 |
 |
|||||
 |
||||||
|
|
A Domestic Weekend     Yesterday: A big women's lunch in AlAin with the family, the only two ladies missing were two of my sisters in law. Everyone was dressed in vivid, and beautifully embroidered silk Moroccan dresses -- Despite the fact that those are my favorite thing to wear on Fridays, I opted for a vibrant piece of cotton, not really as comfortable as it sounds, but prettyful nonetheless. On the way back to Abu Dhabi, I got a sudden craving for a good, gooood homemade steak, and even though I never cooked a steak before, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a shot; if the experiment goes well, I'll hover it all, and if it goes south, well.. I could always have Domino's pizza at my doorstep in 30 mins lol Luckily, the trial bode well, & I'm quite proud of the result => No particular recipe whatsoever, everything cooked and made to taste. I coupled the tenderloin with a creamy pepper sauce, and grilled mushrooms and asparagus *yumm! Will I be making it again? heck yeah. Today: A 40 minute pilates session, followed by a long, loooong bath. I'm also meeting Jeanne in the evening, but between now and then, I'll continue what I've been doing over the past couple of weeks: decorating.   For wall-paint, I decided to opt for Farrow & Ball -- a shade of taupe for a master bedroom with taupe & rose toile de jouy somewhere (I still don't know where exactly, I just know I'd like to have it somewhere)  As for the bathroom, I'm thinking I'd like to have a clawfoot tub, preferably a restored vintage piece, with lace curtains somewhere (again), wood paneling would be great to have as well, & parquet flooring in grey <3 <3 ..and while searching, I came across this gorgeous goooorrrrrgeous sink that would make the perrrrfect washroom accessory (for a house in Marrakesh? perhaps? lol) -- I'd love to see this sink inside of an uber modern steel/glass structure washroom, perhaps with some wood on the floor to bring a touch of warmth.. what do you think?    Labels: Cookingfessional, Deco, Domestic Goddess, Pilates Heroine $9 in my moola box | link | email this post Some More Lemon, s'il vous plait Two years ago, my co-worker R drops by my cubicle and asks if I'd like anything from Monteal, he was going to spend Christmas in Canada, and thought I might want him to bring a Lululemon back with him. Given that I didn't know what it was, I headed straight to my oracle, google, and googled it. Athletic clothing store, specializing mainly on yoga wear, I liked what I saw online, but I wasn't going to ask him to bring anything back with him, after all, he was my co-worker, and some borders must remain untouched in the professional sphere. ..Of course, that was before I really knew what Lululemon was. On my trip to LA last summer, I walked by their store in Beverly Hills, and because I had been carrying so many bags around, and it was near closing time, I grabbed one of their crops and bought it without trying it on and stormed out of the shop, I did however promise myself to return next day for a more thorough look at their collection and items. Needless to say, I never managed to find the time to go back, it wasn't a priority because somewhere in the back of my head there's always been this assumption that I could, still, find anything on the internet, and that when I'm back home, I would be able to place an order online. Little did I know. As it appeared, lululemon doesn't do e-commerce, they think it's too impersonal (says who?), and they prefer personal communication (yeah, what about those who live on the other side of the globe? e'hum, me for instance). Well, for all the other Me's out there, here's a delicious piece of news: WWD published that Lululemon is finally going online with their sales. Yaaaayyyyyyy!! *running around in endless circles* Double Yay! More good news, on the personal side, well, I'm back to my ballet points. I am still unable to stand enpointe though, but that's okay, it's a looooong leap of progress of my Morton's Neuroma rot which has pretty much kept me off of standing on my toes for any reason for the past year. After 2 steroid injections, and plenty of foot-muscle strengthening exercises and pilates, I'm able to now to insert my feet into my ballet points, take a few steps, and plie for a few seconds, which is great for the time being because for a while there, I thought I'd never be able to do that again. To be honest, I still don't know if I'll go enpoint without a surgical intervention, but for the time being, I'm happy with my progress.. As my french dressage trainer would say petit à petit =) Labels: Fashion, Pilates Heroine, Yogafessional $8 in my moola box | link | email this post Feliz Año Nuevo            Saturday: It took 10 hours of blissful sleep, and fresh cheese, egg white, & rucola sandwich to ignite the inspiration (& energy) to re-model the studio; and after a series furniture swapping and shuffling, I found the right setting. The new setting requires no orchid plants (but I still like the idea!); it uses the minimalist's approach to interior design: clean shapes, less accessories, & less clutter -- the only clutter I'd have to live with are the springs and straps of my reformer and cadillac. The day before that: My first session on a cadillac, and I can tell you this: it was FUN! -- ever since I was little I had a thing for 'hanging' from places. At the age of 5 through 10 it was the swing's horizontal pole that I enjoyed hanging from upside down, I never understood back then why when I was 5 I was farther away from the ground and my hair never caught the dirt from the floor; eventually, I grew beyond our swing's capacity. Later I ventured into the joy of jumping -kamikaze style, if I may add- from the closet on to a bed with ample spring potential. It was my very own primitive version of a trampoline, dangerous but fun. At one point, I decided to make the same jump, except this time the bed was not my landing spot (yes, exactly what you're thinking) I landed on the floor, broke a leg, and the rest was history. Since then, I haven't come near 'hanging' toys, even though deep inside I always found a joy in watching acrobatic movements & secretly wished I -too- could hop around like that, but no, with my bone-breaking track record (the same leg 3 times, & an arm once) I couldn't afford breaking anything but the temptation. At last, a safer substitute with added benefits.   Tuesday: I received these two pictures from my sister in law with the caption "Checking your website, ..every detail" -- I thought it was the cutest thing a niece could do lol, *muah to Alia <3 (who's probably reading this now too lol) One year ago I've established my philosophy of No-Resolutions, a mere mention of gaps that needed bridge without committing to a timeline, ..let's revisit, shall we?
3 out of 5, that's 60% in one year (I didn't commit to a time frame, remember?). For this coming year, I'm hoping to become better at professional pilates, school at the Le Cadre Noir Du Saumur, make the most out of outdoor activities in this time of the year, find this, and get this pair of louboutins, spend as MUCH time as possible with JeAnne for the next 6 months..get ideas for Sultan's birthday cake/gift, and more importantly: post those mornings thoughts I get and never get around expressing them on my blog because by the time my day ends, I'm too tired to visualize anything but the bed. Here's to Love, Here's to Fabulousity, Here's to you x Labels: Birkin, Deco, Pilates Heroine $7 in my moola box | link | email this post There's No Place Like..                 The best part about coming back home is, ..well, being home. I haven't been feeling like going out, in a good way, because I can't have enough of being home. Having the girls over at home is 10x better than going out for a cuppa hot chocolate or coffee. Basking on the couch, watching shows, sharing book finds, hovering fortnum & mason's elderflower green tea & cupcakes, and talking for hours is pleasantly comfortable in every sense <3 Offsetting that feeling of comfort is the odd feeling of confusion (& loss? if I may add) I'm experiencing with my pilates studio; the equipment is here (Yeyyyy!) & despite the fact that I ordered them in shades of purples and pinks, 2 people already made comments on my Cadillac and its resemblance to a torture bed (really?) *scratches head in deep thought* -- the truth is, the rooms still looks a bit dry, like a physiotherapy rehabilitation center, only with brighter colors. I had someone come in & measure the wall for mirrors, but a while later I realized that plain mirrors would only emphasize the 'rehab' idea. I have plenty of ideas of what could make the place have a softer look, but I also know that the ideas I have won't work together; so I decided that I'd make the change gradually (sooooo hard for me to be THAT patient -- *breathes in, breathes out, breathes in, ..out* lol) Step 1: Apply large mozaic mirrors to the wall, to add character to the place (Sunday) Step 2: Re-arrange the studio furniture in a way to make a natural divide between the painting/easel space, and pilates/yoga space without compromising harmony of both areas. Ideas to do this include moving the couch, long, loooong white orchid plants in pots, and relocating easels and painting canvases, or find other separators that won't clot the room, the simpler, the better (search kicks off tomorrow) Step 3: Find a silk safavid persian carpet to match the place for a touch of warmth, and, ..well, beauty. (time frame: unlimited. I want to find my magic carpet) It's like a newly found love-affair. My late uncle was the first to introduce me to the world of Persian carpets when he showed me a hunting scene hanging on the wall of his house; the colors that had aged gracefully only added to it's beauty. I walked into his favorite shop yesterday where I unexpectedly saw his photo hanging on the merchant's wall, ...and a few minutes later, my eyes fell upon the most beautiful rug with a hunting scene. The colors so vivid, and the horses and people so delicately woven with immaculate knots of shimmering silk that changed colors from every angle I stood.. it was beauty, and it was out of my budget >_<; lol So, after spending nearly an hour with the merchant, hearing the tales and the stories behind each carpet, I walked out with a curious mind to know all that's there to know about these ancient works of beauty. The more I read about their history, techniques, and details; the more they intrigue me and the clearer the picture I have in my mind of my magic carpet (more like a freakin' trunk show really! Think Cleopatra and her carpet rolling to Cesar?) -- Initially, I was in a hurry to pick my carpet, but now I'd much prefer to immerse myself in the world of silk and get to know the object of my affection and desire better, ..so for just this one time, I will have patience. Labels: Deco, Pilates Heroine $17 in my moola box | link | email this post Random, ..So Random  Omg? Did you see the new Gmail Themes? SO CUTE! They should introduce automatic rotation of themes sometime, I love the fact that those guys are so brilliantly colorful & relaxed! I *heart heart heart* google! Last Week: Received my ponies' Massage Horse Blanket order & Finally took one of my paintings to the framers, that piece of canvas has been tucked away hidden somewhere in my studio for months. For some reason, I never developed full confidence in it's 'displayability', {is there even such word?}, spontaneously though, I thought I'd take a chance & have it stretched for display.. it's now hanging in the guest bedroom, a huge painting as you can see.. 2x2 meters, & it was my first attempt at acrylics instead of oils. I was pleased with the result though, even though hanging it was a pain in the neck, it put me in the mood for mOre painting; which I haven't been in the mood to do for ages.        This Week: Gave IB a     Yesterday: Drooooooling over Bill Blass' ruffled flamenco backless top <3 I love! I love! I love!... & I want! -- Would love to re-create a piece like that to wear as a tank top collar in the summer, perhaps a little forward thinking, but I couldn't help picture skipping my way out of Sprinkles with a red velvet cupcake -- *the longest siiiiigh everrrrrr* I can't even begin to tell how much I miss the air of LA ;( Also yesterday resumed my pilates with my trainer after a week's halt. It felt great, & for some reason, after an hour I still didn't want to stop. The great thing about pilates is that whatever exercises I decide to do {core focus vs arms/legs focus} it's all bound to make my riding better. I've already noticed that my balance on the horse now stems more from the core strength as opposed to 'just' balance.. but I find myself curious to go & try riding, just bareback and see how pilates adds to my balance there? -- I've been SO curious about it that I dreamt of it last night.   Today: Designing an Eid dress pour my sister {her being a mother of three, & I being the mother of none but 2 gorgeous ponies & 2 adorable chihuahuas, she's outsourced that bit to me this year}, also contemplating the expansion of my family of little adOrable cutenesses; eye-ing a mini toy poodle this time. I've been wanting one since I saw the über cute ones in a pet store on Madison NY this summer, SO CUTE.. & can you imagine them with the poodle grooming? lol -- Later on I'm hoping to go riding outdoors sans selle if I find a pony to borrow, Um.. I don't think it would be wise to ride IB bareback outdoors now, & the weather is simply too beautiful to ride indoors this time of the year, non? I'll leave you with this cute video ;p Labels: Fashion, Pilates Heroine, Pony Tales, Videos $12 in my moola box | link | email this post |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
