March 29, 2012

TGITW finally!



i never thought i'd get busier living in abu dhabi, but somehow it actually happened. how is it thursday already?! not complaining either way. i'm about to leave to dxb for a photoshoot, which i'm really looking forward to, and then i'll be traveling to amman for the weekend! very excited to see my family there, except i hear it's cold. i really just want to tan before the heat becomes unbearable. we probably have a month for that and any tanning opportunities are pretty much ruined by the weather. when is this cloud of dust gonna peace out? hopefully when i'm back i can concentrate on the little things like organizing/redecorating my room. i seriously feel like my life's moving on fast forward. i also feel like this just turned into a therapy session; i'm fiiiiine i swear. lol. <--- i think that's the first time i use lol on my blog. i never approved of it before. it's weird though, i use "lol's" when i'm not really laughing. am i actually analyzing this? i'm not writing anymore.

i hope you all have a fantabulous weekend and drink LOADS... of water too :) happy thursday!

xx penguina

March 27, 2012

happy birthday, mr president..

a couple friends have convinced me to start watching SMASH, an upbeat perspective on bringing a broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe to life. i've only watched two episodes but i'm liking it!

 note: it's not for those of you who feel the slightest bit nauseus by random breakouts of song and jazz hands. 

i've always loved watching the whole idea of letting us live through the producers and the actors simultaneously. the music and dancing are especially fun to watch. every now and then i'll get an urge to jump up and dance, but of course i suppress it otherwise i'd probably have no one to watch it with anymore. Katherine McPhee (did she win on american idol?) is truly talented and beautiful. hate her a little. whats sort of annoying is why they always tend to make the rookie so innocent! nervous i get, but that whole innocent card is overly played. i'm assuming she'll be shedding it as the show progresses. thoughts on the show anyone?

happy tuesday songbirds xx

March 26, 2012

live your dream


...and as every content person would say: it's up to you to find it.


March 25, 2012

♥ honey

i woke up today with that annoying sore throat that makes you dread every time you need to swallow. i'm not too sure if i'm coming down with something cuz of the intense dust that's decided to decorate our air, all i know is i'll be overdosing on honey this week. thought i'd celebrate it a bit since i can't live without it.

a natural energy booster
have a spoon before the gym or whenever you feel lethargic (love using that word)
 a great immunity builder
have a spoon everyday when you wake up with lemon and warm water
 a natural remedy for many ailments liiiike
cuts & burns
hangovers
sore throats
sleeplessness - honey and milk
bad breath - honey and cinnamon
arthritis - honey and vinegar

& so many more...

happy sunday yo

xx penguina

le week-end

other than eating and an occasional hour or two at night to spare with friends, most of my time on thursday and friday was spent on the set of a short film i'm in. i won't be able to give away any info until it's out. i had posted a couple photos but needed to take them down oops.  
i was lucky to be staying on the promenade right next to my fave spot, Baker & Spice. i wonder if it'll ever open in abu dhabi. #wishfulthinking. my experience with food in abu dhabi this weekend: Olea at the St Regis Hotel on saadiyat island... i wouldn't go again. 

random realizations
- i freak out about losing my phone at least 4 times a day, only to find out i'm either sitting on it, or that it's in my bag.
- i feel like i will have spent 70% of my life untangling my iPod's headphones.
- i don't think i can ever love a gum flavor as much as BIG RED.
- even though i've been brought up in a house of tech geeks and constant updates of electronic gadgets, my dad will never understand that he can talk at a normal volume when he's on an international call or on Skype. 
- napping is so underrated.
- i want a cat.

i hope you all had a ravishing weekend!

xx penguina

March 22, 2012

Quote of the Day

one day - david nicholls

there should always be time to devote to sensation, pleasure and self. DAILY.

happy thursday xx


March 20, 2012

Tuesday Tune




i'm really loving andrew bird's new album - things behind the barn. this song makes me feel like i'm frolicking in a beautiful field in a jane austin novel. before depression strikes. i'll just never get over my dream of being in a period piece until it happens. i'll be posting more songs from the album, but seriously, check it out.

happy tuesday xx


♥ the farmers market

i love the famers market. shame i haven't come across one here. i'm sure i just haven't discovered it yet. could be in deira, in which case i'll never go. this stand in san fran had some of the most delicious treats. when it comes to dessert, i prefer gluten-free/vegan. just because i like complicating life like that. 
practically calling my name
honestly i couldn't ask for more. not the intense sweetness of the usual cupcake, just the perfect, cream-filled, moist, fluffy treat. (i actually had to rephrase that sentence a couple times... #infiltrationofthedirtymind)

xx penguina

March 17, 2012

night at the playboy mansion

why'd i go? i was just bored one night and thought i'd visit good old hef. or for those of you who know me, i won a ticket through a riveting journey with stoli :)

the last thing i ever thought i’d one day be saying is “oh yeah, i’ve been to the playboy mansion.” not like i run around saying it, but i love the expressions i get when i do bring it up. yeah i'm mainly talking about guys. conclusively i think it’s safe to say that it’s every guys fantasy playground, and well if you’re a girl planning on dressing up in lingerie, it’ll be your night to get showered with attention, while you show off what your mama gave ya. or what your surgeon did. hey, i’m totally cool with that. 

i've revisited parts of the night for you in photos, enjoy!


pre-party shot: to remember the innocent days when the only bunnies you knew hid chocolate eggs around your garden.
at the entrance. look at her sitting in there like a cute little bird. what a good girl. 
note: expect a boob or butt in nearly every clear photo.
welcome to the kandy masquerade party! have to say the music was really good that night.
how does a tent this size fit in your backyard? how!
the cage was absolutely necessary, when things got too wild. 
a bit of an overwhelming atmosphere; everyone on their own mission.
stoli's got the hookup yeyaa
imo it was more fun outside by the pool. no splashes that night tho, it was too cold!
all about the yummy stoli punch! i only needed 1 cup. 
boobie trap. who wants them that big anyway?? don't answer that. 
the infamous grotto. no clue what goes on in here.....
how NOT to dress.
i'm talking about me, not my fellow stoli winner tanya. i clearly didn't get the memo that it wasn't prom. although, i do have to give a huge thanks to one of my besties for lending me the dress, i love it. 
how to dress.
nicked this mask off a friend and decided it would be part of my costume for the night. i think it worked out alright.
mandatory stripper pole wohoo! i have yet to take a pole dancing lesson. i think i just don't want to find out how unskilled i am at it.
meet crispin glover... didn't even know his name until a minute ago. the only other celeb i met was luke wilson who either had a bad day or needs some sort of happiness boost. the bunny next to him wasn't doing the trick. 
the right pose: first of all, get your lips done, otherwise don't even try. then, work on the slight open-mouth-pout with a face like you're not bothered to breathe anymore. must also have a boob that's about to fall out of your top. 
khalil and i posing with [insert whatever name you want] failed miserably.
how sweet. those definitely look real.
you know, just hangin out with a couple butts being flashed behind me, the norm.
the coconut macaroons dipped in melted chocolate made my night.
when you don't get a guys attention by standing next to him like that, you wonder what does. looks like her butt's loneliness is killing her. 

ok so it wasn't exactly a party i'd find myself at again, but despite the atmosphere that reeked of desperation, it was one hell of an experience that i love sharing with people. apparently if you're not invited but want to go, just pay a hefty amount if you're a guy, and send in some naked photos of yourself if you're a girl. is that true? i give props to those girls who worked their bods for this night and fought the cold in their tiny outfits, despite their grape-sized goosebumps. there were a couple girls just painted on and i think they were getting followed by every guy that passed them. 

now, to answer the most common questions i've been asked: 
1. yes, i'd say a lot of the brestesses looked quite silicone-esque. i just don't get why they'd go so big.
2. no, i didn't see hef. apparently he only plays for a bit before he needs his beauty sleep.
3. no, i didn't get a ticket by sending in any naked photos of myself, stoli gave me one.
4. no, i didn't consider turning into a lesbian for the night.

my family crack me up the most. i think the most concerning comment i got after going to the party was from my dad stating his relief that it wasn't my kind of party, to which he said, "i'm so happy you realized the playboy lifestyle is not something you want to be a part of." ummm i'm glad you feel at peace about that dad, i guess you won't have to worry anymore about me perpetually contemplating boob jobs and revealing bunny suits. THEN, as if that's not weird enough, i found out after my father shared this "good news" with his aunt (apparently it was a family concern), she deduced that i now want to stop acting. i don't get it, do my family think i'm trying to make it in the porn industry? you gotta love Arab families.

again, a big thank you to Stoli for sending us out there, it was definitely a memorable experience!

xx penguina

March 15, 2012

TGITW: a Jill Scott kinda wknd



***
you woo me, you court me, you tease me, you please me 
you school me, give me things to think about 

invite me, you ignite me, co-write me, you love me, you like me 
incite me to chorus 
***

da da da da da da da da. i love jill scott's music. how s e x y is this song? makes you feel so coy and playful (talkin to the ladies out there... but i mean, open to everyone).

i'm currently at the caribou coffee in souk al bahar, never realized what a chill atmosphere it has. i hope you all had a great week. i'm glad i sorted out my jet lag situation within the first couple days. (just don't sleep on the flight). nothing more inconvenient than jet lag fatigue on the weekend. 
despite moving to abu dhabi, i have to say i love being in dubai when the weather is great. i.e. now. enjoy it fast because it's gonna change in no time to suffocation. 
i attended such a lively and chic event yesterday at the ritz in difc hosted by expose and my-wardrobe.com. i love being around good music, good company and getting expose-d (pun intended). like i always say, i'm not always up to date with fashion trends, i prefer whatever feels comfy and outfits that suit my body, but it never hurts to get a bit of insight every once in a while. 

i spotted a baker and spice at al manzil right across the street and think i noticed a couple extra dishes - thinking of sneaking a bite in. if you haven't tried their food yet, it's time. such yummy, organic food full of flavor (to all you people who think healthy food is bland). another thing, taste of dubai is taking place this weekend, and next week you have the option of diving into a pool of art at art dubai. so be sure to get your tickets for both events, i'm sure they'll kick ass. enjoy the sun!

xx penguina