June '09 Playlist

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Silk - Shaun Bartlett*

Skinny Love - Bon Iver

Never Stops - Deerhunter

Timetravelling - Shaun Bartlett*

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

Blood Bank - Bon Iver

The Re-Arranger - Mates of State

Two Way Monologue - Sondre Lerche

Never Say Never - The Fray

You Are Free - Mates of State

Sex on Fire (Remix) - Onramp

Addicted - Serge Devant ft. Hadley

*Thanks Yazzy, love them!

For All You Vitamin D Addicts

One of the most important considerations to keep in mind now that you're probably overdosing on vitamin D is the sunscreen you use... if you're using any at all. Many sunscreens we use today have chemicals that can be carcinogenic if inhaled and blends for added fragrance that can be an allergen. Additionally, a lot of these chemicals wash off at the beach and can disrupt the marine life. In other words it's not a bad idea to give a bit more time to choosing the right protection. A well recommended cream is Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen- it might not rub in as well as other creams but it's a smart choice, unless of course you're into looking like a prune when you're older :)

May '09 Playlist

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

This month I was mainly listening to my favorites, here are a few:

Bette Davis Eyes - Oliver North Boy Choir
Raphaël - Carla Bruni
Just Like Heaven - Katie Melua
Its All Understood - Jack Johnson
Ce Matin-La - Air
Avril 14th - Aphex Twin
Angeles - Elliot Smith
La Paz de Tus Ojos - La Oreja de Van Gogh
Mariposa - Nickodemus & Osiris
The Cure & the Cause (Ambient Mix) - Fish Go Deep ft. Tracey K
The Lost Song - The Cat Empire
Another Devil Dies - Badly Drawn Boy
Quiero Verte Sonreir - Carlos Vives
Rebellion - Arcade Fire
Golden Brown - The Stranglers
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - David Gray
Sexual Healing - Ben Harper
To the Dancers on the Ice - Émilie Simon
Demons - Guster

Archie Avoids the Economic Crisis

Looks like the economic crisis has also taken it's toll on love. It was just brought to my attention that after 60 years one of my favorite red-heads, Archie Andrews, has made a decision to marry the very wealthy Veronica Lodge over the sweet Betty Cooper. I read about it in an article by the National Post and had it confirmed by the website. If there is one comic book I can think of that has most likely been read by everyone at least once, I'd say it's Archie. At least when I was growing up my friends had the comics everywhere; kitchen, bedroom, car, bathroom (no you weren't the only one). Even though I haven't been keeping up with the comics, I am sort of shocked by his decision. I knew he always loved Veronica's sexy legs, but was convinced Betty's personality would win him over. Lesson to the ladies, we should all rethink the cute "girl-next-door" tactic, not happening anymore.

Betty is clearly distraught by his choice, evident by her latest blog post, while Veronica is ecstatic, obv. (that's right, all the characters have their own blog). The six part "Archie Marries Veronica" comes out September.

Rice to Riches

To all you rice pudding lovers out there, if you haven't been yet, you have to take a little trip to Rice to Riches, literally rice pudding heaven. I've always been a rice pudding lover, in Egypt my grandma always got me so much of it from this one tiny place, so I have fond memories of it. With over 15 rice pudding flavors and about 10 toppings, Rice to Riches in Nolita will get you hooked. The smallest size is pretty big, I'd recommend sharing with someone because it's a pretty heavy treat. The best part is you can try as many flavors as you want... which is obviously what I did. I'd have to say one of my favorites is "The Milk Chocolate Only Rings Twice." Well I did get pretty obsessed with the "Coconut Coma" with the buttery graham cracker blanket after my cousin got it. I hate her.

Grab a couple friends, get a couple flavors and enjoy :)

New York Arab-American Comedy Festival Update

I couldn't have met more fun people at the NYAACF than I did. I'm so lucky to have experienced it as my first performance in NYC. Everyone was great to work with and I made some friends that are definite keepers. I find it funny that I'm probably one of the most Arab actors in the show yet I got cast as an American, the picture I've attached pretty much sums up the crazy pro-Palestinian activist I was. Here is some press:

Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, AFP story that appeared in newspapers across the Middle East as well as in India, Turkey, Canada, and France

To all my family and friends who made it out there, I'm so lucky to have you; you don't know how much your support means to me and I couldn't be more grateful!

April '09 Playlist

MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

Ready for the Floor - Hot Chip
Once I Loved - Lisa Hannigan
Desafinado - Lisa Hannigan & Damien Rice
Runaway - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Sunhump - Richard Durand
Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun
Boom - Anjulie
Même Pas Fatigué - Magic System ft Khaled
You Found me - The Fray
Sexual Healing - Hot Chip
Getting Some Fun Out of Life - Madeleine Peyroux
The Journey Continues - Mark Brown feat. Sarah Cracknell

Ratatat Fever!!

Music is a very integral part of my life, if I could go to a concert everyday I would (I know I speak on behalf of nearly everyone), so you can imagine how lucky I feel to have been able to see Ratatat TWICE in a span of six months. I saw them for the first time at Paradise in Boston, and just yesterday at Terminal 5 in NYC. For those of you who are not familiar with the group, Ratatat is a NYC electronic music duo consisting of a guitarist and a synthesizer driver.

I personally have no words to describe them, I don't know what genre to classify them in and that's what makes them so unique. They're music stands out anywhere and even though there's a lot going on in their music, they're able to make a crowd go wild with just a strum of the guitar, or by playing a key on the keyboard. Watching them is a great experience, it's not always that you're able to get completely lost in music and just forget about everything else. I've attached a couple clips from the night.

Tease your Taste Buds with a lil Magic

Imagine a world where sour could taste sweet, where pure lemon juice can taste like sweet lemonade. Apparently, confusing your taste buds to make sour taste sweet is possible with the Miracle fruit plant. Found in West Africa, the miracle fruit plant produces berries (a.k.a. magic berry) that when eaten create an effect lasting for about 15 – 30 minutes where whatever you eat after has a different taste; mores specifically, sour or savory foods taste sweet. Veggie haters can actually enjoy that broccoli now!

This magic can also be found in tablet or a freeze-dried form, giving it a longer shelf life. I’m not 100% sold, there has to be a downside…. but I guess if they grow on trees they can’t be that bad? Ordering this magic berry online is the only means of purchasing it that I could come across and it costs a pretty penny at that!

…shame the berries don’t have the same effect on experiences other than food… like sour relationships… ;)

Shop till you drop - on Shopbop

To all the female fashionistas out there who don't already know... With all the online shopping options we are given today, I haven't been able to find a site that I'd visit more than once. A friend recently introduced me to Shopbop.com, which if any of you don't know of should definitely start visiting whenever that pay check comes in, or when your closet feels... dull and empty. Shopbop.com is an online boutique with over a hundred brands, carrying everything you would want for your wardrobe. In addition to their "How to Buy Denim Guide," I'd say Shopbop's usp, or unique selling proposition, is their Season Trend Preview guide. Take the time to look through the latest trends of the season and exactly how to pull them off. Did I mention there's free shipping? I try to limit my shopping to things I actually need and somehow end up needing the most ridiculous things, like a headband. Enjoy your online shopping spree; however, don't visit the site unless you either have the money to spend, or want to get depressed and hate your current wardrobe and style.