the quintessential sweater

for your mug.

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

zag expression

a sleeping beauty ballet

i always manage to miss shows at the theatre in dubai. this one should be a treat. i always wanted to be a ballerina but hated the classes so i always get feelings of love and regret when i go to a ballet. needless to say, after black swan i'm pretty happy with my choice. 

xx

The right bathroom for you

ever since middle school, i've had a growing interest in interior architecture and design, to the extent that i believed i was going to become the next big thing - coffee table books and all. very cute.

i decided to attend my first summer course in architectural design at new york's pratt institute when i was 16. i'm glad i attended it, because what i did find was that i'd rather wait tables at johnny rockets, and that i would never again walk alone in brooklyn. long story short, it involved me, two of my friends and a stranger who threatened to steal me if we didn't give him a dollar. umm.. is that all i'm worth?

anyway, i realized shortly after, that i was always more interested in working with the space once it was already designed. also, xacto knives and cardboard paper? not my thing. i do however have utmost respect for those who love it.

over the years i've slowly created a mental scrapbook of ideas. yes yes, i know, now there's pinterest. i should probably hop onto that bandwagon, but for now i've added some bathroom ideas below that caught my eye. i'm ALWAYS intrigued by bathrooms, more so than the actual bedroom. it's a very important room. in my perfect world i can afford any bathroom i want. so... yeah. 

space is key. this one might be a bit too large though, i'm a little intimidated.

another angle. i really love the contrast of the purple and white. very clean.

who would say no to this? if i lived by the water this wouldn't be such a bad idea. 

interesting. you'd probably have to shower like a rockstar though... in case anyone's watching.

 so much space i can do a cartwheel!! that should be the requirement, "is there enough space for a cartwheel and perhaps a round-off on a really good day? great."

 i love the fireplace. also the old-fashioned bathtub, stunning. 

more masculine. doesn't really look like a bathroom though does it. i prefer white to black.

 very zen. the candles are a must. i wouldn't necessarily need the stones in the middle. i'm too clumsy and prefer not to turn the lights on if i need to make a visit halfway through my sleep. not down for injuries.

 a bathtub and a standing shower are both a must. i love this style of overhead shower. the color is also pretty amazing.

 is that a pool?! this ones elegant but the bathtub is huge and i don't take THAT many baths. could be the angle but it looks like a whole load of wasted water from here. also i need more space. yes, need.

 love the style. although i don't think i'd want it; it's more of a guest bathroom. something about it says, don't use me, just look at me being cute, smile then leave and close the door behind you thank you.

the layout is not bad, i'd change the colors. 

 oversized sauna? i feel trapped just looking at it.  way too dark.

 playful.

what's going on in here, is it a bathroom or a garden? too much clutter, i feel like there are hidden animals and insects that are camera shy.

great standing shower! not spacious enough. 

at least i've narrowed down my requirements to:

- cartwheel friendly

- clean and playful colors

- old-fashioned tub

- modern standing shower

- fireplace

- candles

- lots of mirrors

- surround sound

- lots of natural light

 xx

going backless

simple, feminine, chic. love it.

Do you appreciate great music?

andy warhol pioneer advert. 1975.

[via COLT + RANE]

some people enjoy hunting...

others enjoy travel. 

le week-end: a simple day in sausalito

my family and i decided to spend a day in sausalito since, well, it's something different to do. we had to cross the golden gate bridge to get there and despite the otherwise sunny skies, the fog creeping over parts of the bridge was like watching a time lapse at such a high frame rate. it looked unreal. it felt like driving into winter then back into summer - you couldn't even see the entire bridge! apparently this is normal for san fran and i need to just chill out... well maybe some people get excited by the collection of liquid droplets suspended in the air near our surface i dunno.

meet sausalito. the very charming san francisco bay area city population around 7,136. you'll find cafes/ restaurants and boutique stores/hotels to spend the day mingling around. most of the places are family owned; i can imagine that a lot of the houses have been passed down for generations. with a reputation as a "wealthy and artistic enclave, a picturesque residential community" it's a spot you should want to explore. i can't say i wasn't bitter driving around between the houses wishing i had one there... i'm still feeling bitter and i hope parking isn't easy for them.

we explored sausalito a year ago and drove by these rocks stacked on top of each other. apparently there was a guy "balancing" them. we had a good laugh at him and the tourists who fell for it. this time we decided to feed our amusement some more and get a closer look.

we asked the "artist" to do his thang and believe it or not he ACTUALLY balanced the rocks on top of each other! he even beat them at the end with a stick!!! (not very modest about his talent if you ask me). the balancing act didn't happen without a struggle so i have to say we were left awe struck and scared. who is this guy and what's his secret?? tres sketch.... 

this big (literally) guy was just hanging out and i couldn't help but show some love. he wasn't interested in the bonding sesh i was going for. is that what happens to dogs when they're 11 years old? it's not me cuz dogs love me. he's DEFINITELY going through something (probably indegestion)....  basically not the best moment for my ego but whatever, he's probably focusing on how to get a drop of pee out of him. no, i clearly don't take rejection from animals very well.

all in all, a fun and light way to spend the day. note: if you ever head out there make sure you take a jacket, the weather's a bit premenstrual. 

xx

WATCH ME: jiro dreams of sushi

a mouthwatering documentary that made me so hungry.... to live. watching the strictly perfect way to prepare sushi that jiro ono (basically my new life coach) still dreams of improving despite his restaurant's 3 shiny Michelin stars, was like watching the word ambition unravel itself in front of my eyes by a cute 85 year old japanese man. and cute in that old people kind of way. i dunno, maybe i needed to clarify. ANYWAY, i've never been to japan, but the fact that this restaurant is in a subway station is impressive to me (especially when subway stations are polluted, rat infested tunnels from what i've gotten accustomed to). i know i know, the japanese are impeccably clean, but it's still something to wow about. 

sure i was salivating at the mouth at the sight of the fresh sake, maguro and unagi, but i was more inspired by jiro's dedication to his job.

when i reach success, jiro will definitely be on my list of people to thank. 

some of my favorite quotes:

jiro ono: always doing what you are told doesn't mean you'll succeed in life. 

shrimp dealer: these days the first thing people want is an easy job. then, they want lots of free time. and then, they want lots of money. but they aren't thinking of building their skills. when you work at a place like jiro's, you are committing to a trade for life. 

jiro ono: once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. you have to fall in love with your work. never complain about your job. you must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. that's the secret of success... and is the key to being regarded honorably.

yoshikazu ono (his son): always look ahead and above yourself. always try to improve on yourself. always strive to elevate your craft. that's what he taught me. 

 jiro ono: nowadays parents tell their children, 'you can return if it doesn't work out.' when parents say stupid things like that, the kids turn out to be failures.

xx

LISTEN TO ME: ludovico einaudi - divenire

i want to watch this live. isn't it beautiful? not taking any 'no's.

xx

coffee & cameras: the perfect gift

if you know anyone who loves their cameras as much as their daily cup of joe, this is such a fun gift! a canon macro lens tumbler to take with them wherever they go. i got one for my pops considering he's one of the most avid camera enthusiasts i know. he loved it and he's not really into random gizmos. obviously it's not as heavy as an actual lens, but it looks pretty close to being real. it's even more fun for people who love cameras and act like they know a lot but don't really (like me); even though i'm surround by lenses daily i'd fall for it. you can find it on amazon.

xx

break it down milk

in case you were wondering, milk knows exactly how to enjoy itself and which friends to do it with.
a friend's friend uploaded this video. not sure what the motivation was, but i like knowing there are people out there who still like to experiment in the kitchen.

who would have known food coloring, milk, and dish soap could have such a creative orgy together. 

xx

MUST TRY: Nolus Cafe

it's been a couple months now that a friend of mine has been trying to get me to try nolus cafe in al bandar (between abu dhabi and dxb via the yas route). i finally checked it out and man am i happy i did. this place stresses the "healthy eating isn't always bland eating" point to another level. it's just the sort of place i wish i'd find more of in the uae. good thing it's not close to my house otherwise i'd be there daily. 

why's it so good? it's an afghani restaurant with a simple yet eclectic menu. the whole shebang for breakfast including the eggs (any way you like them ;) the fluffy treats i.e. pancakes/waffles (all served till 4pm fyi), and the lunch and dinner options are great when you want choice, and terrible if you're indecisive; you'll never be able to settle for just one dish. 

firstly, there's the always fun option of creating your own salad/sandwich/burger with the freshest ingredients. the salad comes in a huge bowl which really excites me, because when it comes to a salad, i'm a fiend. there's always a soup of the day, main meals that are all cooked with the right spices and apparently a great list of desserts. one dish i can't wait to try is there borani kadoo: sautéed squash in a sauce of saffron, cardamom and spices served on a bed of garlic yogurt. hmm.. maybe avoid it on a date. the word kadoo always reminds me of the restaurant helmand in boston; for the heartiest meals i'd always go there. nolus doesn't have the exact same atmosphere and the food is much lighter, but i love it as long as it's tasty and leaves me sated. 

 it's got a very fresh and organic atmosphere, looking directly out onto the water. apparently when the weather is nice, there's nothing better than enjoying the view with a nice meal. 

i started off with a delicious cream-free tomato basil soup (i stress cream free because i hate creamy soups and love it when a place can pull it off without). i created my own salad: spinach and mixed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, lots of avocado, grilled chicken (i'm very skeptical about chicken in restaurants but this one was so tasty), hearts of palm, asparagus, flaxseeds and sautéed mushrooms. basically a whole bunch of green (i was going extra healthy). 

i then tried the salmon kabob which was tenderly cooked to perfection in my opinion.

i'm pretty easily satisfied when it comes to food, i don't need anything fancy, and since i prefer to eat more healthy options, what i like is pretty straightforward. this place brings all of that and more. if you want a burger while your friend has a salad, or breakfast while your friend wants lunch it's all readily available. 

i also loved the bathrooms and their cheeky labels - "those who sit" and "those who stand." i'd be worried if it confused anyone...

the one distraction i did have was the server who seemed to be rushing to catch a flight with every order. what i definitely don't want to hear when i'm out enjoying a meal is "maybe, if the chef has time." first of all, if i'm asking for a new dish that's not on the menu, sure, or if i'm at la petite maison where you don't dare change a single thing, fine. but at a casual spot to eat that isn't even full, if i ask the server to split my salad between two bowls to share with someone else, he should be able to make it happen. way to be extra disdainful and scold the person trying to enjoy a meal. also, if you offer fresh juices, don't tell me you're not sure if you can squeeze me a little bit of fresh lemon. i hope i don't bump into him again.

but like i said, that's the only distraction. i would eat at nolus daily if i had the chance, and i can't wait for my next meal there!

xx penguina

meet my new man, mark III

i couldn't be more thrilled this week to receive a very special gift; the new canon 5d mark 3. how do i use it exactly? don't ask. it's a new addition to the camera family of the calamawy household. i have to say the other cameras are not taking it too well... that's probably only a joke to people who have been over, or know my family well; my father seems to suffer from an acute disease of an insatiable appetite towards cameras.

for real though, i'm willing to be taught how to use this one, i know it offers a lot. if anyone out there has an idea where i can learn, hi :)

xx penguina

we against the color

why am i so awkward? this was part of our walk around the Mission. yes, i was that annoying person who wanted a photo in front of anything colorful and pretty... even if it's just an auto garage.

i love these girls :)

xx penguina

LISTEN: what a stunning voice

i think the world was blown away when they heard how angelic yet powerful Jessica Sanchez's voice is. can't wait to hear more!!!

xx 

le petit prince in motion

“to me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. and I have no need of you. and you, on your part, have no need of me. to you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. but if you tame me, then we shall need each other. to me, you 

will be unique in all the world. to you, I shall be unique in all the world…”

xx

i like to think that

c'est vrais.

xx penguina

me against the color

walking around the Mission, SF today was such a fun experience. we went into so many vintage stores and i fell in love with all the murals. fine maybe not all of them, but some really stood out. i feel so alive walking in the midst of so much creative energy. 

happy monday artistes!

xx penguina