Extreme Security measures

I am a diva living in the 21st century and have huge issues with a savings account. So I did the following: I took out a large sum in cash and divided it into 2 lots. I got 2 envelopes and labeled each Travel and . Then I gave these envelopes to my Nan and asked her to safe-guard them for me. So ancient yes, but more effective than a high security bank, lol.

Coveted item du jour:
This uber cute Guccissima keyholder.
Till we meet again, 

Sedeso

My Reading Obsession

I am very disappointed in myself because I have turned into a snail reader. In the past, I used to read a book per week no matter how busy I got. In cafes, on the bus, between each class, before falling asleep, practically everywhere. Now, I'd be lucky if I finished a book per month. I should pull my act together and get back to my healthy old habits.

Currently, I am reading Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. Silly old me neglected alot of the classics during school days but I shall make it up. I intend to alternate between one classic and one modern read and keep a good record. I shouldn't forget one of my dreams on this earth and that it to own a huge home library and proudly to have read every title on the shelves.

Whoever said reading nourished the soul wasn't exaggerating. I always feel great when I read. I forget about everything and enter the world of the writer. I can imagine myself as a voyeur inside the book. I can see the characters so close to me and I live the events with them. With each book, I take a bewitching journey into another world and I always want it to be prolonged for finishing the book means waking up to a boring, harsh reality.

I've always wished there to be a time machine so that I could witness history itself. Every nation throughout time must have been dazzling in it's own right. I would love to wake up and be a Greek warrior queen one day, Cleopatra's confidante the other or ever Helen of Troy. Sadly, no time machine has been invented. But, with books, I can go through all these delightful journeys that will take me far far away from this boring reality. Reading feeds my vivid imagination.

And it's not just that. This obsession is nurtured very deep inside of me and I float on air everytime I enter a bookstore. I spend ages in there, with my head tilted, browsing the titles of all the books, wishing I could have them all until my neck hurts when I simply tilt it to the other side and carry on. I hold each title carefully in my hands. I feel it.

So perhaps now you understand why I enjoy reading so much? It's because to me, books are gems and reading is a luxury.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

A sign

About a fortnight ago, my Nan came into my room and gave me a small piece of advice. Sedeso, always make some time to read the Holy Book, don't forget the book of God. A perfectly normal piece of advice but granny never talks religion to me at all. And today as I remembered it I felt sure that it was a sign from HIM.

I will make time for HIS book before it's too late.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

La Mome Piaf

______________________________

Malgre sa vie tragique, sa voix etait bien fort. Une chanteuse Magnifique.

Felt like going to the movies alone yesterday since I did a bad job of trying to cheer up a friend. I watched Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose and it was truly amazing. This woman has risen from the slums of Paris to become an internationally renowned singer. Her voice, so powerful, so absorbing. A tragic love story lead to an addiction of morphine and heroin. The actress who played her had an uncanny resemblance to the Real Edith. But the best scene by far was the last one as she sung : Non, je ne regrette rien.

Watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QABS88nDc

Non ! Rien de rien ...
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait
Ni le mal tout ça m'est bien égal !
Non ! Rien de rien ...
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
C'est payé, balayé, oublié
Je me fous du passé!
Avec mes souvenirs
J'ai allumé le feu
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs
Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux !
Balayés les amours
Avec leurs trémolos
Balayés pour toujours
Je repars à zéro ...
Non ! Rien de rien ...
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait
Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal !
Non ! Rien de rien ...
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Car ma vie, car mes joies
Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi !

Till we meet again,

Sedeso

Naeem Khan and the Demons

I went through my 2006 Paperchase diary and found a list I made about March last year. It's not a purchases list or a book list. But an enemy list. I made a list of girls whom I was on bad terms with whether it was my fault, their fault, or nobody's fault.

The great news is that out of the 18 names (yes I have that many Frenemies), I am now on talking terms with 5 of them. That's 5 demons from my past that I have faced. Brave of me, if I may say because not many can rise above situations and do this.

So, on the fashion front, whose HOT this season? Naeem Khan, and no other. Let his creations wow you!Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Donate please

Fish dishes:____________________________

I hate the fact that there are so many poor people in the world. I hurts me so much that my throat constricts and I become tearful. I look around me and at my life and I thank GOD a million times. Compared to some, I live in heaven. Gosh, why am I so ungrateful most of the time.

Mom called me to ask if I knew any charities to help an orphaned acquaintance of hers. His father passed away when he was only 10 years old and his mother moved back to her native country. The poor soul lives in a dumpster and is in debt to his ears.

At the sound of the sunset prayer, I clenched my hands tight and hoped from all my heart that I am able to help this acquaintance. Please, GOD, show me a way of helping others. Let me be able to eliminate the status of at least one poor person off this earth.

Charity may be a good way but how do we truly know that the moola we donate does not end up in the wrong pockets.

Everyone deserves a warm shelter they can call home and food on their plates and security in their lives. Everyone, I think. But then I remember that GOD tests us in many ways. Chere Dieu, you are wisest and know why things are this way.

May GOD bless us all.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Anger management

More dishes:_______________________________

I never ever ever want to grow up to be like my aunt B or uncle M. Never. They are both psychos and always in the crappiest of all moods. I guess the lack of marriage and intercourse does take it's toll on people and make them so moody.

I am frightened because I know that I suffer from extreme moods. I desperately need anger management classes. I admit it. Seeing them is a constant reminder of what I never want to be. So, I will do all it takes to control this problem.

Using the secret tools, (thanks again Ms Rhonda Byrnes) I can see myself as a calm and collected adult, in full control of my life.

Please pray for me. This is a huge problem. People with anger issues can actually kill.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

A slave to society

Gorgeous Cavalli bag. Sigh!!

Why is it that our own mothers, our rocks, are also the ones able to make us hit rock bottom and make us feel so insecure?

Momma just called me to inform me that my 19-year-old cousin has been dating a university pal for the past year and will most probably get hitched as soon as she graduates.

I'm like, what, 26 now and as single as ever, which isn't that bad.

Yet again, mom hints to me I will never be good enough unless I marry 'right'.

Screw this damn society and its stupid standards and expectations. Independent women rock. A pity they will never know what true happiness without the headache of a man is. I pity them. They are enslaved to this 'crap' society. Les Pauvres!!

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

The 30min chef

My mother has never ever laid her foot in the kitchen. She has never cooked us any meal let alone prepare a salad. There's always been someone to do all the cooking. Even my own father has cooked us breakfast, lunch, and even dinner plentiful of times. This is why, as I was growing up, I never really felt the need to learn how to cook since my warm meals were always ready on time at the table.

But then, when I was about to leave for university, I decided it was time to learn. And so I entered the kitchen every morning and watched how all the dishes were prepared. I noted it all down in my little green cookbook.

I then went abroad and had a go at these dishes and you know what. I wasn't bad at all. I mean, my dishes weren't perfect but they all tasted good. Some were even delicious.  And with time I started enjoying cooking for my friends when they came over. My food was never bland and I was generous with my spices. I started cooking quick dishes and slowly reverted to healthier options after living with the MaxMara model and the Vegetarian Lawyer.

One thing I could never ever do is bake a cake. I could make you a biryani, curries, oven-baked dinners but never a cake. I promise to learn it one day though.

Perhaps I will share some of my 30min quick, yummy recipes with you in future posts.

Now, If I had a gorgeous kitchen, I would fill it up with these uber-cute utensils only to encourage my mastery to come out.

Here they come, my coveted utensils of the day.

Till we meet again,

Sedeso

My banana Split

Yummies:_____________________________

Went swimming with a co-worker and with every stroke I took, the only thing on my mind was a 3 scoop banana split. So I drove around for almost half an hour just to get to the closest Baskin Robbins and had my banana split.

I could go and throw it all up now. Yeah right. Whateva!! Somethin this tasty will stay in ma tummy. Yummy for ma tummy!!

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Queen of Flats

La belle Sophia, une inspiration.

Okay, here comes the story. Surprise surprise, guess who's wearing flats to work, similar to mine? Yep, you got that right. None other La Vache. Whatever, I shall always remain the Queen of Flats.

Hail, the trendsetter and leader. Yaay!!

I should become evil and start wearing seductive clothes, push my boundaries even further and let's see how much she'll copy.

Coveted flats du jour:

Till we meet again,

Sedeso

I'm sorry

Bathroom InspoDear Lord,

Please forgive me. You are simply too kind and I am too ungrateful. I should be feeling so ashamed at myself right now. How could I doubt your love for me? How could I weaken at the smallest peril? By now, I should know better, but look at me, the weak weak creation of yours.

Just a few days ago, I kept repeating to myself: God will make a way. This phrase was one of the first things I said to myself over and over. Yet, I failed to relax, got stressed out, hyperventilated, worried like hell, refused to perform my prayers as if to punish YOU, (how childish, I know) and as usual, made a bigger deal out of it.

Even although I spoke to Gramps, Naddy, mom and siblings, I am still worried. The funniest bit is that the issue wasn't that big a deal at all. People suffer from hunger, poverty, rape, death of loved ones and I cry over silly little problems. Perhaps that is because I went through alot of heartache in the past and I am fed up of hurting and worrying. Or Perhaps I was convinced that my life is perfect now and I will never have to be upset ever again.

Please forgive me for I am a weak weak creation of yours.

Okay people, go repent for your sins and stop judging me.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Stupid girls

Decor Inspo
_______________________________

Oh My God, I work with a bunch of OAFS. Our latest recruit is the most annoying thing ever and I say this imagining myself to be a dark creature of some sort. She is always smiling, saying her pleases and thank you's. ukh, it makes me sick. Always wants to help, and calling us all darlings and sweethearts. AAAAkh. Always has the answer, wants to learn and willing to help everyone. She does all this and I'm stopping myself from scratching her eyeballs out with my fingernails.

Aaakh. And La Vache. You just can't stop copying my fashion ways, can you?

Oh well. At least this proves that I'm a leader in every way.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Superwoman

Coveted items du jour:

I am exhausted. If divided according to job description, then I officially have 4 jobs: the admin officer, the marketing executive, the magazine starter/editor, and now the media coordinator. Everyone thinks I'm bonkers to be doing so much but I'm simply trying to prove my potential and show everyone else I'm superwoman.

That's how I feel most of the time. Every time the work load gets to me, I close my eyes and imagine myself as the sexiest multitasking super woman ever.
Kinda like this:

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Less stress

I've learned a new way of dealing with things and I find it easier now than it was before. Letting go when your surroundings are cracking with stress is not so hard now. You simply have to be a believer and always remember: "God will make a way".

I've read so many dealing with stress articles and none of them have affected me or made more sense than this phrase. It came to me in so many contexts and has had a deeper more profound effect time after time.

From my friend SuSu, who constantly reminded me that God knows what suits my fate better than what I do, till watching Oprah's double episodes on The Secret and understanding that everything we hold on to is like poison that kills us, I feel at ease and know that every little thing will be alright.

Coveted item du jour:


Till we meet again,
Sedeso

At AlKoufa

So the holy month is up for a good start. It feels good. I can't help but feel very safe during this month. It's known that the gates of hell are closed shut with all the devils and jinns and the gates of heaven are open, and all all our good deeds are multiplied ten fold before being accepted. God is kind, God truly is kind.

Every time I walk in the garden, I feel a certain calmness and serenity in the air. I feel peace surrounding me. I am not scared anymore and I guess this is how it's supposed to be. You shouldn't be afraid but filled with love.

Anyhows, I spent a nice evening with the girls. Enjoy!

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Ramadhan Mubarak

The holy month is back upon us and I am both scared and worried. I feel scared because the past few fasting months, I wasn't able to get deeply spiritual like a 'good' religious person does. And worried because I don't understand why I won't be close to GOD when he's been so good to me.

I hope that this year I am able to get more spiritual.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Meeting with Carlito

Carlito has requested me over and over again: Never to marry for any reason other than love. Never to marry unless my hands tremble with love. His request seems reasonable enough, yet I always end up tearful after those meetings.

A small part of me seems to think that he enjoys that little dramatic scenes I put on therefore he purposely toys with my emotions in order to have a good time. A 40-year old man, giving relationship advice when his own love life is in complete turmoil. I've only witnessed his last relationship and from my point of view, he drove her away. He smothered her with way too much affection. He wanted to love her, call her, be with her all the time [insert FFWD: April 2010: isn't this the exact kind of love you're dying to have with The One?]. All she wanted was her own space and that is something I can totally identify with .

But another, bigger part of me refuses to ever marry solely for love. I shall never submit to any man. I will never ever give 100% to any man and allow him to manipulate me. I'd be foolish if I ever did this, don't you think? [insert FFWD: April 2010, that's exactly what you end up doing you idiot!!!]

It starts slowly as a request: You look good in Red; I love it when you wear a short skirt; that low-cut top makes you look hot...etc. Most women would want to please their men and so the gradual transformation starts. She hates red but wears it for him. She feels slutty in a black skirt but wears it for him. Foolishly she thinks to herself: if I do everything he wants me to, he's bound to love me, appreciate me, be faithful to me and perhaps marry me. Foolish woman right? Because the same man is slowly getting bored of the woman who gives him her all.

To every man, every new woman is his next conquest. He conquers her and gets bored. He is in constant need of a new challenge. He cannot help the way he is because he was simply born to be a jerk.

Coming back to that foolish woman, she slowly starts losing her identity. In 10 years time, she looks around and finds herself fat and ugly thanks to her possessive husband who never allows her to look hot anymore, she finds her husband cheating on her with someone younger and hotter; she finds that she has lost her identity and no longer is the brilliant woman she once was.

Well, serves her right. She deserves the misery she's in.

Now do you understand why I refuse to give any man 100%?

And Carlito, you're a bitter old man who's screwed up his own life, so please stop trying to meddle with mine.

Coveted item(s) du jour:











Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Wrapping

Went over to a workmate's new place and got her some hoursewarming gifts.

What do you think of the wrapping?

Till we meet again,

Sedeso

The Brazilian

A woman who goes for a Brazilian wax is a brave woman indeed.

They say a Brazilian hurts more than childbirth, or so I heard on The Graham Norton show. Well, if that's the case, then I truly am the bravest of all chicks since I went for Hollywood wax. I am now as smooth as a baby's bottom.

Here are some tips to deal with the pain.

1) Go waxing in the mornings since your nerves as still asleep.

2) Pop 2 paracetamols 20 mins before your appointment.

3) Go waxing 3 days after your period since that's when you feel the least pain.

4) Try to sleep during your appointments, the more awake you are, the more aware you are of the pain.

Till we meet again,
Sedeso

Danger upon me

My competitive streak is crying out to me once more, reminding me that I am in danger. The newbies are keeping a watch out for everything distinguished I do and starting to copy my most excellent kissing your bosses' behind moves. Sigh!!!

When will I ever learn to be more discrete in my actions and stop telling the world every time I hit the compliment from your boss jackpot?

In times such as this, I will resort to desperate measures. My Evil Plan of action goes as follows:

1. Use telepathy as my # 1 weapon to make the boss prefer me to everyone else.
2. Use Tawafoq with all the bosses at all times.
3. Never teach the newbies anything.
4. Kill myself in the process by working triple hard and meeting the huge deadlines.
5. Remain as sweet as ever to the newbies.
6. Pretend to be busy at all times with telephone calls and not paperwork.
7. Try to get 'time alone' with each boss, especially Mr. B, and get him talking about his favourite topic.
8. eehhmm, AHA! Eureka!!... Tomorrow I shall ask each boss for their personal touch on the website I'm helping design.

Go, Go Go Go!!!

Dear reader, I am hoping that by this stage you are seeing me more as an ambitious, highly driven to succeed beautiful woman (lol) than the evil witch I can be sometimes.

I WILL NOT LET ANYONE RISE ABOVE ME AT WORK. <=== This is my goal for the time being and I will do everything it takes me to remain at the top of the pyramid.

And now, let's move on to the sweeter side of me. I wish I can be a famous writer's muse.

Till we meet again,

Sedeso

Cupcake Haven and a lil bit more...

If I were given the choice to acquire one quality only, I'd choose patience any day.

Patience is a virtue, we've always been told. But it's one of my weakest traits.

Because of this, I've rushed so many times and ended up in trouble.

I was always in a hurry to get to places and get things done and when it took a tad bit too long, I worried, stressed and caused myself so much unnecessary agony.

A lil bit of patience goes a long way.

And I never learn. Look at me today and you'll see how in a hurry I am for the Ph.D., getting promoted, owning my first property, driving that flashy car, owning a beauty and the beast library, and perhaps finding a lobster to settle down with, a La Phoebe, lol.

Must always remember: "Good things happen to those who wait".

Yes, cupcakes in your face everywhere. Well, Fashy inspired me to drool on the cutest cupcakes. Drool with me? Eh?

Till we meet again,

Sedeso