Home is where the heart is: when Suki decorates

Take a couple of minutes to think about the house you're living in right now....
Imagine that you've been evicted and you have to pack up and leave in the next couple of hours...what will you envision when you look at every room for the last time? When you walk out and look behind you at the door, after 2,5 or 10 years of living there you realize that everything's been reduced to memories. You might think of the days you locked yourself up in that place to format your mind, the times you would kick back and relax with your friends, the dinner parties or the candle light dinner you prepared for you and your special someone, the breakfast you would look forward to on the weekends with your favourite neighbour, the time you got prepped up and ready for that date that changed your life, or that job meeting that opened new doors for you. While I moved from one house to another during my student years in Toronto, I always spent my last day in each place, reflecting on all the things I had experienced during my stay. Even though they were all temporary homes, my heart would still rush if I were to pass by them.A home is a reference point in your life, because it reminds you of who you were when you were living there. 

Suki has stepped back into the sweatpants she had worn out in university. She is back at her parents' house and there is nothing stopping her from looking and feeling like a bum. After months of waking up early to dress up for meetings and events, she had missed walking around with not an ounce of makeup on her face. Not to say there weren't days when she was mistaken for the janitor at her office, or the "baladiyye" officer, but lately she had become a walking-talking ad machine which is why she had to look good all the time. Her facial muscles were suffering the consequences of all the smiles she's had to hold still...Afterall that's the face that was now reflecting the magazine she passionately worked for, and being the perfectionist that she is, she always made sure to leave an impression on the people she met. Right now though, she was at the comfort of her childhood home and the only obligation she had was setting the table for dinner. She remembers being all dolled up for her 12th grade prom and taking photos in the living room with her date and returning from her studies abroad to a crisp bed and an aura of freshly baked cookies. She left and returned, left and returned, left and returned as a new person each time. But the home remained the same, the comfort was still there. Now she had returned as a working woman, not a student nor a post-graduate, unemployed procrastinator, and the home had welcomed her the way it always did. Being there made her think of  the new apartment she had recently moved into...In a city that can easily suck you into a black hole of meaningless friendships that evaporate faster than you can recover from a hangover...How can she ever recreate the comfort of her childhood home in her current living space? 

We all want to have a beautiful view, a huge balcony, a lovely garden, lots of daylight...etc. but we have to make do with what is available to us right now and build our lives around it. I went from living on the 22nd floor of a luxury tower to the 1st floor of a 22 floor building. I've always liked to have a unique living space, and there's something about the large terrace in my studio apartment, that spoke to me. I instantly imagined lanterns and strings of light hanging from the ceiling, colourful table cloths and large cushions spread across the floor...melodramatic Lebanese folkloric music playing in the background, and my guests mixing and mingling while sipping on wine and munching on treats. New friends, old friends, work friends I want to make an impression on, all gathered at my Bohemian house warming on the terrace for a night to remember.

I'm no interior designer, but i love to decorate and i'm going all out with this house. It is true that Dubai is a transitory place, and many people refrain from spending too much time or money on decorating their homes. I did that during uni, i used a shoe rack as a multi purpose shelf for years and that's because I knew I was only there temporarily and was living a student life. When you start earning money, it completely changes the way you think; as a young professional you now have the privilege toIndulge. Some people indulge in shopping, some in travel, and others in....decorating! The process of "indulgence" itself, is therapeutic especially when you feel you've earned it through your hard work! The energy you put into your work, everyday, is reflected through whatever it is that you decide to spend on.Simply put, if we think of our energy being circulated through money then we won't see that beautiful carpet we bought as a splurge but rather an objectification of our thoughts and emotions. its colours, its shape, its patterns...etc I'm not saying you succumb to the very purpose of advertisers' jobs,which is to touch on people's emotions to sell products, and to spend half your salary on designer purses; I'm saying that a good way to be grateful for the money we have, no matter how much it is, is to acknowledge and appreciate how it came to us and how it's leaving us. Maybe the more thankful we are, the more motivated we become to pay it forward...just some food for thought :) (i will share with you my story in a later post)

My current form of indulgence is decorating my home, and here are some of my observations from this experience:
1- Start off with a base color(s) which helps you find everything else! (mine are white and brown)
3- Recycle--- if you already have an old piece of furniture, either integrate it with new furniture or refurbish it!
4- Go on the lookout for random things you can use as furniture. I.e you might be surprised by what you can find at a construction site! Mix them up with regular furniture pieces, so that they stand out.
5- Consult yourself! I feel like our fashion style is very similar to our decorating one. I, for example, am boho chic, feminine with a touch of edge, and I also love mixing ethnic prints and patterns
As a Cancerian, who are known to be crafty, I like to make things myself. My decor style is that of romanticism and I like creating a garden/cottage aura in my house. We are nostalgic creatures by nature,  and like to keep a connection to the past through our decor and the colors we choose.

6- Look at space from a different perspective..and this is not only related to the space inside your home. It's liberating to think of space as abstract, as something malleable rather than a concrete reality. (that was one of my favorite classes in uni) Just because something is shaped a certain way, or has a specific purpose, doesn't mean we can't play around with it. I compare this to the ideology of "Parkour," we used to practice parkour all the time when we were kids, but as we grow up the way we perceive space changes because we become more and more influenced by the norms of society. Realistically, we don't all have the guts to run around and jump over walls on our way to work but we can, for example, use its philosophy when decorating our home. 

"It is about overcoming and adapting to mental and emotional obstacles as well as physical barriers.It is about the idea of "human reclamation," a means of reclaiming what it means to be a human being." Of course, this topic can be elaborated on ALOT, and it may even be hard to understand. But it's simply about contradicting the space you are in, which is what i tried to do in Canada and Lebanon, in my own way.

Here are some of my decor inspirations:

For the photos i'd like to hang on the wall, I chose this idea. (above) it seems fairly easy to make and would look great with my wooden interiors!all you need is the frame,thread and wooden laundry clips!

I loved this idea of putting your pretty perfumes on a cake plate!! If you like to display them like I do, this  looks very elegant and neat!

I will definitely be putting my magazines on display on a wooden ladder, afterall some of them even have my name in them! (left) and the plant pot (right) hanging in a vintage kettle looks lovely

from funky junk interiors
the bed i've chosen has the same headboard on which I want to hang jewellery and colorful scarves..

from The Decorista
in the cardboard garbage pile below my building I found a round wooden device used for construction (which there is never a lack of in Dubai) so I had the idea of either giving it a great paint job, or adding a round mirror to the surface!

Since my studio has a high ceiling,I have to figure out ways to make it cozy. I'm making a reading corner next to my bed that looks like the one above and putting a chandelier that hangs low to cut through the open space!

from The Decorista
You can find these chairs on the streets in Lebanon, but in Dubai everything is "new" so they're either non existent or cost a fortune. You can get very creative with the simple wood by adding colorful or patterned seating pillows. I'm seriously thinking of getting completely unmatching chairs! 

From the Decorista
I really like the perfectly cluttered wall (left) and the patterns of the rug and pillows (right)

Start the New Year by redecorating your house; it's a great way to reflect on the one gone by, and the things it taught you about  yourself! :)

Street Meat: Meet Suki, the protagonist.

“You don’t strike me as the kind of person who can sit at a desk all day, editing books. It requires a lot of patience, and you have way too much energy to pursue this as a career.” An academic advisor said to me four years ago. It was -15 degrees outside, and one of those days when irrational behavior was completely expected. I wanted to take on professional writing as a minor and couldn’t stand the fact that I wasn’t actively devoting my time to writing. Even though I wrote 15 page research papers almost every week. So I took her advice, and dropped the idea. But it still lurked somewhere inside my head, since the 6^th grade, I wasn’t over it yet. I wanted to tell stories.Whether it was through dance, theatre or writing. How do you get inspired to tell stories? Well, you live everyday as though it were a story to be told. You observe, you take in, you reflect, you connect, recollect, and decorate the final image you have in your head. Everybody has a story to tell, you just have to convince yourself that who you are, where you are and what you are doing at the moment, is all part of that story. Hence, nothing is bad nor good. It just is.  

Take me for example. At the moment, my character plays a high end magazine editor in the city of Dubai. No she doesn’t work for the Anna Wintour type, like in the Devil wears Prada, she actually has a strong yet acknowledging and compassionate editor-in-chief whom she looks up to very, very much. Her boss only met her once, and the union wasn’t planned nor expected. 

Photos from "The Devil wears Prada"...kind of what I look like at the moment.

Suki, (my character) had spent almost two years, doing this and doing that, feeding her indecisive mind with nonsense. Or so she thought. She later would discover that nothing is nonsense, and in fact, everything she did was part of a larger ball of energy that would bring her closer to what she’s always imagined for herself. Until then, she had to master “the art of uncertainty.” Suki arrived at the airport, an all too familiar place that had witnessed the beginning and ends of many chapters in her life, but this time there were no tears. She found herself in the same spot she stood in, 6 years before, comforting a loving mother who was about to send her 18 year old daughter into the world. A lot had happened in the past 6 years, and while it may not seem like a long time to you, it represented a lifetime to her. A brief flashback and a deep breath later, she was in the boarding section waiting for her plane to arrive.

She waited, and waited. But her plane wouldn’t arrive. 5 hours after her initial boarding time, she was still there, waiting. A sandstorm in the City of Life, had caused a delay to her flight. I repeat. Only her flight. During the 8 hour wait, however, she met some very interesting people. One of them was an Australian consultant who ended up reassuring her that if she were to miss her flight and fail to make it to her interview, he would contact all the people he knew at that company, to tell them her case. He proceeded to give her a mock interview, and train her in corporate pr. 8 hours is a long time… That whole week she went to her interviews, dressed up in her corporate attire, pretending to be someone she’s not. It didn’t speak to her heart. Perhaps, their meeting was not a coincidence? A couple of days later, she would be revisited by someone in her past.

That someone had met her only once and was impressed by her enthusiasm, attitude and ambition. As it would turn out, the “nonsense” she had been up to, would open the doors to her future. But Suki had been looking through the window and was hesitant about the sudden U-turn her mind would have to take if she were to change the direction of her eyesight. She trusts her strong instincts, after all she is a cancer, and sits in a café after her interview. She looks down at the stack of magazines laid out in front of her, and glides her hands over the glossy papers. 

My first day at work, flipping through the magazines..

She flips the pages, breathes in the fresh odor of newly printed paper and her 12 year old self appears in her mind. She is reminded of the joy she felt as she organized her Goosebumps collection on her shelf. The sight of her novels lined up according to size which then developed into bulky academic books she refused to get rid of. She was attached to her books, they were her prized possessions. The reason behind her current technophobic habits. *The sound of construction outside obstructs her nostalgic thoughts* Without thinking any further, without planning or calculating she decides to take the job. Discrediting her initial thoughts of irrationality, a newfound belief in herself gives her a rush of confidence.

***

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been three months, and I just closed my second issue. When I first moved to Lebanon last year, I wanted to meet people. Through CaféBeirut, I met Rana and through Rana
 I met my current boss. I put myself out there, and took initiative. I interviewed designers, did photoshoots for fun and promoted artists whose work I appreciated. I got invited to fashion shows and launches, and after leaving Lebanon I was asked to review St.Elmo’s restaurant. Sure, it was fun. But it all felt too small. Never did I think that I would end up doing all those things on a higher more professional level.  Was it possible for me to get paid to write about food, well-being, fashion, society and health? I guess the energy that I put into this blog is what led me to the life I’m leading now….

1 month later..my first issue 

The life of an editor is quite interesting actually. It all starts with laying out an issue and brainstorming on what will go in there. Other than working on the issue itself however, there’s a lot of networking involved. My calendar fills up with events, media presentations and launches for high end brands that I have to attend. This is where the pr comes in. Some events stand out more than others. Many of them take place in malls, and others occur in luxury hotels and special venues. Some of them manage to stand out, others fail to do so.

                                                                        ***

Suki arrived at the media breakfast for a high end jewelry brand. It was in her nature to socialize over a meal, and breakfast was her favorite one. But on this morning she was nervous. Afterall, people were starting to notice the new face and were becoming more and more interested in putting a name to it. Walking into the venue was like walking into a high school cafeteria as a teenager, on your first day of school. Standing at the entrance, glancing around for a spot to sit in, fully aware of all the eyes that are measuring your every move. Trying your best to look nonchalant while hiding your braces and the fact that you’re actually a nervous wreck. You wait for that one smile, one wave, one sign of friendliness that can instantly bring back your confidence. Suki was surrounded by successful people, not 15 year old high school students. Editors and sales managers of some of the biggest magazines in the city, and around the world. But it felt the same. The popular kids sat together, laughing and chit-chatting. And even though some of them recognized her, no one invited her to come sit with them. Holding her dignity very high, she proceeded to the back of the room where she would find a comforting seating with her colleague. Then it comes, the first sign of friendliness. Two people she briefly met before, join her table and express their fondness of her. They go on to introduce her to other people. Although she may seem like a social butterfly, she actually gets very nervous on these occasions. When she senses a positive vibe, she doesn’t shy away from talking to people, introducing herself and making a connection. But it seems as though, that positive vibe doesn’t come around that often in this field. Why can’t everyone just be…nice?  

the media breakfast...just so you have a visual :)

Stylights: "Gather ye Rosebuds, while ye may"

If you like this outfit, scroll down to read my Stylights

The Cambridge Satchel in Neon 

The Belt turned bracelet

The Feather necklace turned belt

The Scarf turned turban, perfect for bad hair days!

The neon tipped camel heels and antique cuff (found at the old souks in Lebanon)

AND VOILA! THANK YOU, COME AGAIN.

I hope you you liked this outfit...If you just dig deep into your existing wardrobe, you'd be surprised at the multitude of outfits you can come up with! Think outside the box and use your long necklaces as belts and your thin colorful belts as bracelets! If you're having a bad hair day, wrap a scarf around your head as a turban. They're cheap, flexible and a must have for styling this season!
Stay tuned for more of my tips!

"Gather ye Rosebuds, while ye may" - Robert Herrick
a.k.a. Seize the Day/Carpe Diem

Street Meat: New York, New York

Flashback. I take a cab from La Guardia airport on the way to my friend’s house in Tribeca, and I have a moment. Like every taxi ride from airport-to house, I fall into a trance. As cliché as this may sound, I’m on the Brooklyn Bridge, looking out at the Empire state building and Jay-Z’s song comes up (I kid you not): “New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of”…blab la bla “lights will inspire you, they’ll make you feel brand new. Now, you’re in New York, New York, New York!” My heart feels like it’s going to explode from happiness and excitement. This is it. I wanted to come to this city years ago, but it never worked out, especially not on the student budget that I was on. Typically I stayed with my friend from childhood (also from Saudi) who was attending the New York film Academy, doing her masters in Acting. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide to show me around this city. The kind who would stand in the middle of Time Square where all the billboards for musicals are and break out into a hairspray soundtrack with arms facing towards the sky: “Good morning, Timeeeee square!your lights are woooonderful!”  The kind who would watch The Lion King musical with me, even though she’s watched it 7 times already. The kind who would walk me across the Brooklyn Bridge and back and central park from one end to the other. The kind who would patiently take my picture while I posed in front of every landmark that made the vaguest reference to my childhood. John Lennon memorial site, the café in which Friends was filmed, the Rockefeller center where Kevin stands in front of the huge Christmas tree and reunites with his mother in Home Alone 2: lost in New York…the cathedral where Carrie gets married in Sex & the City. Okay, that was adulthood not childhood. I was living the moment, not thinking for a second about life after graduation, “the real world,” and all that bull. Not because I didn’t care, but because I had cared too much in the past 22 years.

After a month long inspiring and impromptu graduation trip to Toronto, New York, L.A,Vegas and London, which I will have flashbacks to more often in this thread, I returned to… Saudi. No, that wasn’t easy. My heart was very happy to be there with my family, in my old room, with my old albums and cds, and memories of a time that seems eons away. But my mind was elsewhere….oh this mind of ours how it can completely paralyze us and stray us away from the present. Why was my mind driving me crazy? Simple. I was anxious to get this thing started. I was impatient and didn’t want to “waste” time. And I was uncertain of where I was going. It drove me insane to think that I was sitting in Saudi doing “nothing” after spending 4 four years working my ass off and living like a polar bear to obtain this piece of paper that was supposedly going to help me get a job I love in no time. Deep inside though, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I knew that it was going to be a challenge, because that’s who I am. I am not satisfied with something I haven’t earned, or struggled to obtain.

So I complained and complained, for my parents to send me to Lebanon. Then like a crying baby who eventually shuts up and realizes that they’re being annoying, I stopped and said: “alright, if this is where I’m meant to be, bring it on. I’m ready!” My dreams and ambitions can wait a little bit, let’s see what my time here has in store for me. Perhaps a spiritual objective, or something related to family bonding?

Still my mind was restless. I started jotting down ideas, making business plans…maybe I’ll design purses? Or wait, I’ll start a matchmaking service…my grandmother did it, my mother did it, I do it all the time, we should be matchmakers! I did the whole planning only to get this feedback: “people are gonna think you’re pimping girls out.” So I dropped that one. Or did I? Maybe I should start a network for artists in the Middle East? Or do something that exposes me to creative people? A blog perhaps? That is when I started brainstorming on CafeBeirut, but guess what else I ended up doing? the reason behind my NYC flashback…

My mother is a nursery teacher, and the school she works in was begging me to be a substitute teacher as they had a teacher who was going on maternity leave and they desperately needed someone. Which grade? Kg2. As in 6 year olds. As in 24, 6 year old kids. Oh Hell to the no. I didn’t get a degree in media studies only to become a kg2 teacher! At the time I turned it down, I was still in the whining and complaining process. The time when I was constantly reassuring myself: “Oh I’m only here till January, no need to fill up my time with nonsense. I’ll just read some books, work on my blog and chillax.”

2 months later. I took the job. And I must say I’m glad I did because it was a unique experience that I cherish. I acquired patience (to some extent) with kids, thanks to my assistant of course who made it easier. I learned that the New Moon, is when the moon isn’t at all visible in the sky. I got to feel like I’m actually good at math. Most importantly though, I got to laugh. I got to laugh at how simple life used to be when we were children, and didn’t have a care in the world besides receiving a sticker from the teacher we’re trying to suck up to. Their innocence made me put aside my overachieving self, and not take life so seriously. Give every moment the time it deserves and understand that if it’s there, then there is something to take from it. I refer to this story everytime I’m in doubt about something…

Finally, the part about New York. The graduation song that I taught the kids for their “transition” to the 1^st grade, was a variation of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” 

It went something like this: "Start spreadin the news, we're leavin' today. We're gonna BE a part of it. 1st grade 1st graaaade!"

Ha, from cab ride in Manhattan, to KG2 classroom in Saudi. Who would’ve thought? 

Fastforward to the present: I'm standing in the middle of a huge studio, looking at a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge on a projector screen, preparing to do a photoshoot for Carolina Herrera, the theme is Breakfast at Tiffany's and the model looks every bit like a resurrection of the late actress...to be continued

(see previous post - Street Meat: The Move)

REPRESENT,Lebanon...

Downtown Beirut...decades ago          (Vintage postcard)

Downtown Beirut...Today

Photos by: Nareg D.B.

Location: Saifi village, Beirut.

Musical Inspiration:

Adonis - Ma Kan Mafroud

                                                                      

Read my review of one of my favorite Lebanese folkloric pop bands....

So I've sort of become the ambassador for these "Lebnen" bags by Designs by Kay...I wore them around Beirut city and now I'm parading them in Dubai. It's like taking a piece of Lebanon with me wherever I go..these statement pieces are simple yet powerful...

I've already mentioned where exactly you can find them in Beirut, in a previous post, on the link above. 

If you live in Dubai and would like one of these bags, but with "Lebnen" written on it not "Dubai" get in touch with me and I'll make sure you get one! :) Check the fb page for sizes and colors!

A Cinderella story with Pailiani, on the streets of Beirut City.

It all started when I dragged my cousin along to see a side of Bourj Hammoud we had never seen before. An artistic one. This place has many stories to tell, and alot of history for me. Afterall it is where my mother grew up, where she and her family sought shelter from shelling and where they saw color tv for the first time...to name only a few. But to see it from an artistic, and inspirational perspective, is really something else. You walk through the buzzing streets and you can hear the sounds from each atelier; the ticking of a sowing machine's needle, the jewelery maker's hammer banging consistently on his wooden work desk. Just across my grandma's house, is my cousin's shoe making workshop. I used to peak in during the summer to see what they were working on..the fabrics, sketches and prototypes. Of course their style is different since they cater to a local Lebanese market, but I loved watching them hard at work. A couple of doors down, but on the same street, is where Vartan's been making purses for the past 24 years that I've been passing by his window...These are but a few of the artisans who have turned Bourj Hammoud into the vibrant market that it is today. During my last trip to Lebanon, I attended the Varbed createur event that showcased the younger generation of Lebanese-Armenian craftsman. Missak Haji-Avedikian is one of the designers I had the pleasure to meet and keep in touch with.

Another designer was Hrag Pailian, a shoe designer carrying on his father's legacy. A former Guiseppe Zanotti intern and graduate from Italy in shoe design, he came back to Lebanon and started his own line, under the name of Pailiani Design. I fell in love with his designs and suggested he work with me for a spring-summer lookbook. A couple of days later, we planned a quick photoshoot in Gemmayzeh and took some beautiful pictures. I also paid a visit to his atelier, where we listened to the music that inspires his designs. And he told me the story behind this guitar....


and how he got Steve Vai to sign it. He told me about all his adventures in Italy and the concerts he attended. Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Skid Row, Scorpions, Deep Purple...to name only a few. He even missed his train once after a Santana concert, and decided to sleep outside. The concert tickets he held on to, (seen above) are part of the memories that inspire him...I asked if he regretted leaving Italy and if he'd want to go back there. Yes, was an obvious answer. But he was in Lebanon to continue what his grandfather started decades ago. This week he gets to add another ticket to his collection, BB King, the legendary blues singer who has a concert in Beirut.
He plays the guitar, obviously, and wears a pick around his neck. He listens to live concert sets while sketching in the early a.m., when everybody else is sleeping. The Atelier is his stage, his pencil is the guitar, the lines on the paper are his melody....and I'm his groupie :)

Moving on to the collection. Now I don't have the most beautiful feet or legs, but somehow all the shoes were a perfect fit!
Here are my picks and favorites from the collection, and the pictures I chose for my blog. You can check out the rest of the gorgeous collection on the Pailiani facebook group.

Detailed to perfection...

Photos taken by: Nareg D.B.

These photos haven't been edited, they are just the ones I kept for my blog.  You can find the ones that are being used for the lookbook on the Pailiani Design facebook group.
The designer also works on custom orders for private clients and is currently looking to expand his business to other countries in the Middle East, so if you're a buyer or you know one, do get in touch!

Hope you like the photos! :) 

Trash, treasure or Trashy Treasure?

On my last night in Lebanon...I decided to hang out near the beach Lebanese style with two bags full of "bazella" and "foul," I never knew these were considered snacks before...but I found myself addicted to them! We sat by the water, taking in the sound of waves crashing into the rocks. The surface was covered with dots of light coming from the fishermen's boats...and a small breeze would pass by every couple of minutes to remind us of how beautiful spring is in Beirut...Far into the distance, another marvelous sight stands tall...A dark, prominent feature of Beirut's skyline overlooks the sea...Mount GARBAGE. Yes, a mountain of Garbage. Now I myself don't know much about this issue in Lebanon, but I do know that recycling does not exist. Anywhere in the Middle East, for that matter. Everytime, I throw away things that could easily be recycled, I get a sick feeling inside. Although Lebanon is not exactly environmentally friendly, I know many organizations are making an effort to clean out the beaches and the streets. But they're a large minority. Which brings me to a small space in Mar Mikhael, called L'Atelier where an art exhibit called "Trashy Treasures" is taking place....

A chair made out of a barrel...

My tour guide tells me many of the small garages in Mar Mikhael are being turned into ateliers and workshops. Love Live Art! That's just what Lebanon needs, more art, less cars!!!! I first heard about this event through a fashion designer whom I interviewed and who is also a part of the participants. Designers including architects, interior designers, and artists (for a full list, check out their facebook page) had turned unexpected things into masterpieces! I enjoy coming out to these events and being surrounded with inovative people who appreciate the beauty of art. I myself recently enjoyed renovating an old table which I named a Plastik Table. Check out some of my favorite pieces below!

This is a chest (coffre) ... Do I need to say anything else? ;)

A Ghandour biscuit table (left) Bon Jus and Coca Cola (right)

you will never guess what the stools on the left are made of!...the thing that turns in a washing machine!! (left) The display on the window by Lara Khoury (whom I interviewed last week) Old wine boxes with staples of Lebanese heritage inside them...(right)

 It's good to see this concept of recycling being reflected through Art in Beirut...They always said one person's trash is another person's treasure. I though maybe they should've made something with car wheels, the infamous "Douleb" could be used for more than cars, swings, keeping away mosquitoes or ....in the case of Lebanon...blocking roads. At least instead of causing more unnecessary pollution, we can be doing something good for the ever-suffering environment of Lebanon. Nevertheless, this makes me want to look around my house for old things I can renovate and make beautiful!

To see the full list of designers, dates and the location, check out the Trashy Treasures event page... but there's alot more to see than the photos above! Make sure to check it out in person, and have yourself a delicious cocktail courtesy of Dictateur's bartender :)

Home is where the heart is: a Cozy ambience

Via Cosmopolitan magazine

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite pages from Cosmo that I had ripped out last year. I love being a good host, having people over, and creating a welcoming mood for people to let loose and enjoy themselves. When I lived in Toronto, I stayed in the student village seen here in Nelly Furtado's video clip actually. One day, one of our 8 housemates (yes, the place was like the U.N) who liked hanging out in our turf (the ground floor which was inhabited by my 3 friends and I) decided to pimp out the house in an attempt to please us. Apparently, he had recently inherited a whole lot of money and he wanted to spoil us with it. So...he bought a pool. An inflatable 15 person pool with a ladder :) We were the only house in the whole area, of about 500 student townhouses, to have a pool....because it was illegal since only one side was fenced up which could lead it to pose a drowning threat. There weren't any children living in the area....but there were drunk 1st-year students roaming around the streets.
Anyway, the pool became a landmark attracting people and students from all over the Village.(it really was called the village by the way) Since sunshine itself was a luxury, having a pool was the equivalent of having a private jet. It was a great attraction for guests, and fun nighttime barbecues.

In Lebanon, there was Pandora. The tent I had set up in my balcony during the whole summer. A beautiful view of the medditerranean sea matched with a heavenly evening breeze, made it a go-to destination, or a come-to destination :) I placed a lantern on the rail, and a large plant, you know to create a natural environment, and decked out the interior with mattresses, pillows and covers. And That's one of the benefits of living alone, you get to turn the balcony into a a camp site...Pandora welcomed many guests over the summer, and everyone loved her. Especially after long nights of partying and interacting with people, Pandora helped us unwind and lay down under the stars to the sound of chirping crickets...It's so easy to complain about Lebanon and all its defaults.Actually, it's fairly easy to complain about any country. Whether for me it was, Saudi, Canada, or Lebanon...
In order to cope with this attitude, I always came up with ways to have certain elements in my home that transport me far away from the stresses of everyday life..Not to say I live in a state of denial, on the contrary, I am perfectly aware of the particular circumstances that can negatively affect my mood..and those that can easily boost it. In this case, it was the silence of the night, the summer breeze, sleeping outdoors, and being surrounded by people who share the same desires...

Of course, you don't need an inflatable pool or a tent in order to feel that way... Here are easy ways to make your home therapeutical and cozy enough to both alter your mood and that of your guests.

1- Go big with candles
To add drama to your place, try placing different colored candle sticks on your candle holder. Pink, red, blue, yellow, orange...etc Put them in "surprising vessels, like eclectic tea cups or clay gardening pots" as seen in the photo above.  
2-Have Scents Appeal
"Boil cinnamon sticks in water for a few minutes to get a warm, homey aroma. or put some lemon, lime and orange slices )with peel) in a cute bowl for an upbeat, citrusy fragrance."
4-Add some playful stuff
"Ambience doesn't have to be about getting intense. A string of lights will keep the tone in your place breezy and fun. Wrap it around a large picture frame, a plain lamp, or your mantle." (p.s use plain ones, not multi colored xmas lights!)
5-Bring nature inside
"Seashells or other natural elements like river stones are unexpected and give a casual feel. Place them in a rough-hewn bowl,where you would normally display a bouquet of flowers." I collected some myself on my recent trip to Dubai!
6-Encourage browsing
"A large stack of books on an end table invites guests to kick back and flip through them. Thrown an old photo album (nowadays, it can be a digital one) or cool picture book into the mix." My heart breaks at the fact that my book collection is scattered between 3 countries...I get a sense of comfort by having them on display, each time I read one of the titles...I get a mental flashback of the book/story/the experience of reading it...
7-Sound it off
"Make playlists for individual occasions and really consider what you're craving in the situation.If you're having a party start with light tunes you can talk over, then move to more upbeat songs as the night goes on..." My recently married friend and her husband for example, have their ipod playing at all times, near a digital album of their months long honeymoon trip...the ipod plays mainly classical (orchestral wonders, piano pieces) and chillout music..it was so good that I would turn it on first thing every morning. 

"May your home be wonderfully wonderful, full of wonders and wondrous things...so that you may wander the world as Alice did" - Me :)