MUST... HAVE... NOW... (part II)

So many pretty things, so little time, so little space and so little cash *sigh*! A few days ago I posted a few of the things that I'm drooling over. Today, I'll be posting more of my drool-worthy items. But now I'm going to sort of categorize them! At least in this post, so the theme of today's post: CAMEL. Why? Besides the fact that it's THE colour of the season, the items I found in this colour are just God damn fabulous. You'll see...

Aren't they so purrty? You can dress 'em up or down. Perfect for going out for coffee with friends in flats, a denim jacket and a cute tee or pairing it with a pair of heels, a nice shirt and gold accessories! I heart the Kors.

Leather is still on, and people are mainly focused on leather dresses and leather pants or skirts. Haven't been seeing many leather tops, well.. ones that I would actually like at least, like this one. Maje, I congratulate you for making leather tops so chic. I can just picture this with a nice A-line skirt and pumps.

Now this is divine. Definitely my favourite. Ahh Chloe, no one does camel better than you. If only I can wear this and get away with it! I think I just fractured my heart!

No wardrobe is complete without a trench! It's a must-have, and you cn never go wrong with a camel Burberry trench.

Well, the fashion industry seems to still be big on leather, and why not have a pair of camel leather leggings? No the tracksuit is a different case. You don't have to pick one. (that's the fashion-obsessed me arguing with money-conscious me! I hate it when we fight..)

Yes another pair of pants.. sorta.. These Sandro poetique slouch pants are perfect for a smart look. I can already see the colours of brown, white, camel beige together in a beautiful ensemble canvas. Yes I'm getting all poetic. Go figure!

And finally, ending my post with the perfect Michael Kors boots. Well you can't really wear them when it's rainy, or muddy, because they'll get dirty pretty quickly. But look at them. Aren't you already picturing them with a few things from your wardrobe??

On that note I will leave you with a song I discovered a couple of nights ago while I was out with my friends.

ta-ta for now,
Bambi

$ Tweet $ Tweet $

Hello People,

Yes I know, two days in a row (notice my little rhyme there? huh?? Yes I'm quite pleased with myself). This is not a follow up on the trends or what I must-have, it's actually just a little thing I happened to read on twitter that I found ridiculous. You ready? OK here goes.. The state of Israel bought a twitter account from a user for a 6 figure sum. Really? I mean REALLY?!?!?!? According to The Guardian, Israel Meléndez set up his account with his first name @Israel in 2007, and created another account later on because he was avoiding his ex-girlfriend. He would check his account every now and then when he saw a message from the office of the Israeli PM, Binyamin Netenyahu, asking to buy it. Meléndez said that Twitter itself actually advised the Israeli government how to go on about it without it being considered illegal.

So Meléndez gave them his password on the phone, once it was confirmed that it worked, they gave him a check that ended with 5 zeros.

I have a feeling there will be many new accounts with countries for user names, after this piece of news.

Ciao for now!
Bambi

MUST... HAVE... NOW

Hello Monday,

Actually no, not hello! I hate Mondays! I hate everything that has to do with Mondays! Especially after a 4-day holiday! I weep! Weep I tell ya! But I gotta say, my weekend was pretty darn good. It was missing a certain someone, but what to do, right? I had a great time with the Bahrain/London/Saudi/Kuwaiti crew (sorry guys, didn't know how to categorize your international a**es), excited about a certain PFFer who will be getting in today, and some quality time with the bffs from high school! It's gonna be a long week that's all I can say. One thing's for sure though, I am definitely getting old, this whole partying till the wee hours of the morning, just doesn't do it for me anymore (actually I just can't handle it) *sigh* !

Anyway, I'm going to kick start this dreadful Monday with a few must-haves for the season (not because they really are must-haves, I just really MUST HAVE them). I'll do it in a series of posts because they're too many. I'm starting with the following items:

Still obsessed with with Mulberry's Oversized Alexa leather bag but this time in black.

I normally hate, and I mean HATE pointy shoes, but when it's Lanvin you make an exception. And when they look like these you melt and you buy. They're perfect.

What's a new wardrobe without wedges? And from experience I say wedges can't get any more comfortable than Michael Kors. And these suede ones are beautiful.

I know! I know! My obsessions are mainly shoes, but can you blame me? Look at these Marc by Marc Jacobs two-tone leather loafers. I mean really! How can you not drool? I think, loafers are the new brogues for this A/W!

Ahhhh Stella! The things you do to me with your fabulous designs! I'm very much a blazer person, especially over-sized and this hits the spot! The cut, the colour, the simplicity! Divine!

And finally, this cute Mademoiselle scarf from Marc by Marc Jacobs. Isn't it adorable?

To wrap it up, I will leave you with another new obsession of mine. Enjoy!

Later!
Bambi

Marking Beirut

Hello Hello People.

I'm back.. For good this time. I hope! I'm sorry for being so absent I know I always have an excuse but seriously, I'm an Aries, I tend to get bored quickly. I'm surprised I actually lasted this long. But I promise I'll try harder to keep my posts regular and not slack off.

But enough of that, today it's all about My Toolz (sorry darling, I couldn't help it), Tala F. Saleh, a Saudi graphic designer, who has a love for Beirut and everything Beirut related, released her first book called Marking Beirut in December 2009. "It was after my passion for graffiti that I decided to make that the idea behind my final project", said Tala, "everywhere I went in Beirut, graffiti caught my eye and I really wanted to explore it further, so I did. After researching for 4 months I managed to document every slogan and every stencil sprayed on the walls of central Beirut. It never occurred to me to publish it until I was approached by my current publisher after I graduated, and was asked if I'd be interested in turning my project into a book, and that's how Marking Beirut came to be".

My Favourite author.

The Cover

Inside Spread

Inside Spread

Inside Spread

(click on images to enlarge)

I highly recommend you buy it: it's available online on Amazon and Antoine Online or in major bookstores in Lebanon and the Middle East.

You can check out the website here and join the facebook group here.

Tala will be interviewed on Helwe wa Murra today on LBCI at 4:30 pm (Beirut time +3 GMT), and tomorrow with Karen Boustany on MTV at 12:10 pm (Beirut time +3 GMT).

eXes and Ohhhsss
Bambi

Coincidence?

By the way, when I wrote the previous post, I had no idea what was going on on the Lebanese boarders. I don't think anything had started, it was merely a coincidence that I made a reference to a war! My coffee doesn't taste good this morning. And I work with idiots! *sigh* It's gonna be a long and not-so-pleasant day!

Hope yours ends up being better than mine. And while you're enjoying your day, enjoy this!

X.
Bambi

Bye Bye B.B. in Duby

Hello and long time! I do have a good excuse for my absence, and that would be an expected death! So between the funeral, arrangements, grieving and mourning and consoling the grievers and mourners, I wasn't in the right state of mind. I don't think I still am, but it gets easier day by day.

What will I be discussing today? Something that's caused complete and utter chaos in the middle east (well not complete and utter chaos but I needed to emphasize on the severity of the situation.. and add drama) and no I'm not talking about the possibility of a war in Lebanon that might lead to World War 3.. No no. I'm talking about the Blackberry ban in KSA and UAE. 500,000 Blackberry subscribers in the UAE alone, I suspect the same amount of BB users in Saudi or actually maybe even more. Business men and women, who use their Blackberry phones to send and receive work mail.. couples that use the messenger to send secret love notes.. ermm.. love texts.. friends who keep in touch with the messenger with their friends abroad will all be stripped of not only a piece of technology that has, in one way or another, changed the world... They will be stripped of a lifestyle they have grown accustomed to and dependent on for a while now. They can obviously get a different device and use the internet services, push e mail might not be as easy as the one on Blackberry, but at least it would work. But as for BBM, that will be a thing of the past for UAE and KSA residents, and for foreigners with roaming who are there for a visit, because the ban will affect them too.

At first, I felt sorry for all you living there, and I might have laughed and mocked you.. not really.. didn't have time.. but I did consider it.. But now, we will all be affected. How will I get my updates from my girlfriends living abroad? Text messaging is not the same, so don't even go there. Voice notes, photos, videos.. NOTHING!!! How will I connect to the guy I met and am talking to on BBM at the moment, or get to know another guy I had just discovered existed(These are mere examples, I haven't met anyone :( *sigh*).. What if one of them was a soul mate? Hmm?? You know what that means also, don't you? Higher phone bills for us, more texting, more phone calls, less entertainment on BBM.

To all of you, I send my heartfelt condolences. Tis a tragic loss indeed, but there's always Whatsapp. ;)

Here's a song that will hopefully cheer you up.

:(
Bambi

Hike of Hope

Good morning everyone. I received an e mail today from a dear friend stating the following:

Dear Madame/Sir, 15 July 2010

Hike of Hope is a team of 6 men trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro; the highest peak in Africa; in attempt to support the activities of the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon, raise funds for the treatment of kids struck with cancer and above all promote the cause of fundraising itself.
Children cancer treatment and research is a worthy and noble cause to all of us. The amount of suffering and pain the children go through is heartbreaking. The Children Cancer Center of Lebanon work and achievements in treating, not only children from Lebanon but from all around the region, and enhancing their quality of life are simply awe inspiring.
That is why we chose The Children Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL); a not-for-profit association, as the sole beneficiary of our “Hike of Hope” endeavor.
We will be navigating through five major eco-zones: Rainforest, Heath, Moorland, Alpine Desert and freezing Glaciers, enduring vast variations in climate, from equatorial at the foot of the mountain (30°) to arctic conditions at the summit (-20°) while coping with lower levels of oxygen at higher altitudes (approx 50% less at the top) which can lead to acute altitude sickness as well as other pulmonary and cerebral conditions.
We do this hoping/knowing that this will bring more attention to the cause we are adopting and hopefully inspiring people undertake similar initiatives. For as important as the money we raise from this event, we believe that it is equally important, if not more, to promote fundraising initiatives that will help create a more sustainable income stream for institutions that help and ensure a better quality of life for our society.
We seek your support to our initiative by donating directly to the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL) through our Hike of Hope campaign. By doing so, you will be helping two causes in one and fulfilling two corporate social responsibility initiatives at the same time as you will be promoting fundraising itself as well.
We are aware and greatly appreciative of your organization’s contribution to the society, and that is why are asking you again to help people help each other.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration and contribution.

Hike of Hope Team

I am so proud of their efforts that I ask you to spread the word.

Thank you!

Bambi

Would you think 'The Unthinkable'?

Just finished watching The Unthinkable, and I'm disturbed! More like mortified beyond belief.

If you haven't seen the movie then I urge you to stop reading. Lots of spoilers! And if you have seen the movie, please feel free to leave a comment or PM me your views.

I'm not sure how I felt about it, not as a production, because it's effing fantastic, but what message it tries to portray. First few minutes of the movie, I thought to myself, well not really to myself, out loud to a friend of mine (Im A'antar), Muslim?? AGAIN?!? *sigh* When will it end? I can go on and on about how Muslims aren't like that but unless you have an IQ of an 8th grader you would already know. Religious extremists exist everywhere and unfortunately for us, most of the major attacks are led by fascist Muslims; But of course the hundreds of Afghanis, Iraqis and Palestinians that are killed on a daily basis by any other non-Muslims don't count. Why? because their lives are meaningless in front of the lives of .. say.. hmmm I don't know the Americans or Israelis?

Now, if we are to put that aside, this movie isn't really about the war on terrorism (or so I'd like to believe); America and Muslims! It's about how far you would go to get what you want. Machiavelli; yet again! The end justifies the means. This movie gets you thinking, we preach humanity, justice, fairness.. We fear God and ask for mercy.. But what is this? This is inhumane, this is torture, this is against everything we believe in. Is torturing a number of people (counted on one hand) justifiable to save thousands of lives? Does this mean we're letting go of our morality and our ideals if we say yes? Is there a good guy and a bad guy? Good and evil? No! There's always a cause and a reaction. People react to what life throws their way. Mind you, both sides are fighting for the exact same thing, Freedom. Ask a terrorist why, and he will justify his actions. Take the movie for instance:

I love my country and you crap on it.. I love my religion and you people spit on it.. I'm not a coward.. you call me a barbarian.. then what are you ?!? You expect me to weep for 50 civilians.. YOU PEOPLE KILL THAT NUMBER EVERYDAY.. How does it feel??

Fine! Maybe I'm not convinced with his justification (yes, yes, 'm against killings in any way. Murder is murder no matter how you twist it, but then again God knows what I would do if I were in their position), but obviously he is. Religion doesn't create monsters; situations, however, do!

Where am I going with all of this? No clue! But I just wonder, how far would I go to get what I want? How far would you go?

Bambi

The Cowardly Man

Good morning! I hate Tuesdays just as much as I hate Mondays.. OK fine a bit less, but hate it none the less. So anyway, last night thought I'd hit the sack early so I can wake up fresh and be able to endure the long day (followed by a really long week) ahead of me, but nooooo! God forbid I be to sleep for more than 6 bloody hours (6 hours doesn't really cut it for me.. no judgement please). Couldn't sleep till around 4 a.m. so I'm grumpy. Oh I also watched When in Rome, and as cheesy as it is, I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and my heart aches after each one. Why? Because I want that fairytale love (don't you even try bursting my bubble). So anyway, someone posted a link on a friend's Buzz post and I really wanted to share it with all of you, because I think she speaks for a lot of women in the middle east and maybe even beyond when she calls men "cowards"! You hear that boys, that's right! YOU ARE FRICKING COWARDS! Thank you Jasmine for saying what a lot of us haven't! Read this.

Bambi

Sex Sells; Money Talks!

Good morning bloggers, readers, random passer-byers (I don't even know what that means, but it had to follow the previous 'ers'). Hope your Monday morning started off better than mine. Not looking forward to this week at all, even though wedding season is almost over (keyword being 'almost') but I had a good weekend, my two and a half weddings were fun and I danced till my feet disowned me. Not complaining, I promise!

I was getting a mani/pedi while watching MTV, when Kylie's All the Lovers came on, and I think this could be Kylie's sexiest video yet, and as much as I like her and her music, I just can't help but wonder.. an orgy mountain?? Really? for some reason this eery comparison came to mind; if you've seen True Blood you'll understand.. I hope.. In Season 2, Maryann kind of puts everyone under this 'sex spell' so they just strip and umm.. mate, similarly in All My Lovers, Kylie is Maryann, and that's not really a good thing. You see it?? no? Really?!? Crap that I'm the one who's twisted. YIKES!

So anyway, a few songs later, Katy Perry's California Girls came on, not much to say, she's this cutie pie who shot to fame because of I Kissed a Girl and well from the title of the song, we kinda know why. Anyway the video included: Lots of candy, whipped cream (that scene just triggers Kelis's My Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and by the way, love her new look and 4th of July song, check out PFF's post on that), half/totally naked bodies, cupcake bras.. need I say more? Oh and the whole whipped creamed bra.. or whatever they are on her humps.. or lumps.. which very much resembles the idea of Gaga's -gunned bra (don't judge my wordings on the description, don't think they found words to describe them yet, and yes there were lots of BRAS).

And finally, Xtina's Not Myself Tonight, that's when I noticed, MTV should be R rated. I'd be ashamed to watch these racy videos with my father. AND I'M FRICKIN' 26! It oozes sex and fetishes. Fine, sex sells, I agree! But this is a video? (I miss BSB videos) The bondage video will definitely get most men's (and definitely some women's) heart racing, and we all know what that leads to. It's very S&M Madonna (Justify My Love) meets S&M Lady Gaga (Bad Romance).

And of course when watching all these videos, only one person comes to mind LADY GAGA, and how everyone (well, almost everyone) is trying to.. what's the word? Imitate? no.. that's not it.. Copy? Nope still not the correct terminology I'm looking for. Ah crap, it's not coming to me right now, but you get what I'm trying to say, right? But anyway, even the great Gaga has been labelled as a Copycat in her latest video, Alejandro (hated the song by the way). And no, not in one particular clip, it's like an homage to the even greater Madonna. I doubt that's what the director was going for, and even though Gaga has always been compared to Madonna, there's a big fat line between paraphrasing and plagiarism, as Hugo once said, Don't imitate. Innovate!, and Gaga my dear, your latest video wreaks Madonna wannabe (with a Janet Jackson touch). I won't even get into the whole religious controversy it stirred. But then again, who am I to judge, I will still listen to her music, watch her videos and look forward to what she does next.

Conclusion? Anyway you turn it, if it's not a Madonna clip, it's definitely an imitation or an imitation of an imitation of a Madonna clip! Makes sense? I just felt like sharing!

Bambi