time for the tree

how NOT to make your christmas tree look like a hot mess/junk yard. i apologize in advance if you were planning on going for any of these looks... just wondering, what were you thinking?

no seizure prone person should be within a 5 mile radius of this tree.  

 i don't think there's enough gingerbread here. 

 really, no one loved you, poor tree. 

i wouldn't be friends with the person who decorated this one.

a tree should be happy, peaceful, and classy in my opinion. it shouldn't give anyone anxiety. then again... 

happy decorating!

xx

Xmas Tune of the Day: Silent Night

Sleep in heavenly peace

*Merry Christmas*

I arrived in Beirut this afternoon and was swept away by the wind... literally! I'm not complaining one bit though; I welcomed the rain drops and gloomy weather with open arms.

I wish you're all spending your Christmas with people you like or better yet, love. Push aside any concerns or worries you may have; no matter what sort of negative point you might be at, look at the beauty in life and in love. Make sure you milk every bit of the Christmas spirit and I hope it's a joyous holiday season for all of you whether you celebrate or not, brimming with love, laughter mulled wine, delicious treats and LOTS of presents xx

Love always, 

                              May

Xmas Tune of the Day

I hope you're all preparing for Christmas break. Milk each minute, relax, and find time to explore some new places! As for me, I can't wait to be spending Christmas in Beirut this year; it'll be jam packed with events so friends from all over will be flying in! Not to mention, it'll actually be cold (the way winters should be).

Happy Wednesday xx

Xmas Tune of the Day

All it takes a girl is a little flirting and eyelash fluttering, et voila :)

Happy Sunday xx

Christmas Time Means Paying it Forward

I was excited to come across what seemed like a never ending row of loaves of bread at the Mall of Emirates. If I remember correctly, the type of bread is a German recipe, and is baked with dried fruit and dusted with powdered sugar. Tasty, but not really my cup of tea. Anyway, the point isn't to have a tasting station, it's for you to buy either a half or a full loaf, with the proceeds given to people with special needs. I'm not sure if it will be up every weekend, but keep an eye out. 

The photo above cracks me up a little cuz I have NO clue who that little girl is, she's even got the bent leg pose I'm doing going on too.

I only noticed all these happy bread givers because they'd suddenly start clapping and cheering every once in a while. I believe cheesiness can be accepted very rarely during the year. Christmas is undoubtedly one of those rarities.

"Abu Dhabi Tones down Xmas Decorations"

Last year's tree. I heard there were watches on it.

Thank God... 


Remember Abu Dhabi's nasty tree last year? For those of you who don't, it was in the Emirates Palace and it caused quite the stir. I'm one of those who lives by less is more, but unfortunately remain the minority here to those who believe more is more. When I say more we're talking about a "43-foot (13-metre) Christmas tree with ornaments that included gold, diamonds and sapphires" that costed around $11 million. I wish I could give that money to people who actually need it... like me.. to make movie magic. Luckily, they got the memo this year, and decorated their tree in a more simple fashion "with foil ornaments wrapped with cloth ribbons, and with custom-made balls designed to represent the country's former pearl trade."


[Emirates 24/7]

*Lighting of the Tree*

I'm always interested in checking out the different ways people decorate their Christmas tree. Between the tree embellished with ornaments that have been in the family since the 1800s to the very stylized trees, I generally find the more simple and tastefully adorned ones the most beautiful. I'm truly happy I haven't seen any trees with multicolored lights; I can't believe I used to like them when I was younger. Then again my sensitivity to the tackier things in life wasn't as strong.

This year I decided to decorate our tree at home in a more simple way than usual. Since my mom's favorite color is lavender, I decided the only colors would be from the purple roses and then only three other pinkish/purple ornaments (because they're ridiculously sensitive, and I broke the other ones). The rest would be crystals and silver in color. I have to say there's nothing like the vibrant green color, fresh smell and softness of a real Christmas tree!

I got the fake hand-me-down tree this year for my apartment in Dubai, and it's just an ugly bush in comparison. At least the lights still fade on and off in a pretty way... Buuut you know why it's always great having a tree around right? When there's a tree, there are gifts, and who doesn't love those ;)

I remember in Boston a couple friends and I would always make our way to the Commons to watch the extravagant Lighting Ceremony of the tree, which really wasn't that extravagant at all because it was so short lived. People dressed up for it and there was a live show; basically the energy was great. I mean if my friends and I who aren't even Christian were genuinely happy standing in Boston's cold winter weather to watch the tree light up for the first time, I can imagine the happiness of people who actually grew up celebrating Christmas and what it represents. We'd get there early to be in front and would be anticipating the lights with such excitement that when they came on we still had all that energy and had no clue where to put it. It's always all about the build up isn't it...

The lighting of our tree at home was nothing exciting like that; I haven't experienced any fun lighting ceremonies here. At the end of the day though, it's all about who you share it with, n'est-ce pas?

*Xmas Tune of the Day*

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

 And caroling out in the snow

 There'll be scary ghost stories

 And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago 

Happy Monday xx

Xmas Tune of the Day: I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

I hope you're all feeling the happiness, warmth and love from everyone around you.

Happy Thursday xx

A Candylicous Christmas

I like to feel surrounded by Christmas all the time during December. If you need a strong dose, check out Candylicious in Dubai Mall ;)

Happy Wednesday xx

Xmas Tune of the Day: Baby, It's Cold Outside

It's not always as fun listening to Christmas tunes when it's not cold out, especially this one. But at least they keep the spirit going :) How sweet is this cover?

Happy Tuesday xx

Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas?

Apparently  the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece:

My  confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.  In fact, I kind of like it.It shows that we are all  brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on  display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.  If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a  lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. 

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. 

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein


[TheFamily.com]


I thought this was a pretty strong statement. Does anyone have any views? 

Christmas Season!

It's nearly Christmas!! There's nothing like walking into a Starbucks during Christmas season. Am I the only one who feels that way? Maybe it's because Starbucks played a large role in my uni life; there was one in my apartment building and another practically stuck to Emerson College where I studied. Everything about it is appealing to me; the cute decoration, the Christmas music, the hot drinks filled with sugar, spice, and everything nice YUMMAY! It's time to put up your trees, stockings and lights. Oh how I wish Dubai had snowflakes to sprinkle on us. 

Happy Sunday xx