Wise Words

يخاطبني السفيه بكل قبح 

فأكره أن أكون له مجيبا

يزيد سفاهة فأزيد حلما

كعود زاده الإحراق طيبا

للإمام الشافعي

Luminous is an attitude

Temperley London Pre-Fall 2012

LINK LOVE

image via Pinterest

Here are some blog posts I loved!

Alaa Balkhy internship at Brownbook picture diary
Beaded button-down shirt DIY
Halloween parfait recipe - perfect for other events too!
Romantic hair chignon with a how to video - Simple & pretty!
Looking Marie Claire picture diary
To Catch a Thief movie style (starring Grace Kelly).

21.

I remember when I was in high school, I dreamed of the day I turned 21.

And now its here...

I wouldn't say I changed a lot. But I think I've become a wiser, more mature, person who knows exactly who she is and what she wants from life - I even look prettier than I did four years ago!

A better version of myself - and let's face isn't that all what we want from age.

But still, there's so much more to learn! `

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Abraham Lincoln

Social Media Revolution

Yes, it's a wonderful time to be a media student!

ربِ

كن فيكون

Toxic Waste

I have once said that some people are just toxic waste.

No one wants to be around toxic people or even to have a toxic friends. HOWEVER > In a survey by SELF magazine, 8 out of 10 people said they have endured a toxic friendship. What about you?

Do you have a toxic friend?

I think I've encountered my share of toxic people. Here's my very own guide on how to spot them.


1- Competition Crazed 
This friend seems to be always competing with you even when you don't know it. She competes for mutual friend's approval, academic/professional praise, and other people's attention. She almost never congratulates you on any job well done, and she will never share her accomplishments either - well only if she thinks they'll overshadow yours!
Most likely to say: "well if it weren't for you I would've gotten that...."
Most likely to do: Speak over you whenever you're telling people of your latest success no matter how small.



2- The Critic

Whenever you've got a new idea, this friend is the first one to tell you why and how it wouldn't work. If you talk about things you like, she's the one who's going to pin-point what is wrong with what you said. It doesn't stop there because to her everything about you is worth criticizing: hair, clothes, job, the way you talk.....  At first, you might think that she really knows better. However, with time you'll notice that no matter what you say or do she'll find faults in that. Some start doing this indirectly as a joke, others are vicious from the start.

Most likely to say:  "Oh a9lan....... [ACTUALLY]"

Most likely to do: Get annoyed (it shows) when they've got nothing to criticize or are proven wrong.

3- User Not-friendly!

She expects you to be a good friends, but doesn't expect that of herself. She might criticize you for something and expects you not be upset because as she says that's what good friends are for. Yet, come next week when she does something you criticize and she doesn't like it! She expects you to go out with her when she's free and you're not. However, next time she's busy she'll refuse to go out with you because of her "prior engagements". An extreme form of this type of friend will hang out with you when her other friends aren't available, but ditch you the moment they're there.Wake up! She's using you.

Most likely to say: "It's not that I didn't want to tell you.... but it was all very unexpected."

Most likely to do: Get mad at you for doing the same things she does.

4- Miss Green with Envy

She's the master of passive aggressiveness, especially when it's directed at you. You might say she's an extreme version of the competition crazed, but for her it's not only about the competition. She doesn't want to compete - she just wants it all for herself. She will compliment your clothes because she wants to know where you got them from. But other than that don't expect any more compliments. She often asks herself out loud: how come you get to have this or that and I don't. Believe me, it happened!

Most likely to say: "I wanted to something exactly like that! but I didn't/couldn't get it."

Most likely to do: Not tell/show you what she has been planning to do/wear/say - why? Psychologists call that projecting your own feelings upon others. This means she may genuinely believe you envy her too.

5- Gossip Girl (xoxo?)

This friends knows everything about everyone, and what she has to say isn't pretty. It's not about sharing harmless gossip, this is the kind of person who spills secrets and breaks promises. You might wonder what she says about you behind your back, because she probably is! Although past experiences and "tongue-slips" have taught you not trust her, somehow she manages to make you do!

Most likely to say: I won't tell anyone. Don't worry!!"

Most likely to do: Think who would want to know this piece of information and text them immediately. 

You might find these toxic qualities in a friend to some extent. Sometimes one or more of these can exist within one person. They are inspired by people I know and some by friends of friends I've heard about. Still this doesn't answer the question: what to do once you've spotted a toxic friend??

To be continued - How to deal with toxic waste?

Wise Words: A.A. Milne

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

- Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh 

(Author: A.A. Milne)

Inspired

I'M LOVING: Choowy Goowy

Hidden behind ice rink at The Dubai Mall is probably the place that sells the best cookies in Dubai!

Living up to its name, Choowy Goowy offers the chewiest gooiest cookies around! They've got different flavors of cookies and other desserts. I bought a kinder chocolate flavored jar of cookies, and unlike Spinneys' cookies, they don't go stale after a day! If you have the time, order the cookie dough dessert with kinder chocolate. Its kind of like fondue but instead of cake, there's cookie dough with molten chocolate underneath.

 I want another cookie jar! 

Beginnings!

Every beginning is a result of an ending. And every ending means a new beginning. 

Beginnings can be exciting, intimidating, or even familiar. That's how I felt today familiar as my senior college year began. Nevertheless beginnings always signify hope and new promises. 

FALL TV GUIDE

TV SHOWS I LOVE AND CAN'T WAIT TILL THEY'RE BACK!

Returns Monday Sept. 26 -  Blair is getting Married. Serena got an internship.
And cousin Emily isn't really cousin Emily. Can't wait to see what will happen next!

Returns Monday Sept. 19 - Castle told Beckett he loved her when she got shot by
the people who don't want her to investigate her mother's death. Suspense!

Returns Monday Sept. 19

Returns Oct. 3 - House escaped to a tropical island after he screwed things up with
Dr. Cuddy. Will the show be the same without her? 

Modern Family - Returns Sept 21

Returns Sept 13 -They've all graduated high school now (except for Adriana).
We'll see if the writers/producers are able to make the show work. 

Returns Sept 22 - McDreamy's final season with the show.
I'm curious about how they wrote the character off. Poor Mer.

Returns Sept 22

Returns Sept 22

Returns Sept 25 - Rumored to be the final season!

NEW TV SHOWS TO WATCH OUT FOR. THEY SEEM PROMISING, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A SHOW MIGHT BE CANCELED.

Starts Sept 26 - Josh Schwartz (creator) + Rachel Bilson.
This one looks extremely promising.

Last Man Standing - Starts Oct 11
Tim Allen is back with a new sitcom! I think if you liked
Home Improvement you'll like this one.

Starts Sept 13 - SMG is back! But this show is really different.
She secretly takes on the identity of her sister.
I'm not sure about it but will give it a look.

Starts Sept 20

I Hate My Teenage Daughter!
Check out its trailer. HILARIOUS,

Starts Sept 28
Reminds me of Mean Girls.

Starts Sept 15
It's a about a girl who discovers she's a witch.
Less like Sabrina, more like Vampire Diaries.

Starts Sept 23
It's like HOUSE meets Ghost Whisperer. I guess.

I know I won't be able to watch all of these shows. I'd probably hate some of them after a few episodes. STILL I can't wait!

                                                              

Beautiful Symphony

LOVE!!! 

BE PRETTY

SODA ADDICTS 101

I think Soda addiction should be qualified as a real addiction. I used to drink coke (or other kinds of soda) ALL THE TIME. Everyday and almost everywhere. Almost 8 months ago I realized I had to stop because soda and carbonated drinks aren't HEALTHY. Why should I choose to be healthy, well take a look at the infographic below.

Anyways, Other the period of 8 months I crave coke/sodas only when I'm REALLY thirsty (like today) or when it's REALLY hot, like the days I have to drive back from classes at noon. So TIP#1: Always stay hydrated and cool. 


I have relapsed a few times; I had 2 glasses of 7UP (not on the same day), for some reason I think 7UP is little healthier than coke or so I tell myself. I also had a half a bottle of Oronomin C, which is an energy drink and 100x WORSE than regular soda. In all cases, I had those drinks because there was no other option. TIP#2: Try to always carry a bottle of water with you.I don't always do, but its very helpful, because if there's an alternative available I always choose the alternative.

I prefer cool water over room temperature. We always have water in our fridge along with juices.
TIP#3: You gotta love the JUICE! For those days when water seems to BORING, juices are a great alternative. All fruit juices are delicious especially with lots of ICE. Carrot juice is also good. My favorites are: Strawberry Juice, Mango Juice, Orange Juice, and Minty Lemonade.

I love those little juice bottles they have at the supermarket. Also juice packs are good too but I think they have more water and sugar than bottled juice.You can drink milk if you want too. I'm not a milk person, but I love milkshakes every now and then. Sometimes, when I'm at the movies I'd have a bottle of Snapple if possible. But I guess Snapple isn't really healthy with all the sugar and preservatives.

TIP#4: Some juices are too heavy to have alongside a meal or overpowering in flavor. I usually drink water when I'm eating, but sometimes in restaurants the water tastes a bit stale so I go for juice. I found watermelon juice to be the BEST juice to drink alongside a meal. It's light and doesn't have an overpowering after taste (like Mango or Orange juice). If watermelon juice isn't an option, I'd usually go for Lemonade or a Minty Lemonade. TIP#5: Always have juice with lots of ICE. It just tastes better I promise!

I think everyone has their own way of dealing with Soda addiction and finding the right alternatives for them. So I recommend trying different types of bottled water and juices because I believe the difference matters! As long as you find alternatives you love, you CAN stay away from soda FOREVER.



P.S. This post deals with cool drinks. As for hot drinks, I love coffee, tea, and Chai 7leeb (milky tea). I think I'm addicted to tea, but I still haven't found a way to deal with that yet!

I MISS BREAKFAST

DREAM JOB

For those of you who don't know me I'm a Communications & Media sciences student specializing in Integrated Strategic Communications (that's Marketing, PR & Advertising in simple English). I love my major, and I really hope that I'd end up doing that for a living. Not that I want to write press releases for the rest of my life... BUT ideally I'd love to have a marketing/PR/advertising job in the creative or cultural industries preferably using digital marketing/social media

Explaining what I want to do for a living has always been difficult. Up until I read exactly what I wanted to say all along in a website called Fashionably Marketing in an article entitled "Why the Fashion Industry Needs Talented Community Mangers" (read here).

So, I want to be a COMMUNITY MANAGER. It's the ultimate fusion of marketing and public relations! Being a community manager in the fashion industry (as specified in the article) would be GREAT, believe me I like my clothes and shoes as much as the next girl. But then again I wouldn't mind a job in other creative industries such as the fine arts, publishing,...

I think such a job would be challenging but in a good way! I also think I'll be great at it.

Don't believe me?

Hire me. I'll prove it.

FASHION vs STYLE

via http://lifestylesoftheyoungandreckless.tumblr.com/post/8162459637

ORGANIZED DRAWERS

I did not take before pics but these drawers were a complete mess!!!!  I used to have to rummage through a thousand different items to find what I was looking for. And it would be all wrinkled up which isn't pretty! I had those drawer dividers (from Ikea) but there was no clear system. Here's what I did:

1- Take all items out.
2- Divide them into categories, while doing so create a pile for anything torn or you won't ever use e.g. red leggings (long story!)
3- Fold items neatly and place them in a designated divider.
4- Arrange dividers inside drawers and label.

Drawer 1 - Tanktops and Swimwear

Tanktops folded neatly into squares. Here's how

I just rolled the swimwear. The shorts were folded in half and placed
next to them (see first pic).

Drawer 2 - Slips (aka Shla7), leggings, and stockings.

I rolled the stocking & leggings to create semi-circular rolls.

I applied this system to underwear as well and it works perfectly. You can see everything and find what you're looking for real fast. Plus, there's room for an extra divider which means there's room for more items - yay for me!



Will keep you posted on my home improvement ventures!