A's moodboard: September 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

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?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

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)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Inspired

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

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!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

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 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.