected changes - who would have thought I’d be up at 6am every day? Me? Waking up before my husband on some days? If you told me this a few months ago, I would have laughed. Bobby has been an early bird from the moment I met him - he’s up at 5am and out the door for his cycling by 5.30am - it gets even earlier during summer!

He’s been telling me for so long that I should try starting my day earlier….obviously I didn’t listen. But honestly, I get it now. There’s something about those quiet early hours that feels… different. Peaceful. Like I’m one step ahead of the world before the chaos kicks in. It’s not just about waking up early - it’s about how much more in control I feel of my day. And weirdly? I love it.

I’ve started a new Art piece this month. It’s not finished yet - I usually do it bit by bit when I know I can really spend some quality time on it. I’m pretty excited about this one. It’s less about paint and more about structure and design. Hopefully I’ll have it ready soon!

• Aligne Tasmin Quilted Jacket - My first time buying from Aligne and I love the quality! This jacket is the perfect inbetween jacket - when the weather isn’t cold or hot.

• Aligne Ida Elasticated Waist Jeans - These are wider than I thought but so comfortable on! When I opened it up I genuinely thought I’d be returning them but after trying them, they feel so comfy with a soft denim finish.

• Aligne Moto Collarless Denim Jacket - Even though I kept this, I would of liked it to be a bit more oversized (I got the biggest size). It isn’t too small, fits nicely but may be a bit snug over a jumper.

• Maison Eli Espresso Suede Carry All Bag - I’ve been trying to find an oversized brown suede bag for so long and finally found this one. I hate the whole return process when ordering things online so I took my time deciding on whether to go for this. It’s not just about finding a good brown suede bag - it’s about finding the right shade of brown. This is such a beautiful bag - so happy I bought it. I even asked them for a discount code for you: NINA15

• UGG New Heights Clogs - These were never on my wish list…so a bit of a spur of the moment purchase for me. I’ve been looking for a super comfortable pair of shoes to wear with jeans and casual pants…for a while I did consider the UGG Tasman shoes, but I thought they looked a bit too casual. I was shopping in Level Shoes and saw a woman trying the UGG new heights clogs and they looked so good with jeans. Tried them on and I was sold. I’m officially an UGG girl. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing…but who cares.

• Saint Laurent Tote Bag - I bought the beige fleece tote bag from Saint Laurent last year and it’s been great for carrying my laptop around. I thought I’d treat myself to the leopard version (in cotton) and I love it. It’s slightly bigger than the fleece tote and the handles are longer too, meaning it’s easier to carry on your shoulder.

• The Housemaid Book - So many people recommended this as part of my 2025 book challenge so I’m trusting you guys! I hope it keeps me hooked!

• The Frankie Shop Gelso shirt - I’ve decided to replace some basic pieces in my wardrobe, starting with a good black shirt. I have no idea what it’s like because this and the below two are still on the way to me - fingers crossed I love all three!

• The Frankie Shop Merida Brown Suede Blazer - I was toying for quite a while between this and the Peoria suede blazer. Weirdly, I could only see pictures of people who bought the Peoria blazer and no one who had bought the Merida blazer. So what did I do? I bought the Merida blazer. Let’s wait and see.

• The Frankie Shop Girona Open Back Blazer - There’s only a subtle difference in this blazer and a basic blazer, which is the slit on the back side. I quite liked the look of it and am hoping it doesn’t disappoint!

You know that feeling when you’ve been thinking of a purchase for far too long, so you know you clearly want it, but then you eventually see it, feel it and try it…all to be totally disapointed and deflated. Well thats exactly what happened with what I thought were my dream shoes.

The Alaia mesh ballet flats have been on my mind for far longer than they should have. What a waste of excitement and build up. For so long the Alaia store didn’t have the black in my size in stock - I didn’t want to try a different color, I wanted the black. Finally, on my most recent visit, they had them! I excitedly tried them on only to feel like I was walking bare foot. The extra cushiony carpet in store even makes them feel more comfortable than they are.

I walked over to the hard floor area and I may as well have been walking bare foot. This may be my age speaking, but I could not believe I was ready to spend $890 on a pair of shoes that didn’t even feel a little comfortable. Did they look good on? They looked cute, but I’m not sure they even suited me. I’m just so glad I didn’t go for them.

This is a weird one - I really want the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. I can’t help but feel overly excited by these. I’ve done my research and they sound so good…plus they look good. I think I’d go for the wayfarer frames with transition lenses that go from clear to dark. Imagine how easy it would be to live in the moment and create content?

Every six months or so, my nails become horrendously weak and start splitting - probably from the gel manicures I get done every two weeks. Okay, not probably - it’s definitely from the gel. So, I usually end up giving them a break for a few weeks, only to go right back to getting gels again.

Right now, I’m at the letting them air stage (as I like to call it). I love the feeling of having them bare, but I hate that they keep splitting. Every time I run my fingers through my hair a strand gets caught in a split. So, I’ve decided I’m going to stick to bare nails for as long as possible and hopefully not give in. Let’s see how long that lasts.

A few weeks ago, I had my Botox appointment. I’d originally booked a Hydrafacial to get done just before, but the second Dr. Mansi saw me, she knew I was struggling with hormonal acne around my jawline (it was that bad). She swapped my Hydrafacial for an Aerolase treatment. I had never heard of it before, but I trust Dr. Mansi with my entire face - so I lay down on the dermatologist bed, no questions asked.

What was this sorcery? The second she handed me a mirror, I gasped. I’m not exaggerating. My skin looked so clear, my open pores looked tiny, and my skin was so even. My first question? When can I do this again? A month. I immediately booked my next session.

After that, I had my Botox done. I only get it around my crow’s feet and forehead, but this time, I also had masseter Botox - great for slimming the lower face and even better for teeth grinding, which I definitely struggle with. I don’t get filler anymore - I hate how it makes people look puffy and unnatural. It’s been two years since I’ve had any filler, and honestly? I’m better off for it.

• MAC Lip liner in Cool Spice - So glad they’ve launched cool versions of the OG shades. I really hope they do this for the others.

• MAC Lipstick in Cool Teddy - A little cooler and a little lighter than the OG Teddy shade. If only they could make it a little brighter.

• Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Papaya Pop - Not too sure if this is actually plumping, but it’s definitely a dewy veil of color. I love the Papaya Pop shade, it’s a vibrant coral shade that can easily be layered for more pigment.

• MAC Studio Radiance foundation - This isn’t exactly new, but I’ve only just fallen in love with it. I’ve had it since it launched, tried it since it launched, but only recently have I committed to it. It gives the skin such a beautiful glow - one that doesn’t look greasy or enhance flaws like acne scarring or open pores.

Remember my rant about how long The Frankie Shop takes to deliver? Well the Jolene semi sheer brown shirt arrived immediately after I trashed talked the delivery 👀 in Unpacking January. Turns out they’ve upgraded to DHL which gives me one less reason to not shop at there.

I’m guilty of having way too many pairs of jeans in different sizes. I’m that person who keeps the smaller size just in case I lose weight and the bigger size just in case I gain weight - but somehow, there’s never anything in between…so I rarely wear them. My jeans situation is a nightmare.

Knowing how bad I am with jeans, I’ve at least been sensible enough not to splurge on too many expensive pairs. I do have two that were a bit of a splurge - my Loewe jeans (which, weirdly, seem to fit me at any size… not sure if I’m making them fit) and The Frankie Shop jeans, which aren’t exactly super expensive but definitely a step up from Zara.

I’m hoping that once I’ve lost a bit more weight, I can finally take a day to clear out my wardrobe and reevaluate what I actually need.

• Bear grills - I wasn’t sure about this at the beginning but after a couple of episodes I was invested. It’s a British reality show so if you’re not British then you may not know who the celebs are - to be honest, I haven’t lived there in so long so even I didn’t know who most of them were. I’m still not convinced on how real it is….but I’m enjoying it.

• Love Island - Ok…do we even have time to dive into this? I have so much to say about this All Stars season. Ekin did what she did in her first season - she acts at the beginning and halfway through she reverts to what she’s really like. Either way, shes iconic. The mean girl behavior from Elma was on another level. I was actually shocked at how vile someone can be towards people. I can’t believe this girl made it to the final. How that was acceptable to the producers - I don’t know. Don’t even get me started on Liv. I was rooting for Ekin and Curtis to win but I also wouldn’t have minded if Luca and Grace won. I can’t believe I watch this trash tv but I’m here for it.

I’ve been living in my sweats this month - only at home thank god. The more comfortable I get wearing sweats, the more uncomfortable I feel in anything other than sweats. I can’t help but wonder how some people live in jeans at home. I couldn’t think of anything more uncomfortable. I kind of liken it to how it must feel to wear wet clothes indoors. I do find the fact I find anything but sweats comfortable a problem - have you ever felt so uncomfortable in certain clothes that you just can’t relax? That’s me.

The sweats in question? Zara straight leg plush trousers and hoodie. Oh, and nothing beats an oversized t-shirt with the odd hole to remind you how sentimental it really is. I’m putting the feeling of being uncomfortable down to weight. Up until my mid 30’s I’d always been a UK size 8-10 (US 6-8), then all of a sudden, I could no longer eat anything I wanted and not have to worry. I could have worried…but clearly I didn’t. Since being heavier than I’m used to, everything feels uncomfortable. Heels - forget it. Tight clothes - no thanks. Tucked in shirts - definitely not.

This is one of the reasons - other than a more important reason such as my cholesterol - that I’m on a journey to shed the weight - hopefully I can feel comfortable in my clothes again.

My book of the month was Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, and honestly? I wanted to love it. The topics were interesting - negotiation tactics, psychological insights, all the good stuff - but for some reason, it just didn’t hook me. I found myself zoning out, flipping through pages without actually taking much in, and kind of just waiting for it to be over. Maybe it’s because I prefer books with more of a storytelling element, or maybe it’s just not my thing - but either way, I don’t think I’ll be raving about this one.

This month, my mood has been so good - I’ve had so much energy, which I’m guessing is down to eating clean. It’s actually wild how much of a difference it makes to how you feel. Apart from feeling proud that you’ve managed to do it for this long, it’s how it’s made me address other areas of my life. My early morning starts have made me so much more productive. Who would’ve thought that I’d be eating clean and getting up at 6am everyday? Not me. But I’m feeling pretty good about it.

Bobby buying me roses on Valentine’s Day made me happy. I’m not the kind of person who needs flowers regularly, and I know it’s expected on Valentine’s Day, but when I do receive them, it makes me really happy. I guess it’s the fact that he went out himself and picked flowers he thought I’d love (delivery just doesn’t hit the same). So when I get them randomly - when I’m not even expecting them - it instantly brightens my mood.

February came, February went. Some things changed, some things didn’t. But one thing’s for sure…..I’ll be right here next month, overthinking it all with you again. x

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