The Fashion Hermit::: d'amourette la vie ::::

every tear a waterfall ..

2012-01-29T00:54:00.004+04:00

They say you never know what you have until you lose it, but in the context of our chapter in the book of life’s imprudent irony, they also say that it is me who was lost. I wake up in the morning wondering which shade of lipstick would go best with the frown I’m wearing and which pair of sunglasses is big enough to shield the despondency reflected on my face. A feeling of sadness, which no matter how much I try to conceal, is still there stabbing my heart harsher everyday and it can’t seem to let go of me and I, myself, can’t seem to let go of its root: a root that once blossomed ecstasy in my heart is now the source of my ceaseless agony.
I wish I could interpret the swarm of sentiments centered in me into evocative, eloquent, words. However, these sentiments try to rush out through a narrow channel of expressiveness in a chaotic manner causing and decoding nothing but reverberations of pain every time I try to speak up.
I once had a plan. I once had my whole life figured out in the grasp of my hand. But then my fingers started to loosen up, finger by finger with each bump on the road… loosening up and letting go of my incarnate fantasy. But my heart, my flawed heart, is still holding on and hoping for a resurrection of what I once had.

& this is exactly why I can't help but shed couple of tears every time this song is played ..

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
and dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
and the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

and dreams of
Para-para-paradise

xX♥mosha

The Most Beautiful Makeup for a Woman is Passion - YSL

2012-01-23T22:17:00.005+04:00

I stared at this quote long enough thinking about its underlying connotation. I smiled at first thinking this image would make a lovely BBM display picture, and so I instantaneously saved it in my smartphone’s memory. Conversely, the quote kept echoing over and over in mine. The most beautiful makeup for a woman is passion, Huh! So if I were to dispose of all my makeup pallets and brushes and adopt the conception of beautifying myself with my passions, what would these passions be?

Passions is conclusively “love” or at least that’s the conclusive synonym we more often than not find directly to it. And love is….? To objects, to materials, to titles, to palpable and impalpable gains, love is indisputably existent. But love to one another seems to be exclusive for fairytales. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a cynic. And if you are one of my closest friends reading this, you know for sure that I am not. I grew up watching what every child who was born in the 90s must have watched. I didn’t watch a panda that is a kung fu fighter or animals escaping the zoo like those from Madagascar although I grew older to love watching these movies with my nieces and nephews. But factually, I spent my childhood, and part of my adulthood to be honest, watching animated love stories. I grew up watching how Princess Jasmine fell for the street urchin, how Ariel was willing to give up her whole life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to win a human’s soul and to be with Prince Eric and he, willfully, loved her despite her disability to speak. I grew up speculating thought of how a beautiful girl like Belle could fall for an ugly beast with antagonism issues. But she loved him anyway and transformed him into charming Prince Vincent just like when Princess Zora kissed the frog and transfigured him into a prince. Just by typing these last few lines, it struck me that the idea of Yves Saint Laurent’s quote is there planted in two of my favorite childhood fairytales but applied to men. A kiss with passion turned the beast to the handsome Prince Vincent and a kiss with passion turned the frog into a prince. How didn’t I think of that before? BUT we are still speaking within the fairytale and the make-believe frame of thought. I grew up thinking that someday a prince will swipe me off my feet and own my heart. Soon to be 22 years old, I have met no one but real beasts and frogs that are exultant to be beasts and frogs forever. And so I believe it is rational to closely renounce the idea and conclude that passion for people is not what is going to add a tad of shimmer to my cheeks.

With the above account comes a marriage proposal to a career. I have heard it million times and I have read it in myriad books, recently in Desperate in Dubai: career girls always end up alone. To live successfully alone or to live stressfully with a frog?, I wondered. And since I have verified to myself that I am my best company many times, I made my peace with the career vs. husband parable (until a prince who believes in women’s triumphs shows up, perhaps!). But with a major that I am not sure why I am in, I believe it is going to be a struggle such as that of mine with statistics. I sometimes wonder why am I a student at the School of Business and Management and I question my belonging to that institution. If anything, my high grades in literature, painting, and photography show my unfortunate choice of major and my unfitting place in the school of business. However, I am trying to sugarcoat my contemptible state of being by minoring in design, a “passion” of mine, and thinking of declaring a second minor in Literature, another “passion” of mine, although I am going to graduate a little later than my friends but that’s okay as long as the “passion” is there with me. After receiving calamitous grades this semester in some business courses, not major courses though just prerequisites and courses that I have to take in order to obtain my marketing degree (marketing of which I am good at, just to be clear), I was on the verge of going all crazy and throwing away three years of my life, changing my major, and starting over with something that I have the “passion” for. My usual partner in crime and foolish ideas, Noura, was there helping me fashion a new life plan with a new major. Oh my sweet Noura, how crazy I drive you! I have wasted her time forecasting and supposing something that is not going to happen. I decided to be that fish in Einstein’s quote, but instead, I am going to climb that tree. And so I must find “passion” in what I do and if it is not there, I must fabricate it.

If I were to come off as corny, I would bore you with a paragraph on “passion for fashion” right about here, but I am going to leave that aside. I believe that I will come out to discover my real passions after graduation. And as long as I have my Bobbi Brown mascara, my Urban Decay’s naked pallet eye shadow, and my Dior lip maximizer on, you must know that I have not pinpointed my passions yet.

xX♥mosha

random pictures from my camera

2011-10-23T10:05:00.004+04:00

I like snapping pictures a lot yet I am no photographer although for a while I adopted photography as an interest in high school. I like taking pictures of random things or whatever I find noteworthy yet I seldom find a suitable blog post to hold these photos. Sometimes I snap pictures with a blog post idea in my head but after a while I just forget what I wanted to write about! So I guess this is just the first batch of these random pictures I have in my camera:

here I was asked by Baby Aliya to snap a picture of her with Goofy at Dubai Mall after purchasing something fluffy. This girl loves posing and having pictures of herself taken…

this was one of my favorite cartoons as child. I still remember, as if it was yesterday, how my schedule was back then: School, home, lunch, homework, waiting for the ice-cream truck to pass by, then TV. I wasn’t allowed to wait for the ice-cream truck outside the house gates, so usually the maid would wait outside then ask the ice-cream truck driver to go through the house’s gate THEN I would go out in the yard to buy my daily ice-cream and chocolate treats. My mother was over-protective of me (and still is) as I’m the youngest- my siblings weren’t treated this way.. they lived a normal childhood!! Did I ever mention that I don’t know how to ride a bike? Yup, my mother didn’t want me to get any bruises or scars. So anyway, right after the ice-cream truck would leave, this show used to start. My sister (baby Aliya’s mother) purchased the DVDs a while ago from Festival City’s Toys ‘r Us DVD section as it was also one of her favorite shows as a child. However, her daughter finds it dull! I love watching it from time to time as it reminds me of my childhood.

I just can’t stop eating junk food for good. I tried and I can’t! however, I was able to cut back for three months. Now I try to limit myself to one unhealthy meal per week.

Also when I was a child, I was used to eating while watching something and I grew up into it. Now I do not enjoy a meal without watching one of the shows I love unless of course I’m on a lunch or dinner table with a group of people.

This was the wall decoration behind the reception desk at Shangri La hotel in Abu Dhabi. I thought of Noura when I first saw it as she LOVES burqas (as you can see from her Twitter picture) so I snapped this picture for her.

On one of those casual days out with Noura, we went to watch a movie at Mall of the Emirates. While ordering snacks, we saw this little milk jug shaped as a cow. We thought it was hilarious and wanted to snap a picture of it only to find the guy working there posing for us while holding it … I just love Pilipino people!

xX♥mosha

culture is "fashioned", religion is "assured"

2011-10-23T09:35:00.005+04:00

Few days ago I was tweeting my typical wonderings and usual ramblings, and if you follow me on Twitter you would know that I tweet A LOT of those. This time it was about age and ethnic background of someone’s soul mate after a conversation I had with Noura, my bestfriend. Then I asked a question that fundamentally can be applied on many issues that we face everyday in our society, not just the matter of soul mates … there might be a shrill link between each tweet and what follows it *OR NOT*, yet that’s how I usually think….. erratically! I’m known for it and I’m proud that my brain works in crafty ways sometimes yet I do reach somewhere with my thoughts at the end.

I received couple of tweets followed by an email from a girl I recently followed on Twitter who never failed to enthuse me in this short while. Sarah Muhanna sent me the following email regarding my posts on Twitter -click on the picture to enlarge-:

As I learned in a course I took few semesters back titled “Cultures in Contact”, what adds up to compiling a culture is the pool of thoughts, ideas, and the way of living everyday life that a group of people obeys. To put it in simple form, it’s PEOPLE’s beliefs and customs- fashioned by humans. So logically, one’s religious precincts must come above culture’s philosophies when making a contentious verdict. But what maddens me is that even if someone leaves his or her cultural rulebooks behind and wander within religion’s frame, others who highly favor culture’s outlook will not like it and an X will be placed on that intruder.
Before giving an opinion based on stereotypes or culture’s inconsistent beliefs, think this way:
We were born with two manuals only: Quran and Sunnah. Any theories that don’t correspond or go parallel to these two handbooks are worthless and should not be claimed.
I agree with Sarah 100% and admire the way she thinks … I also agree with the guy in this video… MUST WATCH:

PS: I love how he switches to Indian accent lol

xX♥mosha

afternoon tea ...♥

2011-10-18T08:16:00.004+04:00

Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is often credited with the invention of the tradition of afternoon tea in the early 1840's. Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00 in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry, especially in the summer when dinner was served even later. She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, as she had feared, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea" . Obviously the origins of the well known British tradition of afternoon tea cannot be credited to only one woman, but evolved over a period of time, as many cultural customs do.(Click here to read more: afternoon tea in Britian )

My favorite place for Afternoon Tea in Dubai has recently became One & Only, Royal Mirage, The Palm Jumairah ..

xX♥mosha

THOUGHTS OF A LIBERAL

2011-10-16T21:44:00.006+04:00

One of the main things that cross my mind when asked about the blessings that God handed me besides health, wholesome physical form, and a roof on top of my head is the fact that I belong to the Emirati society. Thinking back about the way this country flourished on the hand of one man, Sheikh Zayed God bless his soul, gives me a sense of heroism bearing in mind that nothing is impossible. Living in a place that accommodates diverse nationalities and growing up with people from different backgrounds gave me a sense of impartiality and awareness of the different outlooks and visions out in the world. Given the chance to get educated, to drive, to succeed, and to embrace my feminine powers gave me a sense of self-assurance and poise knowing that I’m equivalent to any prospering woman outside our boarders. On top of all, I was given the freedom of speech, the freedom to state my opinion, the freedom to take action, and the freedom to show the world where I stand and on what bounds and grounds. Freedom to state your opinion is not by creating a twitter account dedicated to exposing your views about your society in a forceful or a scornful way. Your opinion can be propelled by your actions as an individual, by the way you act, the way you speak, and the way you depict yourself to the rest of the society; simply by being a model to the rest: a model of what you think an impeccable inhabitant should be like.
There is a part of me that scorches every time I hear a comment stating, “our society is shallow” or “our society is senseless and has lost its sense of morality” … such comments were tweeted and retweeted over and over again and appeared on my timeline innumerable times over the past few days on the subject of Kim Kardashian’s visit to the UAE. I haven’t stated my opinion about the whole issue but I have been following her visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through online updates, just curious about the hype.
To me Kim Kardashian is an attractive reality show personality. I do not watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians and I certainly do not find her as an inspiring figure that has offered the world something unusual. I like her sense of style "sometimes" and her looks. That is all. I was not the least interested in meeting her simply because I found it rather unnecessary: meeting her will not add any value to my being. When I met Tom Ford, I was happy to see the man whose perfumes diffused in the air of my room soothing my soul every time I arrive back from a hard day. When I met Whoopi Goldberg in London in the summer of 2010, I was happy to see the personality I admired on The View and the character who gave me laugh-attacks on Sister Act. What would meeting Kim give me happiness for? Some might be happy to see their “ fashion icon”, as the majority regards her. But not me!
However, I have kept this as a personal reason as to why I wasn’t the least interested. I have not addressed the people who have met her as lifeless. I have not criticized our society for celebrating her visit. And I have certainly not criticized my country for welcoming her.
God gave each one of us a brain to think. She is not the first or the last “indecent”, as many have addressed her, personality to visit the Emirates. Celebrities and other personalities who do not have a spotless record visit the country every now and then. Why is Kim Kardashian’s visit such a heated trepidation and a heated topic?
I don’t think that the reason behind the crowd lined up to meet Kim is the fact that she has a sex tape, unless in the case of perverted men who were actually there for that reason. However, many have used the sex tape as a way to define her although, as far as I know, when she made that sex tape it was supposed to be personal! Couldn’t it be that people are actually attached to her reality show having it as the only source of leisureliness that does not demand a lot of effort? Couldn’t it be that girls find her as fashion figure they lookup to? Her sense of style might not appeal to me or to you, but it could appeal to some others! People were not forced to go see her; they actually paid in order to greet Kim Kardashian, which shows that she actually has a fan base in here. That was made obvious through Kim Kardashian’s pictures on BBM, Twitter, or any other place used as avatars by Emirati girls. We cannot tell people who to be fond of nor can we deprive them from what they find as “inspiring” or “amusing” or “fashionable”. To each their own. Instead of spending your time pointing fingers categorizing people as lifeless and shallow, spend your time being what you think others should be. Be the source of encouragement and the change you would like to see in others. Or in Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “be the change you wish to see in the world”.

xX♥mosha

"I dream of painting and then I paint my dream" - Vincent Van Gogh

2011-10-10T23:23:00.005+04:00

I was asked to replicate reality on canvas- reality as I see it. That exact same actuality with its shadow, its contrasts, its hues, its saturation, and its imperfections. Art is so kindhearted that it turns the flaws in a body to sustenance for the arty eye. If only humans can look beyond the imperfections of others for something picturesque as art does…

There I was painting a controlled piece of artwork with guidelines, suggested theme, and realistic scopes. I was painting reality with limits. But if I were to paint my dreams, will I be controlled?

I see my life as a colossal piece of canvas. I am the instructor. I am the painter. I am the dreamer. I am the believer. My intuition is the pallet. My achievements are the shapes. My mistakes are the imperfections that give the portraiture of my anticipated life its verve.

I will never stop painting …

xX♥mosha

robe noire ..

2011-09-30T19:53:00.009+04:00

In 1919, Coco Chanel put “black” in fashion. Seven years later, American Vogue illustrated the Chanel ‘Ford’, calling it the ‘frock that all the world would wear’. It was a sleeveless black crepe-de-chine dress with a pin-tucked front, and thus the little black dress was born.

92 years later, everything from fashion books to magazines still regard the LBD as a timeless piece: one that you can wear over and over again, pulling it off so elegantly without anyone noticing it’s the same exact dress. Tout comme Audrey Hepburn, tout comme Coco Chanel.
The positive side of the petite robe noire is that it can be styled in many different ways and any colored embellishing innovation added to it would work- you can never go wrong.
But for abaya-clad ladies, LBD shifts from standing for Little Black Dress to Long Black dress. To me, plain abayas are my LBDs – I style them however I want with whatever I want creating a new look each and every time.
With my Hermes scarves came a set of Cartes a Nouer- Knotting Cards, which inspire me to do more with those little pieces of fabric I have. And so I’ve contrived a strap for my clear Hermes Vinyl adding a vintage vibe to my plain robe noire.

"A dress can be the expression of a state of mind, There are dresses that sing of joy of life, dresses that weep, dresses that threaten. There are gay dresses, mysterious dresses, pleasing dresses, and tearful dresses"
- Paul Poiret (french fashion designer, 1879-1944)

Regard your plain abaya as your LBD

xX♥mosha

back to reality ...

2011-09-26T20:43:00.005+04:00

Remember that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie’s laptop died and she wrapped it in a blanket and ran to the computer shop to fix it? Kind of the same story happened to me on the last day of Spring semester: after I finished studying for my last final exam, my computer screen turned green, then turned red, then black and remained black forever. I felt my laptop, God bless its soul, telling me “I’m sorry, I can’t do this any longer … I don’t know how you manage to stay alive through this misery and the nonsense you study but I give up … I can’t keep up with this sh*# anymore” while breathing so forcefully. I got ready so fast and ran with my laptop to the IT department asking them to fix it urgently since I was traveling the next day. But the technician looked at me and said “I advise you to buy another one since fixing it will take a lot of time and it’s just not worth the money” … I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, seriously now? You sold me this piece of trash and now you’re telling me it shouldn’t be fixed?
I’m the type of person who doesn’t like changing electronics frequently especially laptops and mobile phones even if they weren’t that good. These two items feel so personal and hold a lot of things that I cannot live without. I get so attached to my gadgets and don’t accept change when it comes to them. But I think three years is a sensible lifespan for these things … My Blackberry Bold 9000 lived with me for three years and so did my laptop. Since that incident, I have been using my sister’s old HP; took it with me abroad and been using it for two months. I liked it because it had all the programs I like to use and it didn’t feel like a new gadget that I have to deal with learning how to use. Although the kids were making fun of me stating that “Auntie has a cheap old laptop”, I was actually satisfied with it until recently when I bought a MacBook Pro. I haven’t been blogging for a while because of two reasons: I didn’t have Microsoft Office and I didn’t have Adobe Photoshop installed. I usually like to type in my post on Word then post it on Blogger just to make sure all the spelling and everything is correct. I also got used to resizing the images using Photoshop even though I could just do that on iPhoto but I state again: I hate change! .. one of my friends calls me "techno-blonde" but whatever!

I went back to university last week for a fresh new semester with new subjects to study. I recently declared a minor in Design Management, which was supposed to be my major if I haven’t applied late to AUS. Because my second choice on the application form was Business Marketing, they automatically signed it as my major and I’ve been struggling at Business School ever since. The Marketing and Management parts are fine but the other business-y courses are not. However, only few semesters left and I’ll be a graduate so it’s really not a big deal anymore. The minor I declared added pizzazz to my final academic year and made it more aesthetic and appealing. To some extent, I thought it was reasonable to mix these two fields together: Marketing and Design Management. However, my design professors find that REALLY interesting and a REALLY great choice since there is a huge job market that will be waiting for me with open arms, as they say! Marketing art? I never thought of that until they pointed it out and it sounded really tempting to me. For years now, I’ve been thinking of my college degree as passing four years experience that I just want to get over with then get into Fashion School. But now I really feel like working in this field and see what it holds for me. Compared to the rest of my life, if God planned a long one for me, four years and a half at AUS and probably couple of years of experience in the working field sound like nothing. There is no rush; I’ll get to my fashionable dreams later. So yeah, this semester is different since I have two design courses: History of Photography and Introductory Painting! Although I dreaded that the lack of oil painting skills would embarrass me in front of a full class, it actually turned out that I am not so bad at it! The professor held my canvas board up to show the class what I have done. I thought, Opppssy now he’s going to tell them this is what you DON’T do! However, he actually admired it and told the class that this is how it works for a start! So that’s one flair I never knew I had until last Wednesday.

I love Art in all its forms and Art seems to love me!
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: two days at Jumairah Zabeel Saray Royal Residence, The Palm♥

2011-09-13T20:04:00.008+04:00

xX♥mosha

FOR SALE: Bring Home The Birkin

2011-09-13T00:14:00.004+04:00

My cousin bought this 40 cm Hermes Birkin during the second week of Ramadan (mid August) but she has not used it yet and changed her mind about it. She is willing to sell it for 40,000 AED/10,890.43 USD {original receipt available} .. for serious buyers, please contact me on mawzah@gmail.com

SOLD
xX♥mosha

prettify ...

2011-09-08T05:09:00.004+04:00

If your cell phone gets scratched, it can easily get a face-lift by getting blinged. If your nails get dreary, they can easily get a glow by getting polished. And if the shine is ever too glossy, your alluring tips can get tamed by Beaute Des Ongles, Chanel's mat top coat. But when reality gets ugly, how do you glamorize it? And if it ever got too dazzling, would you want to tame it down with a top coat?
My life happened in a ground opposing the direction to where I was smiling. And when I finally turned my head and realized where my life was meant to arise, I glimpsed a dump that I chose to close my eyes to. a ground too ugly to be beautified.
xX♥mosha

Abu Dhabi, je'taime ..

2011-09-04T22:51:00.008+04:00

a book and an August issue of Vogue for the two hours long trip to Abu Dhabi

A place I wished to pray at yet I sadly haven't .. Sheikh Zayed's Mosque {God bless his soul} -- the view from the suite's balcony

I simply can't love Baby Aliya's tutu skirt anymore♥ she was intentionally jumping while walking so the skirt would move up and down .. so adorable ♥
at the hotel lobby on the day of arrival ..
Second day ...
third day ...
I am one who enjoys packing but hates hates hates unpacking ...

Ever since I was born, my family's Eid ritual has been the same:
On the first day, all my siblings, their spouses, and children would gather at our house from the morning until late at night. Some come and go, some come late, and some stay all day long. I don't call to mind anything about going out on the first day of Eid except when I was so little I used to be taken to play at Deira City Center's Magic Planet or a place in Sharjah called Sinbad. The second day is always dedicated to visiting my mother's side of the family in UAQ and Al Thaid. Up until few years back, my father used to take us with him to Al Ain on the third day of Eid to visit my half brother, half sisters, and uncles. But now even his journeys to Al Ain have lessened. My father decided to raise his family in Sharjah long time ago because of motivations such as closer to work location and the fact that Sharjah was known even back then as the cultural capital of the UAE that offers unsurpassed education. That’s why I grew up away from my half brother and sister, away from my uncles, and away from my cousins who I sadly barely know and rarely ever see during the holidays.
Last June my mother underwent the procedure of cardiac catheterization in Thailand and since she came back during the second week of July, she hasn't gone out of the house. For that reason, our Eid ritual this year was to some extent different than usual in order to change the customary milieu for her and give her a chance to refurbish and lift up her spirit. And so we've gone to Abu Dhabi and checked in Shangri La hotel for two nights that were dedicated to spending time with my three brothers (one already lives in AD), my two sisters in law, my sister Aysha, and my four nieces: Baby Aliya, Lady Aliya (14 years old) and little Nawari (9 years old) who live in AD, and the latest addition to the family baby Amoola (more like a Nammoola). My favorite part, however, from this whole trip was spending hours at Chi Spa for a two hours long hot stone massage and a calming time at the relaxation room.
I hope you had a pleasant Eid holiday as well.
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: Eid & Baby Aliya's Birthday♥

2011-08-31T03:18:00.004+04:00

my Eid outfit: ISSA London

Baby Aliya's Eid outfit: Jean Paul Gaultier

her birthday cake was baked by "5aloo Phoebe" as she calls Sid
visit her cooking blog: http://spontaneous-euphoria.blogspot.com/
we messed it up by changing the places of the candles lol

the cutest 5 year old in the whole world ♥

delicious treats from Delice
http://www.delice-dubai.com/
xX♥mosha

اللـهم لا تجعله آخر العهد فى صيامنا إياه♥

2011-08-31T02:25:00.005+04:00

dressed for a gathering at my friend Dana's Khwaneej farm

playing "Kairam" for the first time in my life like a Barbie worried about her nails!

....BUT, I scored something!!

while dropping Noura by her house after the gathering, I noticed her dangling Moroccan belt/tail .. couldn't help but stop her to snap a picture lol .. she has a serving plate because she baked us a delicious banana cake that day♥

Things I'm gonna miss about Ramadan:

Dedicating long hours for praying and reading Quran

The gatherings of friends and family

The very long nights of staying out with Noura until 2:30 in the morning!

Cooking for friends

And simply having nothing to do!

Things I'm not going to miss about Ramadan:

- The messed up sleeping pattern
- The excessive eating habit I adopt every year

اللـــهم لا تجعله آخر العهد فى صيــــامنا إياه فإن كان كذلك فاجعلنا....مرحومين لا محروميـن اللـهم آميــن
اللــهم سلمتنا رمضان فتسلمه منا وانت راض عنا غير غضبان

اللهم آميــــــــــن
xX♥mosha

Happy Birthday my little Audrey

2011-08-29T02:48:00.005+04:00

She knocks on my door at the most annoying timings, more often than not when I'm sleeping, to ask for the most adorable things.
5aloo Moza 3adi et7e6eeli polish law thama7tee? (Auntie Moza can you please apply nailpolish for me?)
5aloo Moza 3adi etsaweeli sha3ree pleeeeath? ( Auntie Moza can you please do my hair?)
5aloo Moza 3adi arged 3ndich? (Auntie Moza can I sleep at your room?)
She usually crawls into my bed and I just try to ignore her by covering my head and pretending to go back to sleep. But then she starts braiding my hair that’s left out of the blanket and begins asking me the weirdest questions.
Recently she started enjoying a movie I never thought she'd enjoy. Yes, she started watching Breakfast at Tiffany's every single day and she even refuses to go to sleep before watching it. If you follow me on Twitter, I'm sure you remember me tweeting about her strange attachment to this movie. I mean, have you ever heard of a child enjoying a 1961 classic film? At first I thought she likes watching it because of "Cat", Audrey's "poor slob! Poor slob without a name" since she really loves cats. But then I found out that she actually watches it for the sake of the story. I feel bad thinking that she's not getting it. She shocked me one day by asking me: Audrey shu teshrab? (What is Audrey drinking?) at the scene where she's chilling at "Fred's" apartment. Audrey was drinking Alcohol but I told baby Aliya that she was actually drinking apple juice. She asked another question about why Audrey would spill "apple juice" on a plant. And the scene where she does came up few minutes later.
" like auntie, like niece " – Sid said!
" 9dg eneh 5alatta Moza " – Noura said!

My little Audrey Hepburn turned five years old today … Even though she really annoys me sometimes, I love her to bits.

PS: in the picture she's wearing my high school prom tiara ..

xX♥mosha

Girls night in ...

2011-08-28T03:37:00.003+04:00

Girls night in with magazines, shows, games, Noura and food she likes became a weekly ritual beside our outings; a time that just passes so fast, literally like crazy. With Noura it's always like "Whoops! It's 2 AM already" before we know it. We can literally sit there and chat for days if we weren't restricted by curfews.
Today I woke up from a bloodcurdling dream that made me shiver for hours afterwards. I saw her just as I remember her: brown hair, blue contacts, and full pink lips. A person who was once more than a sister to me that with a blink of an eye became a total stranger. After high school, my best friend and I split up for reasons unknown. Two days before prom, we were flawlessly talking about the guest list and other arrangements for the party. A day after prom, we were nothing. I remember sitting and talking to her about it sometime during freshmen year because I just couldn't get over the fact that my best friend is not there anymore. Apparently to her the reasons were also unknown and it just happened like that. Our conversation ended with a hug and loads of tears in the middle of the university's library but afterwards we went back to being total strangers to each other. Every time I bump into her now, it's as awkward as ever. Every time that awkward moment is over and we both walk away, tears shed uncontrollably. My dream was about her being in a hazard, a peril, and decease. Noura was in the dream and I was telling her I just can't stand seeing my ex best friend like that. Noura was weeping from how frightening it all was while I was screaming at Noura "Why can't I cry?" … I don't want to get into details because it is actually believed that one shouldn't speak out about dreams or else something bad will happen. And I wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to my friend, even if she's an ex. I couldn't help but text her to check on her.
I was telling Noura about all of this and about how terrified it made me feel. I then found myself talking to her about school memories and showing her pictures with my ex best friend from outings, parties, school, and all. It makes me sad to talk about high school. It makes me sad to look at pictures. And it makes me sad to hear others talk contentedly about their high school memories and friends simply because I can't …I will remember her and I will cry again.
Just as I started feeling sad while browsing the albums I decided to put everything away and change the mood because it was getting really really poignant and Noura sensed it. We started playing one of my favorite games, Gossip Girl. This game is a proof that you just can never know your friends enough. There are stories that just can't be told unless you're asked about and this game is really the best tool for sharing such stories.

To my ex best friend since I was told you check my blog,
I have memories with you that I will always cherish even though life chose separate paths for us. You will always be that friend I can never get over.
xX♥mosha

Noura Says:

2011-08-27T04:20:00.006+04:00

" When I look at this outfit, the first thing that comes to mind is "Causal Chic". It combines those basic essentials of having a causal yet chic outfit. A pair of harem pants, a cute Dolce and Gabbana grey t-shirt and dressing it up with a 90s lady Dior bag and Dior shoes. It doesn't take much exactly; just like looking at a Jason Pollock art and saying I can do that. But the process behind it will make you think twice about your comment. Styling an outfit is pretty much the same. It looks easy but it's not, you need an eye for fashion to know what works best with what. Therefore, it clearly shows from this outfit that this person knows much about fashion. "
~ Noura Al Serkal
http://nouraalserkal.blogspot.com/

xX♥mosha

on my shelf ...

2011-08-27T00:44:00.007+04:00

I am one of those people who when at a bookstore I just want to get lost and browse ceaselessly because the genres I read vary drastically: from novels, to fashion books, to self-help books, to cooking, interior decorating, and poetry. As a teenager I really enjoyed the writings of Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook were my favorite. I also read books such as Memoirs of a Geisha, Chinese Cinderella, and some classics such as Ballet Shoes. When I decorated my room I had in mind that I will definitely decorate my empty walls with stand-alone bookshelves. And when I had a handyman here to help me pin those shelves to the wall, my father started making fun of me and calling my room "The Office" because of the shelves I have all around and the many many books. I really love how I have two small shelves on each side of my bed, a big one behind my sofa, and another above my TV in addition to a tall bookcase by one of my walls. Just as I believe I can never have enough accessories, I believe I can never have enough books.
I always get asked through emails from my readers about my favorite books, fashion books to be exact. If you were one of those who emailed me and I haven't answered you yet, then please don't think that I have ignored you. I really wanted to put up a post answering over ten emails at once and I finally had the time.

I recommend:
Christina Weil – It's Vintage Darling!
Gisele Scanlon – The Goddess Guide
Joan De Jean – The Essence of Style: how the French invented high fashion, fine food, chic cafes, style, sophistication, and glamour
Fashion Game Book: A world history of 20th Centuy Fashion (given to me by my bestie Sid on my 20th birthday)
A Guide to Elegance: for every woman who wants to be well and properly dressed on all occasions.
Christian Dior's Little Dictionary of Fashion

These are by far my favorite reads that entirely engage in fashion as a main topic. But I also recommend a book by Jordan Christy titled "How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World" which talks about how to present yourself while wearing a certain something. It is much more about civility, refinement, grace, and fine feminine manners than fashion really but it's totally worth reading.

on my nightstand:
my all time favorite reads which I enjoy flipping through almost every day:
Poems by John Keats selected and introduced by Claire Tomalin
Truman Capote - Breakfast at Tiffany's .. most gorgeously romantic fiction ..
what I'm reading currently:
Jodi Picoult - Sing you home ..
and I can't help but mention the wonderful framed photograph of Eiffel Tower taken by my university friend Hamad Al Muhairi .. I absolutely love it ..
xX♥mosha

my life in Chanel No. 5's shoes, or lid, as a matter of fact!

2011-08-25T06:34:00.009+04:00

Life always brings us to the end of something: the end of school, the end of childhood, the end of a friendship, or the end of a love story. And what life also brings us to the end of is old self, the end of the old us. Nobody in this world remains unchanged even if it's just an insignificant transformation. You, yourself, might not notice this difference but others, especially those who you haven't talked to in ages, can. Those who knew you, understood you, and who once loved you unconditionally of course. I recently got back in touch with an old friend I knew when I was still a school girl. This friend of mine had a special place in my heart for years until that friendship went down the drain just like many others. We talked for hours, laughed inexorably and our conversations would be endless if we weren't restrained by study hours and fixed bed time. We were inseparable and no one ever thought we would drift apart… yet we did and it was excruciating. No matter how alike we thought we were, we really had our differences but something just kept us thinking that we're each others' soul mates. Around five years have passed since we last spoken to each other and when we did, I really noticed an immense difference between my old friend and the person I'm reconnecting with now in a half an hour conversation. Yes we grew up. We grew up so much in so little time and it's palpable. To the better or worse is up to life to decide because no one knows us better than life.
We humans go through different phases that we can arrange in a chronological order just like anything else in this world. I, myself, can say that I went through five different chapters in my life so far and I can identify them very well chronologically just like I can identify the five different stages Chanel No. 5 bottle went through. However, I find talking about Chanel far more interesting than digging through a box of memories I don't really want to talk about.

Picture Above: I spotted this old Chanel No.5 bottle while touring around vintage stores down Columbia road in London and couldn't help but snap a picture. When I saw it, I knew right away that it's a bottle from between the years of 1950 to 1970, that's when the bottle got a slight makeover with a bigger lid.
Chanel No. 5 bottle 1921
Chanel No. 5 bottle 1924
Chanel No. 5 bottle 1950
Chanel No. 5 bottle 1970
Chanel No. 5 bottle 1986

Just like there is a barely discernible difference between each bottle and the one that follows it, the difference between the 15 year old Moza and the 16 year old Moza is barely noticeable. But as I think of my personality now, my dreams, my concerns, my priorities, my traits and those I had when I was 15, I can totally see and feel the difference, it's definitely conspicuous… just like the difference between the Chanel No. 5 bottle from 1921 and that of 1986.

PS: if any of you have read The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo then please email me your thoughts. I would love to hear from you ...
and now enjoy this 1970s commercial of the iconic perfume ..

xX♥mosha

a lost pleasure, a lost self ...

2011-08-24T02:52:00.003+04:00

An incident, a situation, a quote, a tweet, or a scene from a movie can make you rethink and revise every moment of your life looking for the hole in which all your contentment have fallen through down to hell. A comment, a disparagement, a praise, or a story that happened to a total stranger can make you wonder why you, or would it ever be you. Sometimes I wish I can start over in order to avoid making the same decisions or living the same events that perhaps broke someone's heart just to make sure no one in this world is mad at me or holding a feeling of resentment. Yet again if I did, I know I would be erasing all the lessons that life has taught me throughout my twenty-one years. I believe that following mistakes comes wisdom but what's a wise person with many bad decisions that people will judge for life? I sometimes wonder if the person I am today is who I want to be or if I am someone driven by family, culture, society, and what circles me. Have you ever wondered if you are who you want to be? If so, who's limiting you, who's shaping your thoughts, and who's making you the person you are? It's not necessary that it's a certain someone though. It could be an idea that was planted in your head as a child which you grew up to believe in. I believe there are two circles in life that make me think before my actions. Black circle is what's "7araam" (forbidden in Islam) and a white circle that is what's "3aaib" (frowned upon). Yet there is a grey area in which I honestly cannot comprehend. If it's not forbidden or frowned upon, then why would people find such subjects a reason to slam you for?
It's a very weird world that we live in. If you please yourself, you're upsetting others. And if you please others, you're upsetting yourself. Therefore, I decided to wear a make-believe pair of earrings that ring in my ear every time I go through such a situation screaming:إرضاء الناس غاية لا تدرك ..
and as a wise friend of mine once told me:
"The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that."

Photo is taken at one of my favorite restaurants at Marbella Club. With candles and wax covering the trees, it's truthfully the perfect place to have a soothing candle lit dinner and the perfect place to find the center of serenity.

I am who I am, what else could I be
And I'll stand where I stand, I chose to be me
When you look in my eyes, you get what you see
Understand if you can that I am who I am, who I am
Think twice before you try to read me
Before you try to lead me into your trap
You've got no right to play with my emotion
'Cause you should know that I'm much deeper than that

xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: the last of SPAIN♥

2011-08-23T03:00:00.012+04:00

Benahavis and Mijas

a tour around Malaga discovering its Art treasures

Art is not the application of a canon of beauty but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon. When we love a woman we don't start measuring her limbs.

- Pablo Picasso

xX♥mosha

S, N, A, & M's Day of Fashion♥

2011-08-12T04:28:00.013+04:00

It has been almost a month since I left Spain and almost a month since I sat down to type a blog post ... to put myself in a vacation-yy mood and remember everything I want to write about, I decided to play a music CD given to me by the artist himself on my last night in Marbella … from across the restaurant the pianist got up and picked me to choose a song. My mind shuffled so quickly and picked my all time favorite: "Stevie Wonder – Isn't she lovely" and he played it on the piano for me … from that night, I haven't actually listened to his CD until now, and I absolutely love his voice. Javier is an artist I will always remember meeting as he was extremely nice and made our night so dreamy and calming with his beautiful voice; absolutely a night to remember. I have some pictures of couple of places I've been to in Spain since my last post which I will be posting about as a "Picture Diary" soon enough…
After Spain, I flew to London to meet my friends and discover new places and haunt for vintage stores with them and my sister Aysha. Sadly, my bestie Noura left after three days and my bestie Sid was mostly busy with work and other engagements. So we haven't spent so much time together this year as we did last summer but we still managed to make the most out of it. Sid's plan on our first day out together was to make me do, in her own words, "things common people do" so she made me use the tube. I've always wanted to ride the tube but I never found anyone to do it with except this time I found just the right company. We started taking pictures at each corner at the tube station and I almost got hit by a train wanting to take a picture with it … I can still hear Sid screaming at me "MOZA!!! YOU'RE LIKE A CHILD WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON!!!" … that day we took the tube to east London, Design Museum.

The thing that mostly grabbed my attention at the exhibition was the Melonia Shoe by Naim Josefi. Check out this video and see the creativity invested in this shoe.

After our fabulous tour around Design Museum's exhibition, we stood for almost half an hour by London's tower bridge on a rainy day looking for a cab: four ladies desperate for a ride with umbrellas flipping inside out from the strongly blowing wind. That afternoon, bestie Noura and I took my sister Aysha to the vintage store we fell in love with last year. RELLIK is where I found my vintage 1980s Christian Dior shades last year which Jackie Kennedy once wore and this year I found my clear Hermes Vinyl Kelly that was a souvenir given to guests who attended "Hermes un voyage pays des merveilles" exhibition in Tokyo, 1997 and rumor has it, Sarah Jessica Parker owns one. Both finds were LOVE at first sight. In a world where Birkins and Kellys are not special anymore and can be spotted on every arm, this bag truly stands out. It just can't get anymore fashion forward than this. Absolutely love it …

here is a one year older version of the bag which I found on some website:

wait up for many more London posts to come …
let's just pray for our beautiful London to find its way back to peace ..
xX♥mosha

Casco Antiguo: Marbella's Old Town♥

2011-07-12T20:37:00.005+04:00

waiting for our Spanish driver to park the car and come give us a tour .. I was probably lecturing baby Aiya about something in this picture!
a very cute store at the old town which sells vintage-looking room accessories and candles .. they have products from Mathilde M. in stock which recently became one of my favorite bath and home brands .. Exquise Marquise Eau de Toilette is now one of my favorite scents from this brand ..

a street that gets narrower and narrower as you walk down ..
Orange Square
I think that's Philip II, King of Spain
bought two "I ♥ Marbella" T-shirts from this little store
I love how Spanish everything in this picture is ...
Marbella Cathedral
I loved this painting on the wall ...
I only realized later how wrong my t-shirt looks lol
my castle♥
loved those cute little toys, they look so vintage .. reminded me of the stuff at Pollock's Toy Museum in London♥
this is exactly what I want: a simple balcony with beautiful flowers planted ♥♥
I love the round abouts and the scattered statues around Marbella ♥
this was Baby Aliya's first carriage ride ..

she kept repeating that today she's a princess because she was a good girl that's why the carriage is here ..
she also kept telling the horse "eeeeethy boy eeeeethy boy" like Rapunzel from Tangled .. "eeethy" is "easy" if you didn't get that ;P .. surprisingly everytime she says it, the horse stops!

how beautiful is this?

and here is our car to take us home after a lovely tour around Casco Antiguo .. really loved the place...
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: Monday Market♥

2011-07-11T17:42:00.005+04:00

xX♥mosha

Bullfighting at Marbella Bullring

2011-07-11T16:06:00.012+04:00

Watching a bullfight was an experience of a different kind which slants more towards upsetting rather than amusing. I knew what I was going to see and I knew that it was going to put me in a very miserable temper, yet I wanted to experience watching a bullfight for once in my life since I'm here in Spain before this "sport" or "art" as some call it gets banned soon. To Spanish people, the bullfight is a tale of one man surviving and beating a beast while to others it's plain animal cruelty that surprisingly has not been banned yet although it dates back to the 17th century.
Aside from the bullfight itself, I got attracted by the matadors' costumes and their bright colors with the well-made embroidery, very classy and very tasteful. But the whole time I was wondering why all of them were wearing pink socks! And I couldn't help but Google the reason while I'm there.
Costumes (known as "traje de luces"): Consisting of an embroidered silk jacket, tight pants, pink socks and black slippers, the rich fabrics reflect the social status accorded to the bullfighter. Historically, the brightest colors, such as pink, were the hardest to achieve and hence the most expensive--a visible reminder of class and nobility.
Bullfighters wear pink socks for a number of reasons: to be visible, to gain good luck, to make a bold statement, to suggest wealth and nobility and to conform with a tradition stretching back four hundred years. (Source)

This summer is the last that bullfighting will be seen, hopefully all around the world, as I heard..
xX♥mosha

I left my heart in Ronda♥

2011-07-10T02:23:00.005+04:00

If you ask me about my favorite place in Spain I would certainly say Ronda. It's a city over a mountain that has so much history and beautiful views. The nature, the people, the scattered around statues and historical signs, and the little authentic Spanish shops all add up to a place I call mystical. Just as I was walking around that area, I was dreaming of a simple apartment at one of the aged buildings, with flowers planted on the balcony, a guitarist playing down the street and a carriage passing by every now and then. Although I hate the smell of horses and it's one of the things I cannot stand in this world, I do love the sight of them from far away and the sound of their hooves hitting the ground, it makes me feel like I'm in an old movie. I love nature, I love simplicity, and I love visiting places rich in culture like that. It is not my first time in Ronda as I visited it last year with my big sister and almost walked the same little streets. Yet, I would love to go again and again and again.

"most" of the photos were taken by my sister Aysha, baby Aliya's mother .. thought of mentioning that so she doesn't punch me in the face ...
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: a night at Anna Maria's flamenco♥

2011-07-09T02:51:00.004+04:00

her moves are strong, powerful, and show that she's in control

the blonde dancer's moves are more feminine and graceful.. the guy, on the other hand really owned the show!

it wouldn't be as fun and entertaining without the amazing guitar play and the singing ..

this woman from the audience couldn't help but get up and dance .. I, myself, was on the edge of my seat

***

It was my second time at Anna Maria's and I couldn't enjoy it more♥
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: dinner avec mes soeurs♥

2011-07-06T16:28:00.008+04:00

Golf at Ritz Villa Padierna

our friends reached Marbella last night but an hour before they did, we went to check their suite at the hotel and so my sister left them a little something on the bathroom mirror written with a lip liner .. ♥

my delicious Salmon fillet and ratatouille

My sister, W, digging in my other sister's dessert ...

and now she's digging in her own yummy pistachio postre

***
"A younger sister is someone to use as a guinea-pig in trying sledges and experimental go-carts. Someone to send on messages to Mum. But someone who needs you - who comes to you with bumped heads, grazed knees, tales of persecution. Someone who trusts you to defend her. Someone who thinks you know the answers to almost everything."
-- Pam Brown
***
I've always been the guinea-pig as I'm the youngest of five sisters I have lived with, and three other half sisters I wish I knew better ...
I have always needed them, trusted them, and loved them unconditionally ...
I love you my sisters ♥ all of you..

xX♥mosha

FASHION DOSE: dressed up for a night out in Spain♥

2011-07-05T13:46:00.006+04:00

as requested by Hadeel Al Jabri, a follower of my blog, here is one of my Spain outfits♥
make sure to check my bestfriend's newly born fashion and photography blog for a regular dose of fashion and inspiring photography
http://nouraalserkal.blogspot.com/ ♥

xX♥mosha

a Spanish diary♥

2011-07-04T16:17:00.008+04:00

Ritz Villa Padierna - Marbella

my baby nephew who I love to bits♥ baby Ahmed .. he calls me "moja" with a French J♥

" Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. "

This quote from Martin Amis' 80s novel "Money" probably was not pertinent to people at that time, or maybe they thought it was. Yet, I think it could not be any more relevant to anyone other than people from this time and age. Think of the number of distractions they had back then: TV, radio, and a basic computing? When today if you're not outside the house you're either playing with your iPad, surfing the net, watching shows, listening to music on you iPod, ….. and the list goes on. I, for one, have dreamt day and night in the past couple of months of a time off when I can just sit and do nothing at all, but that time has not been my friend as yet. Time passed by so quickly that I certainly cannot believe I've been away from home for more than three weeks. Sometimes I cannot even believe my eyes when I see the time on my cell phone reading 1 AM; it always feels like I just woke up … I try my best to make every hour of my day worth it whether in reading, watching something, swimming, or going out and exploring Spain as long as I am here. Therefore, I'm never doing nothing! Yet again time gets spent so fast that I run out of hours to spend sitting down and typing a blog post or surfing my favorite websites. Tonight, however, I have forced myself to stay awake and type for as long as I can keep my eyes open knowing for sure that this post will be published the next day.
Since I started planning my trip to Spain I've been setting goals and somewhat of a "TO DO" list in my brain, and yes in my brain " TO DO" is written in caps so that I would do them. The first goal was to learn some Spanish; not fluent Spanish of course since, realistically speaking, I don't see that happening anytime this century, but basic Spanish. I learned some words from here and there but what I am mastering (besides greeting somebody and asking them how they are doing) is ordering espresso with hot milk on the side then asking for the bill. Sounds silly but I can do it! I even sometimes order espresso not because I need an extra dose of coffee, but because I want to hear myself speak!
"un café con leche caliente aparte por favor " ( one coffee with hot milk on the side, please! ) .. if sugar is needed I would ask for "azucar" pronounced as "athokar" and a "cucharella" (teaspoon) to mix it … and when I'm done, I would ask for "la cuenta" (the bill) then leave … taddaaaaa!!!.. you're probably going like "what the hell" right now but it's amazing to me so don't kill my joy …
yesterday I surprised myself by saying "cuatro cajas de agua" (four boxes of water) to the lady at the grocery store after trying to put words together … I already knew that number four is "Cuatro" and I already knew that water is "agua" and I read "caja" on one of the signs at the grocery store so I knew it meant "box" … I thought for a while before opening my mouth and asking her in English and I was brave enough to say it and she understood!! Isn't that amazing? Maybe not but for me it's quite an accomplishment…

xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: five days in MADRID ♥

2011-07-04T04:22:00.005+04:00

and so the trip begins ....

HOLLYWOOD COLLECTION- Warner Brothers Madrid

Puerto de Alcala - Plaza de la independencia: built in 1778 - Carlos III

MUSEO NACIONAL DEL PRADO: world's finest collection of European art

piano play at RITZ HOTEL - Madrid

RITZ HOTEL - afternoon tea

MADRID CITY HALL - 1919

FAUNIA NATURAL PARK

a fruits shop that I thought looked nice!

dinner and a flamenco show at Corral De La Morera: a place that Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Hugh Grant Natalie Portman, Keith Urban and other celebz have visited over the years .. Check my Twitpics for celebrity pictures at the place..

xX♥mosha

Hola from Spain ♥

2011-06-20T17:49:00.005+04:00

I know it has been such a long time since I wrote anything and I do apologize for that and thank you all for the emails and tweets you have sent me. However, I do have my reasons for this absence. I was imprisoned in a stack of assignments and exams for a period long enough that I thought it would never come to an end. But it did, and when it did, I got on the first plane to Madrid to escape that madness. I'm back to the place where I found my peace of mind and joyous solitude last year. I'm in my heaven on earth, Marbella. If you were a follower of my blog even before its rebirth, you would know how much I loved Marbella last summer when it was my first time to visit. The nature, the history, the simplicity, and the calmness all succeeded in taking my mind off university work overload and calm me down last summer and it didn't disappointment me this year either although I should give Madrid some credit too, it was absolutely beautiful. From relaxation at hotel Villa Magna to fun at Warner Brothers theme park to muse at Museo del Prado to a night of flamenco at Corral de la Moreria, I enjoyed every bit of Madrid. However, I don't have any pictures to post in here other than the ones up there for now. But I do promise you loads of pictures in the coming posts. Until then, enjoy my twitpics and twitter updates

hasta luego!

xX♥mosha

♥ friends of the soul

2011-05-02T22:51:00.005+04:00

To every future there is a past,
to every life there is a cast,
to every song that’s there to sing,
there is a melody that will forever ring.

Every time she sees herself slowly getting detached from the strings of her slip-ups, someone seems to be grabbing her again, tying her to that tree of burden, and forcing her to suffer. She would give in to the agony and dwell in her sea of thoughts. In that ocean of notions sail cruisers with questions: what if what happened the first time has not happened? Would she be happy? What if what happened the second time has not happened? Would she be happy? What if what happened the third time has not happened? Would she be happy? What if everything falls apart the fourth time? Will she ever be happy?
No matter how one tries to stay away from what went before and forget about the times of yore, the “what ifs” and “what nots” always seem to find a gap between one’s thoughts and cross the threshold of one’s psyche. She could be going crazy for all I know travelling back and forth almost habitually to a place where she questions everything and wonders if what she’s doing is another slip-up. But how can one know if he/she is travelling an illusory path?
She turns to me because I’m the only one left for her; the only one by her side and the only one who will never judge after “the witches of Eastwick” have gotten on their sticks and flew off to hell leaving her behind… all alone. I watch her from far away letting her do what she feels is right not forcing her to do anything just because “I THINK” it’s the right thing to do. I basically go by the saying “let life happen to people”. So let her wander around, experience everything, go through happiness and sadness baring in mind that I will always be there to listen, to hug, and wipe off her tears. Someday those moments that could be seen as “mistakes” will turn into funny stories she can remember once she grows old. Let her be … no one will give her another life to screw up then laugh about after the one she was given. So, let her be…

speaking of friends of the soul, meet my new kitty friend Oprah, Chanel's 3 months old sister .. It has been around for two days and I'm loving it to bits ♥♥♥♥♥

xX♥mosha

cooking for Noura♥

2011-04-12T23:31:00.006+04:00

A night that got postponed over three times already finally took place; Noura, good food, The Doctors, Oprah, half a movie, and I! After freshmen year, almost everyone I used to hangout with has drifted apart and we barely know each other’s news anymore. some have changed and almost never say hi when they pass by me, some are still the same people I used to know but just got busy with university and have no time anymore for social life, and some no matter how busy they get, they’re always there and those are who I consider my real friends and Noura is one of them… Life can drive you through many paths and makes you stumble upon all kinds of people. Some pass by in your life like a winter breeze soon fading away, and some leave a huge stain of admiration and respect in your heart that no matter what they do to you or how long they forget about you, you still do love them. Many of the things Noura and I have talked about today revolved around our old friends who we once cared for … I guess we just miss freshmen year and miss those people … *sigh* …. OKAY Moment is over! So I got to prepare food for my friend today which *THANK GOD* I didn’t mess up. Usually when I cook, I cook for the pleasure of cooking that I barely ever prepare something that’s totally perfection. I love putting ingredients together and I love creating new dishes out of weird ingredients… I really do have fun cooking so the result is usually never important to me. And to be honest, I rarely ever eat what I cook! Alongside to my mother’s “3erseyyeh”, a traditional Emirati dish which Noura loves, and the maid’s corn, I made/served: 1. Club Sandwich Kabobs which is basically a club sandwich on skewers! (Picture above) Ingredients: Thick slices of whole grain bread roasted and cut into cubes- Deli Turkey- Deli ham - romaine lettuce - cherry tomatoes- cheddar cheese cut into cubes- mozzarella cheese cut into cubes- pickles thickly sliced .. Method: Thread the bread, ham, turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and pickles onto skewers and serve cold. (370 calories) – Recipe credit goes to Whole Foods Market iPad application. 2. Cucumber, Tomato, and Feta Salad – we spread this on Crustini mini bruschettes in Rosmary flavor. Ingredients: 1 Cucumber quartered length wise- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes- ½ cup feta cheese- ½ cup sliced black olives - Vinegar or lemon juice - Extra virgin olive oil - Sea salt, to taste - Ground pepper, to taste.. Method: In a small bowl, toss cucumber with cherry tomatoes. Add feta cheese and a handful of olives. Drizzle with a little vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil and season with salt and pepper. (160 Calories) – Recipe credit goes to Whole Foods Market iPad application.

3. For dessert, I know this might sound like an easy and worthless recipe but I assure you it really tastes good and I take the whole credit for it because I once made this recipe up when I was hungry after a long day at the university and found nothing else to eat at home! When I was in London, I got addicted to Yeo Valley’s organic yogurt that I used to have it every single night before going to bed [Tip: having yogurt every night can help you burn fat and lose weight]. When I came back from London, I found out that they sell it at the grocery store and that they also have it in flavors such as organic yogurt with vanilla and organic yogurt with honey. They might sound weird if you have never had them before but they sure do taste heavenly. So one day, I came back from the university, as I said earlier, feeling really hungry. In front of my eyes were green apples and Yeo Valley organic greek style yogurt with honey. I cut the green apples in cubes, added two table spoons of Yeo Valley yogurt on top and voila! I got myself a healthy meal! I made it today for Noura using green French apples and the same yogurt flavor and she loved it. It’s healthy, it’s easy, and it’s organic! Try it and let me know what you think. I always love reading your emails, lovelies!

xX♥mosha

أنشودة المطر ♥

2011-04-10T23:44:00.005+04:00

Oh I love it when it rains. I love the sound of heavy rain hitting my balcony and the smell of the air after it rains; very refreshing and very uplifting. But when it’s still raining, I love viewing the outside world getting bathed outside my window of hopefully all the lies, all the sins, and all the wrongdoings. It always feels as if God sent this rainwater in order to wash away all the evil and give people a chance to start over all clean and fresh. Such weather also makes me want to curl in bed with a warm drink and a good book or a good movie … and maybe a box of my favorite flavors of Laduree macaroons as well … or maybe a good poem? Oh أنشودة المطر ♥♥...

عَيْنَاكِ غَابَتَا نَخِيلٍ سَاعَةَ السَّحَرْ ، أو شُرْفَتَانِ رَاحَ يَنْأَى عَنْهُمَا القَمَرْ . عَيْنَاكِ حِينَ تَبْسُمَانِ تُورِقُ الكُرُومْ وَتَرْقُصُ الأَضْوَاءُ ...كَالأَقْمَارِ في نَهَرْ يَرُجُّهُ المِجْدَافُ وَهْنَاً سَاعَةَ السَّحَرْ كَأَنَّمَا تَنْبُضُ في غَوْرَيْهِمَا ، النُّجُومْ ... وَتَغْرَقَانِ في ضَبَابٍ مِنْ أَسَىً شَفِيفْ كَالبَحْرِ سَرَّحَ اليَدَيْنِ فَوْقَـهُ المَسَاء ، دِفءُ الشِّتَاءِ فِيـهِ وَارْتِعَاشَةُ الخَرِيف ، وَالمَوْتُ ، وَالميلادُ ، والظلامُ ، وَالضِّيَاء ؛ فَتَسْتَفِيق مِلء رُوحِي ، رَعْشَةُ البُكَاء كنشوةِ الطفلِ إذا خَافَ مِنَ القَمَر ! كَأَنَّ أَقْوَاسَ السَّحَابِ تَشْرَبُ الغُيُومْ وَقَطْرَةً فَقَطْرَةً تَذُوبُ في المَطَر ... وَكَرْكَرَ الأَطْفَالُ في عَرَائِشِ الكُرُوم ، وَدَغْدَغَتْ صَمْتَ العَصَافِيرِ عَلَى الشَّجَر أُنْشُودَةُ المَطَر ... مَطَر ... مَطَر... مَطَر... تَثَاءَبَ الْمَسَاءُ ، وَالغُيُومُ مَا تَزَال تَسِحُّ مَا تَسِحّ من دُمُوعِهَا الثِّقَالْ . كَأَنَّ طِفَلاً بَاتَ يَهْذِي قَبْلَ أنْ يَنَام : بِأنَّ أمَّـهُ - التي أَفَاقَ مُنْذُ عَامْ فَلَمْ يَجِدْهَا ، ثُمَّ حِينَ لَجَّ في السُّؤَال قَالوا لَهُ : " بَعْدَ غَدٍ تَعُودْ .. " - لا بدَّ أنْ تَعُودْ وَإنْ تَهَامَسَ الرِّفَاقُ أنَّـها هُنَاكْ في جَانِبِ التَّلِّ تَنَامُ نَوْمَةَ اللُّحُودْ تَسفُّ مِنْ تُرَابِـهَا وَتَشْرَبُ المَطَر ؛ كَأنَّ صَيَّادَاً حَزِينَاً يَجْمَعُ الشِّبَاك وَيَنْثُرُ الغِنَاءَ حَيْثُ يَأْفلُ القَمَرْ .

..مطر

xX♥mosha

2011-04-08T01:12:00.005+04:00

Our voices are incredibly powerful tools, and we need to make the most of them

In some situations, our solitary voices or gestures cannot possibly make a difference. Just like me feeding a hungry cleanco at the university will not get to the bottom of world hunger, or being by the side of a dear Palestinian friend or even someone who I barely know yet know of what his or her family is going through back home will not solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And most definitely, solving the problems between two friends will not result in world peace. Yet, I know I have healed a tiny bit of a wound caused by separation, nervous tension, starvation, or any kind of trouble any one could go through. What I say to someone could be neither here nor there, but at least I’ve shown that I care and that I’m aware. Therefore, I’ve probably made some changes in someone’s psychological state.

It could be hard for some people to express their feelings regarding what others think of them even if what others think is higher than what those people really are. Just like the issue of the stereotyping I mentioned in the previous post. I knew I was making a point and I knew that the issue I was speaking about exists and that’s evidenced by the emails I’ve received from people who wished their identity to remain anonymous. I really appreciate the fact that you trusted me with stories you would have never shared with anyone and trusted me with your real names. You girls have helped me with my paper and for that I’m grateful more than you said you were appreciative of me bringing up such a sensitive issue instead of just being ignorant and not trying to speak about it. Now that paper is submitted and spring break is on; a week of leisure and hopefully many blog posts.

Speaking of good deeds, if you would like to support the relief efforts in Japan, then dine at Kazu Japanese Restaurant at Yas Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi .. I have been there where the view is spectacular and the food is great.. so how about you have delicious Sushi for a good cause? For details and bookings call 026560600 xX♥mosha

poverty under a veil

2011-03-22T22:21:00.003+04:00

Let me tell start off with a story ….
Last semester I took a course called “Cultures in Contact” which basically talks about all aspects of culture … one of the issues we came across through the semester was the matter of stereotypes. The professor asked us about stereotypes that we have heard and my classmates started sharing stereotypes about women, about men, and about people from certain nationalities; some I’ve heard of and some sounded strange. One of the things that were mentioned that day was the stereotype that “All Emiratis are rich”. I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and go like “Excuse me?” but then again, it’s just a stereotype that is not necessarily true, and I sure believe that it is not true and there are people who are less fortunate everywhere in the world given that couple of times أخبــار الإمارات on Dubai T.V showed stories of people who are living scantily in this country and of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, visiting them and offering them the help they need. or stories such as this:

We moved on with our discussion, I passed the course, and here I am a semester later still remembering that comment that went through my ear more than four months ago.

I am currently reading a book by the famous *and much hated by some people* Egyptian author Dr. Nawaal El Saadawi. As much as I oppose her views, without doubt, about religion and questioning the abilities of God and the sincerity of Prophet Mohammed PBUH, I do agree with her views and writings when it comes to the issues of poverty, class, and feminism. Reading her book reminded me of that incident and people’s misassumption about Emiratis. It also reminded me of a comment I once heard saying that “every Emirati girl owns a Gucci bag”. That’s why I decided to take this direction and include this misassumption and elucidate it in my review.

This afternoon I had a meeting with Dr. Lilly Mabura , 2010 Caine Prize nominee for her short story How Shall we Kill the Bishop and who by the way I’m so proud to be one of her students, discussing the issue of “poverty under a veil” as my main focus for my next paper. That is, poverty that exists yet is never spoken about. We live in a society where people do not complain or discuss what they do not have. People here are positive and optimistic and never show that they’re in need, at least no one that I know of does. I’m not talking about those who can afford necessities but not luxuries such as “a Gucci bag”; I’m talking about people who can barely afford essentials such as food and good housing. I’m positive that they exist, but I don’t know any! Their misfortune could be caused by poor education and living off limited wage, yet they’re content and say “el 7emdellah 3ala kel 7aal” instead of complaining. That could be a good thing but it led to the misperception and the dispersion of the stereotype that “all Emiratis are rich”. I know some people who are misfortunate, and I met some girls who do not have any of the luxuries other girls get pleasure from. Thus far, I don’t know what it feels like to be outside the fortune sphere looking inside. I want to prove that it’s a misassumption about Emiratis, yet I don’t have factual substantiation other than very few stories of people my family knows. Yet again, most of them are expats who lived in the UAE for a long time. It’s a thorny issue to ask people about their fortunes and misfortunes. Hence, I don’t think anybody would be okay with me asking about their personal issues and feelings about hardship and adversity yet perceived as rich.
If you are, or if you know of somebody who is Emirati and facing privation, please do share stories with me via email, anonymously if you would like. Do share the feelings of being perceived as rich by people from other nations as if you have an oil rig in your backyard, yet you can barely afford necessities. I will really appreciate it as I need stories to support my main argument.
Most of my readers always email me so I think they’re familiar with this address, but here it is again mawzah@gmail.com and there it is on my the left. Hoping to receive your emails during the weekend, utmost.
Sincerely,
xX♥mosha

a life of despise, that I despise…

2011-03-12T19:17:00.003+04:00

Yes I know I have been away for a while, but I have my reasons. And what is a more compelling reason than university work overload to disengage me from my own happy place? The place where I can be myself without someone intruding, the place where I can speak my mind out without stepping on anyone’s toes, and the place I call home…
The number of people I can share my personal notions and views with is dwindling every single day. But can you blame me? I suppose this is what happens when you’re misjudged and neglected by the closest person to your heart; THAT in addition to building abhorrence after unconditional love.
All I can do is remain hushed in order not to harm the situation instead of helping it … I know there is no way I can help it since I’m not at all heard …
I will never live a life of despise, negativity, pessimism or a life that lacks passion …
I will never be like them …
So I will remain silent …
xX♥mosha

2011-02-22T17:39:00.005+04:00

Back when I was little, my life was much more organized that it is now. And no, not because my mother was ordering me around telling me when to study and when to watch TV; but because I appreciated “time” more than “this time” when I am an adult. Strange, isn’t it? I had this thought in my head that if I studied right after lunch, I’m going to have plenty of time to play in the backyard, wait for the ice-cream truck to pass by my house then watch my favorite shows and cartoons before having dinner and going to bed! Oh good old days … Even though I didn’t have siblings to play with, I managed to have my own “imaginary friends” and Sabaa … Sabaa was the first person I became friends with in school, she sat beside me in class from kindergarten up until grade 5 … that’s when she went back to her country, Iraq, and I never heard from her again …
Well, of course I had Rashed, my brother who is 6 years older than me, my secret keeper and the one I turn to when I’m mad at the world. I used to learn stuff from my favorite childhood show, “Keef w Laish” that used to air on LBC channel, and then go and annoy him with what I learned! Rashed and I used to have drawing competitions when we were bored and I always chose to compete on “who draws a bridge faster and nicer than the other” … simply because I learned how to draw one from Keef w Laish! That “drawing a bridge” time was there every single day ….

This semester I’m trying to organize my everyday schedule just as it was back then when I was a child … I can’t remember the last time I was in bed at 10 pm before last week. However, 10 PM is now my official bedtime during weekdays and I’m trying to finish everything that I have to do before 8 pm, that’s when I get in my bed and start reading my book!
I’m taking an interesting literature course this semester which is kind of like a book club … the professor assigns a book and the number of chapters we have to read for each class, and each class we would sit in a circle and discuss what we read… no midterm exams, no final exam, and no projects … just couple of pages we have to write about each book as reports and self-reflections. I love reading and I love literature and I’m certainly interested in gender roles which is exactly what we’re reading about … Currently reading: Where We Stand- Class Matters by bell hooks, an interesting autobiography about being a disregarded and slighted African-American growing up in a working class then growing up to be a rich and a famous writer! So every night I’m in bed by 8, reading what bell hooks wrote about herself and her life …

And since I’m the first one to sleep in this house behind a very thin wall where every night I have to overhear mom’s Turkish shows, I am in desperate need of having earplugs and here they are … Audrey Hepburn’s long tassel earplugs as seen on my favorite movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s …

I also ordered her sleeping mask but haven’t received it yet … tres jolie, non?
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: Three Phantoms in Concert ♥

2011-02-20T19:16:00.005+04:00

Last night, I attended "Three Phantoms in Concert" at Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Center and I really loved it ..
My favorite song of the night, besides the beautiful piano play by Anthony Gabriele, was "I hate men" from the musical "Kiss me Kate" .. It was performed really well by Gina Beck ..
Check out this performance of the song from "Kiss me Kate" the musical ..

xX♥mosha

to my unborn child ...

2011-02-13T21:36:00.003+04:00

To my much loved daughter who, at the moment, I don't know yet and don't know when am I going to meet,
The moment I knew this book was released I immediately purchased it for you ..
May you grow up to be as graceful and refined as Audrey Hepburn ..

Your mom!
xX♥mosha

a cooking class at L'atelier des chefs

2011-02-11T01:04:00.009+04:00

Noura ready to mince!

I wonder what Jawaher is doing behind the chef =/ !!

the scallops ..

after finishing everything, we all sat down on a table to have dinner and try the food we made ...

the sea bass

the dessert ..

I was locked in my room one night during finals week feeling suffocated from all the university stress and material to study. I recently, after spending two years and a half in the university, figured that business school is not really my thing! I love my major, which is marketing, yet I don’t like all the prerequisites and major courses I have to take like accounting, statistics, economics, and these dry courses! Anyhow, I wanted to do something I love and something that I’m interested in during the break besides partying and gathering with my girlfriends every now and then. Since no fashion-related short courses are taking place during this time *at least nothing that I know of*, I started Google-ing courses related to my other passions starting with Literature! I wanted to study something that has to do with Shakespeare’s work for example but unfortunately I didn’t find anything either! So I thought, why not cooking classes! I love cooking yet I’m nowhere near being a good cook. So I stumbled across L’Atelier Des Chefs cooking school and was impressed by the menus and courses they’re offering. So I picked “menu of the month” “Fish Cookery” class and arranged with my friends to attend it … we learned how to make roasted scallops with leeks and crisp noodles, sea bass, and pear and dark chocolate dessert. It was a fun new experience and we’re definitely going back there again to learn other dishes...

Recipes:
Roasted scallops with leeks, black truffle oil vinaigrette and crisp vermicelli noodles
Crisp fillet of sea bass with braised fennel and brown shrimp vélouté
Pear and dark chocolate crumble

sorry for the very bed quality of pictures.. taken using my blackberry !
www.atelierdeschefsdubai.com
xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: making use of Chanel's Camelia ♥

2011-02-04T16:20:00.006+04:00

I, myself, am wearing a Chanel Camelia ring with diamonds .. This ring means the world to me and I never take it off ♥

PS: excuse my Oysho pajama pants and my Plaza Athenee slippers in the pictures .. It's a Friday afternoon ;P

xX♥mosha

parisienne inspiration ♥

2011-02-03T16:38:00.005+04:00

If you ask me about my favorite part of the summer, I’d definitely say Paris. If you ask me about my favorite part of being in Paris, I’d definitely say visiting Coco Chanel’s apartment. You probably remember my very long Parisian post from my old blog with all the pictures and stories I learned from our “Chanel Apartment tour guide”, a French lady who works as the manager of Chanel Fine Jewelry and the person who made this overwhelming visit happen (Chanel’s apartment is not open to the public). But what you don’t know about my Parisian trip or specifically my visit to Gabrielle Chanel’s flat is that it really influenced my choice of interior. It is the huge inspiration behind my room.
Chanel is my forever number one muse and inspiration even though watching her movie about her relationship with Igor Stravinsky back in London showed me a side of her I bet she didn’t want anyone to see, but I still love her. I love her for making something out of herself after growing up at an orphanage, working as a singer for couple of years at a little café, working as a tailor, then a hats designer, and finally became the woman that we know of at the present time. She had a pretty tough life yet she managed to put herself together and never give up. Her apartment had a story of a lonely woman who has children sculptures by the door welcoming me in, only because she never had any children of her own. The walls, the handmade chandelier, the desk, the sofa, the little statues and figures, the wheat she had in a vase, the fireplace and the floral chairs… inspiration inspiration inspiration! No wonder Karl Lagerfeld and other designer go to sit there for hours every time they plan a collection. There is so much to look for over there and so many hidden stories to learn. Just the thought of being at the place where that legend once was is miraculous itself!

When I chose my wallpaper, I thought of Chanel’s Chinese screens with the dark background and light beige detailing. When I chose my lighting, I thought of Chanel’s huge handmade chandelier and the beauty of it. When I chose my bedding, I thought of Chanel’s suede sofa and its detailing where I sat on the same place she used to sit and took pictures of myself. You see the inspiration? Vous faites?

xX♥mosha

decorating my brother's penthouse♥

2011-02-03T08:33:00.005+04:00

Almost a week ago, mon frere asked me to choose some furniture for the penthouse he’ll be moving in soon using some Canadian online furniture stores. To tell you the truth, everything seemed so dull on these websites but I managed to put some pieces together from other websites and asked him to create a shop and ship account to make his life easier. I kept thinking of what suits a 25 year old single guy who’s working and studying abroad at the same time AND thinking of his personal taste. He’s the kind of guy who likes everything to be in very dark colors although he has a very colorful personality. For that reason, I tried to balance between both. Yet, I failed! He said the living room was so colorful for him and, in his own words, “so not me!”
So this is what I came up with along with some notes for him!.. & B.T.W, choosing furniture and fixing a room is so much more fun that polyvore-ing fashion! it's a first, but definitely not a last♥

xX♥mosha

Let's talk Spring/Summer 2011

2011-01-31T16:34:00.005+04:00

Now that I actually have plenty of time to sit and do my favorite things such as reading a book [finished reading Even After All This Time by Afschineh Latifi last night, very inspiring book], browsing my favorite websites, and polyvoring while playing some music, I thought of sharing with you some of my favorite Spring/Summer 2011 fashion trends..

Spring/Summer 2011 by far has the largest number of trends I would actually consider following than any other past season. I’m loving the 60s and 70s glamour, the crochet, the bold colors, the tassels, and of course the lace.

Yet I’m not the type of person who would follow trends straightforwardly and blindly, I like to add a touch of this and a touch of that here and there rather than wear one trend from head to toe which is probably obvious through my polyvores. I wouldn't wear lace or crochet from head to toe for example! but I would consider using the colors of the season or the decent trends on my abayas .. Last season, for instance, I added one of my favorite Fall/Winter 2010 colors "Living Coral" to one of my abayas with a beaded tassel .. lucky for me, tassels are in this season and I'm still loving the color ..

many of you have been sending me emails requesting a fashion-related post so here you go, you got one that's two seasons long ;)
xX♥mosha

Party: End of Semester Game Night ♥

2011-01-28T00:27:00.008+04:00

After locking myself in my room studying for one whole week and barely talking to anyone, having my university friends over for a game night was the best thing that could ever happen to me after that misery…
Thanks to everyone who made it to my “end of semester” party …

Enjoy the most played song of the night

xX♥mosha

I found my joy♥

2011-01-20T22:30:00.006+04:00

Since the weather has been wonderful lately yet I can barely do anything besides studying let alone go anywhere, I’ve been enjoying this lovely weather from where you can see above with Stevie Wonder on shuffle and some scented candles …

Bonsoir from my balcony!

Today I’ve witnessed the most wonderful thing that can happen in this world; at least to me it’s the most wonderful thing in the world, I don’t know about you! At 6-ish in the morning, I got outside my balcony to inhale some fresh air right after Al Fajr prayer and few hours before my first final exam. I saw the moon slowly hiding behind a bunch of clouds and gradually fading and the sun bit by bit thinning out its shine. Never have I witnessed that before and never have I been this serene in my whole life… it’s soothing to observe such conversion.

There are quite some splendors in life that we more often than not pay no attention to … find your joy between these neglected moments as I did …

Currently I’m sitting outside on the floor of my balcony (where I plan to put a small table and a chair set) … will soon go back to studying on candle light and Stevie Wonder in this marvelous weather.

xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: Family BBQ Gathering ♥

2011-01-15T21:41:00.004+04:00

Family life is full of major and minor crises -- the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce -- and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It's difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul. -- Thomas Moore

xX♥mosha

my own meaning of LIFE♥

2011-01-14T02:39:00.004+04:00

“It’s two something in the morning. It’s a Thursday. I did not nap this afternoon. I had a long day at the university. I just came back from a gathering. I should change into my pajamas and call it a night”, says the fatigued part of me. However, I chose to stay up and type for a little while.

What I learned from some class when I was a child is that “life” is what differentiates the living from the dead. As a young person, I took that definition plainly without any depth. Years passed and now I’m almost 21 years old and I’m starting to understand the real meaning behind these words that define life.

Just like a college paper, life should have a table of content and the content should be what you want it to be. Let’s say life is like a free writing paper where you can choose whatever topic to follow. Yet this topic has sections, branches, side notes, footnotes, and meanings between the lines. I’ve faced this situation many times when a paper that I have written has flaws that deduct my points yet in the second draft I still keep these flaws simply because I feel like they should be there. Not “grammatical” flaws. Not “structure” flaws. Not “choice of words” flaws. Just thoughts that my professors thought are not supposed to be in there but I’ve always felt like they should be merely because they give that piece of writing a whole different meaning, at least to me. And just like that, flaws are a part of life! a part that has meaning ..

I’ve done mistakes. A lot of them! Yet I do not regret one single defect that I’ve made. I’m not afraid to take chances. I’m not afraid to take risks. I’m not afraid to try new things and meet new people. Many attempts in these different areas have failed and I consider them to be mistakes. Yet, what is a life without mistakes? Is it better to stay always on the safe side, live your life by the book which doesn’t even exist since we did not come with a manual, and reach the end of your life feeling like a boring person who lived a life without excitement, fears, butterflies in the stomach, and thrill? Well, I don’t think so!

Sometimes I feel like I’m so uptight for my age and that I should loosen up a little. Yet, I feel like I’ve lived a fuller life so far compared to some people that I know who are older than me; people who understood life in the wrong way. I might be hated for being different and for being a hermit by those people. But who cares? I don’t live for anyone and no one is going to give me another life after I’m gone to relive. I’ve done mistakes that probably have drifted a lot of people away from me. But I learned from these mistakes. I’ve learned a lot and I’m glad that they even existed. Al Franken wrote in his book” Oh the things I know” a very memorable note. He said: Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from...

To me, real education is not what you learn by sitting in a classroom, taking the exam, and then forgetting everything that you have learned from that course. Real education is what you learn by yourself by exploring the world then applying it to your own life and make use of that knowledge. Make use of your mistakes.

Let tomorrow be a new day, with new mistakes, new life lessons, and new experiences...
Good night world
xX♥mosha

writing in pain ...

2011-01-04T23:24:00.007+04:00

I kept staring at the screen for two “Bound to Yous and a half” not knowing what to type down! It’s one of those days when my head is full of thoughts yet it’s very hard to let things out… especially when all the thoughts are racing their way out but, instead, they end up blocking the way and getting stuck at the exit. It’s one of those “weeks” when I’m very emotional, very sensitive, and let alone “very embarrassed” and in pain after a disastrous slide and slip over spilled water on the ground and falling down in the middle of the university’s Starbucks and hurting my ankle! at the moment when i was on the floor and everybody stopped talking, what i thought was "WHY DIDN'T I DIE?" But anyhow, I don’t want to start talking about how I’m feeling and what’s on my mind lately in order to avoid rolling down a very long list of depressing stories and remembering what happened few hours ago since I’m on the verge of crying … but still, I’m thinking of it as a Carrie Bradshaw moment … you know when she tripped and fell down on the runway during a fashion show? Yup, that one! Sometimes it makes me feel better to link the episodes of my life to a fictional TV show character lol but I don’t remember her being in pain! I am and I can barely walk. I hope that person who spilled the water is happy now! whatever happened to that hadith we learned in primary school that goes like من كبر الله وحمده وهلل الله وسبح الله واستغفر الله وعزل حجرا عن طريق الناس او شوكه او عظما عن طريق الناس وأمر بمعروف او نهى عن منكر عدد الستين والثلاثمائه السلامى فانه يمشي يومئذ وقد زحزح نفسه عن النار... people are very careless and not aware of what they're causing others!

Moving on to a happier place, the empty spaces in my room are finally getting filled with essential pieces. The walls have pictures of actresses I like including Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Tylor, and Marlyn Monroe in a Pop art kind of style which goes with the whole mood and décor of the room and my dressing room now has a shoe case similar to Jessica Alba’s (*lowers voice* but smaller, of course!) and handbags’ shelves as well (which did not fit everything btw!) …
What I’m not sure about though is the space behind my bed … a part of me wants to add a bed curtain and the other part wants to fill the wall with pictures since it’s plain beige and not patterned like the rest of the room… I don’t want to rush into furnishing in order to save myself the regret but I got couple of catalogs from Amazon in which I’ve been fishing for ideas in. Some of these catalogs reached me already and some I’m just too lazy to go pick up from the post office. But if you’re thinking of decorating an empty wall, you should check out Picture-Perfect Walls: Techniques & Ideas for Framing, Matting & Wall Arrangements by The Home Decorating Institute. It has some nice ideas which you can execute by yourself if you’re the creative person that I am not!

Other than decorating and publicly humiliating myself *oh, God! I will never get over this* , I’ve been curling on my sofa most of the time in my very comfy robe, with cup soap and countless episodes of Brothers & Sisters … this show is very addictive to the extent that I watched one season and a half in less than a week!

xX♥mosha

let 2011 be a year of hope & happiness ♥

2011-01-01T21:22:00.012+04:00

the view of Burj Khalifa's fireworks from Al Warga area, Dubai

Loving Noura's shawl by Niftee

What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of a year. ~ Ella Wheeler
Another year has passed of our lives and another year knocked the door offering new chances, new adventures, and new beginnings. I’m not the type that celebrates New Years, but this year I figured it will be nice to just gather around the people I love the most in this life to watch the fireworks and shiver under heavy jackets, shawls, and blankets. So, that’s exactly what happened. After digging in 4 pizza boxes and drinking uncountable cups of tea with milk to warm us up, we stood there waiting for a spectacular view. However, from where we were standing (Al Warga area), it looked like an explosion was going on! I’m assuming those who were near Burj Khalifa were amazed by the fireworks but I guess we missed something “amazing” as I’ve been hearing … but what mattered was the gathering that barely takes place in our lives!
The temperature dropped down to 9 C and we were freezing cold so we decided to take our gathering to Khawaneej house and enjoy two rounds of Uno which I won TWICE!
Thinking of 2010, it was actually a good year in spite of the occurrence of some obnoxious events.
Wishing you all a very happy new year and wishing my blog a very happy birthday …
That’s right! Today Fashion Hermit is two years old even though I deleted those years off its life!
Enjoy every crumb of 2011, lovelies♥

xX♥mosha

Picture Diary: a fluffy thing called Chanel ♥

2010-12-26T21:22:00.010+04:00

"With their qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?" - Fernand Mery, Her Majesty the Cat
xX♥mosha

a thing called Nostalgia♥

2010-12-25T15:42:00.005+04:00

Because everyone thought I was a boy named Abdullah up until the minute I was born, my first teddy bear was blue … *sigh*
And even though it was blue, I loved it … and I still love it … and I kept it in a box with all my childhood memories just so that none of nieces or nephews feels the need of crying just to have it … because, I would never give it to anybody … not in a million years!
I entered my room couple of days ago after a long day at the university and saw it right there on my bookcase staring at me … Even though I locked it away by choice, it felt like a mother seeing her baby after many years of being taken away from her … I carried it, sat on my bed, and turned the key on its teddy butt, and kept listening to the music and staring at it… felt nostalgic? You bet!
So T Bear is on my bed now next to Tiffany, a teddy bear Mahra got me when we were in London over the summer and named it Tiffany after my favorite movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s...

xX♥mosha

keep calm& rise above the blues♥

2010-12-23T14:22:00.006+04:00

They say success is doing, not wishing… but it seems like no matter how much I try to focus, there is something pulling my mind away … maybe because it’s actually the weekend and we’re supposed to enjoy ourselves more than burying our heads under a pile of work? I don’t know! But something just doesn’t feel right about studying on a Thursday! However, there is no escape! Or maybe there is an escape once I curl on my sofa with some episodes of Brothers & Sisters! but, it’s the time of the semester when I lock my social life in a closet, swallow the key, and work! but I always think of that "someday" when I’ll look back and smile, as people say! …

Look back on time with kindly eyes,
He doubtless did his best...
How softly sinks his trembling sun
In human nature’s west!
- Emily Dickinson 1924

xX♥mosha