LISTEN TO ME: ludovico einaudi - divenire

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

xx

le week-end: food worth mentioning

last friday i went out to a lunch worth mentioning with my family and family friends. not only was the restaurant a great success, it was baby zayd's first day out somewhere other than the hospital ie. a VERY special outing. we ate at madera in the charming rosewood hotel, "nestled amid 16 pristine acres in silicone valley." the resto gives off that warm winter lodge-esque kinda feel featuring a large fireplace and an artisan wood-burning open kitchen that mesmerizes anyone with all the yummy aromas that dance in the air. we sat outside and had a picturesque view to indulge in, which enhanced the whole experience!

 i went for the mussels to start, i'd say they were acceptable; not the best i've had, but definitely worth finishing. my main was a tuna nicoise that hit the spot. according to the others, the tomato basil soup, and lobster rolls were scrumptious! california is rich in agriculture so you generally find more local produce, which is why it's so fresh!

  i think this was around the time when the photo-taking needed to calm down and i had exhausted my posing abilities. check out how unpredictable the weather  is though. one second the suns burning your skin, the next you better have a good jacket handy to bundle up with. i was shocked/jealous to see people swimming and splashing around in the pool. after 5 years in boston, the 3 years spent in the uae have destroyed my tolerance to cold weather. not happy.

zayd sleeping cozily in his badass bassinet. he was so well-behaved, until he got hungry and made sure to let everyone know. cute little nugget.

xx

WATCH & LISTEN TO ME: leftover cuties - smile big

check out samsung's catchy galaxy III olympics commercial. i've attached the full song below cuz it's sooo cayuuut! 

xx

LISTEN TO ME: black keys - lonely boy

well your mama kept you
but your daddy left you
and i shoulda done you just the same
but i came to love you am i going to bleed?

****
♥ the black keys

xx

when i was younger

visiting the states meant overdosing on lucky charms & cinnamon toast crunch. it's all about the milk after it's been flavored by all that cinnamon and sugar mmmm. 

xx

love me some california sun!

one of the things i've been doing regularly is enjoying the outdoors. it's something i'm seriously gonna miss when i leave (if i decide to ever return). my bro and i decided to drag take my dad for a walk; not easy - he generally considers a light stroll what most people would consider 3 hours of bootcamp back to back. he actually thinks we're trying to torture him by making him workout a little, so he brings his camera to "stop for photos" every once in a while (which is quite regular). you don't fool me dad...

 i had imagined this to look like one of those posters advertising spirituality in your typical yogi tree pose. it didn't work out for me, instead i give you a very awkward stand, i call it the awkward pensive stand.

 check out the stillness of the water. definitely the right place to reflect on life minus my obnoxious laughter and all our annoying photo-taking. 

meet my bro t, i'm spending time with him and his wifey in palo alto. now that they just got a baby it's gonna be MUCH harder for me to leave. (is that right, just "got" a baby? makes it sound like they just bought him from bed bath & beyond). hmm... anyway, i'd say this photo perfectly describes us, except for that "ready-to-charge" look he's going for. he's actually quite friendly... when he's well fed :p

xx

auntie me!! :)

what did i do 12 days ago? just witnessed my first ever delivery a meter away from me. no biggie. dearest nephew, as handsome as you already are, it wasn't your most flattering moment. i loved you still. i have to say that my sister-in-law (adriana) was SUCH a trooper and a stunning trooper at that. is anything subtle in movies? well, let's not forget to give thanks to pain killers - i'm sure someone is saying that on a millisecond basis. apparently a piece of advice adri didn't forget before delivering was to get a manicure, "who wants chipped nails in all the photos." is that the worst of it, nails?! i didn't think anything would help the hot mess we'd be after popping a baby out. actually, i thought THAT would be the one time we'd be excused from the extracurricular grooming we're ever so faithful to. apparently not. #takenotegirls.

meet zayd... i know what it looks like, but sleeping means he's VERY happy! (not bored)

to those of you who have yet to experience being an aunt/uncle, i'm really excited for you. to all of you who have, THIS IS AMAZING and life at its purest and finest, and at a priceless cost (if you watch it!) well, the cost of adri's discomfort, but she's forgotten the pain (somewhat).

for anyone who knows the calamawy family, you wouldn't be surprised to know that there have been at least three professional cameras snapping at the baby from all directions; he can hardly keep his eyes open with all the flashes going off. hopefully he doesn't get used to too much attention growing up, we already know how much leos need it to begin with :) it's gonna be hard not to spoil him....

look at his day old fingers!!

all i can say is that it's undoubtedly a different experience for everyone. i really got thrown onto life's most intense roller coaster this year - watching the last breath of an irreplaceable best friend to witnessing the very first of a little angel. tragic and surreal, i love it all together. i dunno. if that sounds too deep or a bit too much to stomach, all i can say is when you DO witness what life and the lack of it means with your own eyes, it'll sound relatively standard. an "ah, yes" been-there-done-that-got-the-t-shirt moment of recollection.

now for the cheesy part, cuz let's face it, you can't write about a new life without adding some mush (note: not for those with poor digestion). regardless of how much or little you've experienced, just enjoy and appreciate EVERY moment of your precious life and the people you care about most. take nothing for granted. seriously. you still will, i know. after all, taking things for granted is what us humans excel in. but life is truly beautiful, even after that damn bird decides to shit on your newly washed car. BEING GRATEFUL means nothing else really matters - like a muscle you need to build, it becomes habitual. keep it real yo.

xx

LISTEN TO ME: adele - lovesong

whatever words i say, i will always love you.

****

i know, it's not the cure, but i really do love adele's voice.

xx

oh emma

miss stone looking fabulous and quirky in her latest vogue spread. despite looking slightly gaunt here she can do no wrong.

xx

tell me rumi

i want to see you.

know your voice.

recognize you when you

first come 'round the corner.

sense your scent when I come

into a room you've just left.

know the lift of your heel,

the glide of your foot.

become familiar with the way

you purse your lips

then let them part,

just the slightest bit,

when I lean in to your space

and kiss you.

i want to know the joy

of how you whisper

"more”