A film you can't miss!

I didn't get to watch as many films as I would have liked at the Middle East International Film Festival, but out of the ones I did watch I can't get over No one Knows About Persian Cats by Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi.

The film centers around Iran's underground Indie Rock scene and more specifically, a  duo trying to flee Iran's strict laws to Europe to play their music freely. (This description doesn't do it justice).

From the plot to the acting to the soundtrack, everything is pieced together perfectly. Keep your eyes open for it, you'll be just as obsessed.

"Never underestimate the power of a great story"

"When life slows down, it's easier to see the beauty in it," from my dearest Dylan. So so true.

Bring out the Pink Ribbons!

Among the many reasons I love the month of October (my birthday, Halloween, my birthday), I respect it on another level because it celebrates a very worthy cause: Breast Cancer Awareness.

Even though you hear about it daily as it is one of the most common cancers in women, a lot of people don't care to give much attention to it. There are a lot of ways you can help out especially with research by just giving a bit of your time. The Army of Women site provides great information on how to get involved. Please check it out, if you have time to read this you have time to sign up, you will make a world of a difference.

Being aware of breast cancer is vital as it can sneak up not only on women, but men too when you least expect it. While I hope none of you ever cross paths with it, learning more and checking yourselves never hurts.

Best wishes for good health to all xx

September '09 Playlist

MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

Scenic World - Beirut

One More Night - Stars

Submarine Symphonika - The Submarines

Horny Hippies - The Dodos

The Start of Something - Voxtrot

Nantes - Beirut

Us - Regina Spektor

The Pelican Narrows - Caribou

To Build a Home - The Cinematic Orchestra

Tell My Pa - Joshua James

Eyes - Rogue Wave

Comme Des Enfants - Coeur de Pirate

Paper Bag - Fiona Apple

Oh - Micky Green

Ramparts - John Frusciante

The Windows in Paradise - Sufjan Stevens

Come Around - Rosi Golan

Reasons to Love You - Meiko

Fondu au Noir - Coeur de Pirate

Walking Dream - Natalie Walker

5 Healthy Rules for a Flat Belly!

I see so many people punishing their bodies in order to achieve the flat stomach of their dreams. It doesn't have to be this way! People need to trust health specialists a little bit more. They don't have some evil intent to get you fat.

I found this article on Woman's Health: "The 5 Rules of the Belly Off Club" and honestly it's rare that I find such a clear and succinct plan to start you up. You'll be able to maintain or lose weight at a healthy pace and with the right exercise feel much more energized and satisfied with your body.

Note: Please don't overdo the weight loss once you can tell that it's working, no woman should be confused for a little boy. I'm all about having a bit of meat to add those feminine curves, I just don't find a protruding belly one of them :)

I hope Ramadan was a great experience for everyone and wish you happy festivities this Eid!

boys n girls: Classic Scenario II

A fact of life I've grown to learn (yes according to my 22 years) is that in many cases whenever you start using pressure and force to make two things fit together, something is amiss. Examples are seen everywhere from trying to force:

• your jeans to close after thanksgiving dinner
• the wrong key in a hole
• the glass slipper on the ugly step sister
• an incompatible boy and girl

Scenario: Lovely girl, great guy, don't really get to know each other that well, relationship loses any ounce of illusionary libido it might have had but for some reason it's so hard to leg go.

As two separate individuals you're great and everyone seems to think you're both catches. That's why the last thing you want is to lose this person everyone seems to love. Over time you hardly see this person but soon start to live through the very few fun times you shared (most of which were at the beginning when you didn't know each other that well). You hope that things will get better and expect wonderful loving times you will have in the future. I blame Disney.

Suddenly, it's not only you, everyone around you starts noticing how sour the relationship has become but you're just not ready to let go. All you can think of are those fun times you NEED to fulfill, which will prove everyone wrong. The "unfinished business."

Sorry to say this but unless your relationship is a remake of Casper the Friendly Ghost (unlikely), unfinished business does not apply. If you're not compatible in the beginning, get ready for a long and frustrating search to find the road to love and there's no time to build a fake one that's sturdy enough. Of course there are exceptions. Please don't convince yourself you're one of them, let it get proven to you. Don't make excuses for the other person either, suck it up and leg go. Trust me, I know all too well that it's not easy and it takes a lotta discipline. Ultimately, if it's meant to be in the future then it'll happen without any force at all.

You're probably reading this with a grain of salt because you would NEVER try to indirectly force someone to like you or force a relationship to work.... You'd be surprised how easy it is for even the most logical of us to come up with reasons to back up the unhealthy, psychotic obsessive acts we are capable of!

To the Growing Oenophile

      I've witnessed that showing off your knowledge of wines can either be a means to impress or a moment to dread. How many of you have been on that date where you're on a role, only to find yourself shot down when the wine list comes along? You know you can always give the sommelier the "I trust your recommendation" nudge, that's of course if you're fine with living out of a can of tuna for the rest of the month. Unless you were raised with it being a mandatory ingredient to every meal, becoming a savvy wine aficionado does not come without a couple thousand experienced taste buds.

      For some reason an exceedingly large number of students grow a fondness to the fermented grape juice at some point of their college career. Maybe it's the swanky glass or the fact that Greek and Roman Gods lived by it, but the "urge-to-feel-more-classy-and-sophisticated" bug doth bite many. For the majority of these students the most affordable ailment would probably range from $5 - $20. I clearly remember forcing myself to drink wine with my friends and family, claiming that it added SO much flavor to my food. I had no clue what I was talking about. Don't know why I'm acting like I do now.

      While I feel rather special to say that my wines of choice are Riesling and Zinfandel, I am no novice by any account. Until I get the luxury of spending my days traveling from one vineyard to the next, I have to take the advice from people who do know their wine. That's why Cor.Kz the iPhone application with over 530,000 bottles of wine with ratings and reviews from the experts is a great accompaniment. Also, if you have the time before buying the wine you can visit nataliemaclean.com where you can pair wine with food.

      Remember, drink in moderation. Don't take the whole wine is good for you out of control. Studies have shown that the resveratrol in red wine is said to fight cancer, lower blood sugar and have other great cardiovascular effects... in mice. We're hoping the same goes to humans.