It’s 14

Wow, this feels weird… coming back to my blog after almost 9 months of no posts.

Last year was eventful, to say the least. Actually, it qualifies as a significant milestone in my life path.

Long story short, on May 20, 2013 I gave birth to a healthy baby girl by the name of Nour Alexandra. Then came the hormones, the sleepless nights, the weight loss, the weight block, and finally the recovery.

It goes without saying that all that suffering was extremely worth it. I don’t want to pass a cliché, but nothing, no emotion in the world, comes close to comparison with motherhood.

Motherhood is herculean strength mixed with gushing love mixed with endless giving mixed with fearful worrying mixed with pride mixed with weakness mixed with optimism…

In 2014, I don’t want to list endless resolutions I know I won’t come close to accomplishing; instead I want to give 2014 a title:                       “Perseverance”

 Be it personally, professionally, or academically, this year will be the year of perseverance.

Mother's Day Flowers

Mother’s Day in Lebanon is on March 21^st; it is by far the busiest day of the year for all flower shops and pastries. So, with all that hustle, some errors are bound to happen, but it becomes unacceptable when such “occasion reliant business” abuse such occasions to make an easy buck by deceiving customers.

Below are two stories about two different flower shops that should seriously consider closing because they can’t deliver a single right bouquet of flowers on an occasion such as Mother’s Day.

Case 1: www.zoohoor.com:

I sent this feedback on behalf of a friend of mine who fell victim of this website’s scam:

“On the 20^th of March, one day before Mother’s Day, I ordered four flower bouquets from your website with vases.

According to the website, I was required to order before 10 pm in order to have the flowers delivered at the time, date, and place of my choice. By referring to my order, #aaaaaa, bbbbbb, cccccc, dddddd (I removed the real order numbers for privacy reasons), you can see that I ordered them on Wednesday, March 20, at 8 am, to avoid any delays or conflicts, and to give you the proper amount of time to get my order correct and up to the required standard.

Upon receiving the order, I discovered that the pictures of the flowers are nothing close to what was delivered, the quantity was less than promised, the quality was garbage, and the delivery was not consistent to an extent that one of the four bouquets was not even delivered to its destination.

Your website is a scam, or you don’t know the difference between tulips and wild roses.

If a flower shop (or website in your case) can’t deliver flowers on occasions, what can you do? Why are you open for business if you can’t fulfill the sole purpose of your business?

I sent four bouquets to my mother, mother –in-law, wife, and sister and none of them was up to my expectations or at least close to what I was promised while I was purchasing them from your site. You put me in a very awkward and shameful situation with your very low standards.

I was extremely unsatisfied with your flowers and your delivery services; I did not receive what I ordered or anything close to my money’s worth.

I expect to be refunded the full amount of my purchase and you should consider closing your deceitful, unprofessional, and over priced flower business.”

Case 2: Coqueta Rosa

This is a summary of the experience I had with the flower shop I order from. Bear in mind that I’m a regular customer and order all my flowers from them…NOT ANY MORE:

I called the shop on March 20^th, at 9 am to order three flower bouquets for my mother, my mother in law, and my sister in law. I told the guy that I wanted three flower bouquets, described the colors, gave him the detailed delivery addresses, and the times at which they should be delivered. I asked him to write down the order and repeat it to me to ensure that he got it correct, I also emphasized that I’m ordering and having the flowers delivered one day in advanced to avoid the Mother’s Day traffic.

To my disappointment, and despite all my efforts to avoid errors, not one of the above mentioned bouquets was what I ordered; not in terms of color, size, or quality.

I called the shop owner and said:

“the person that took my order is either deaf, blind, or illiterate. How can he get a simple flower order wrong when I repeated it to him twice, had him write it down, and called him 3 times during the day to make sure he got it right?

The shop owner started apologizing and asked if there was anything he could do to make it up.

I told him that the damage was already done, and the best option for him now was to close up shop, because they just couldn’t deliver flowers on an occasion like Mother’s Day.”

I bet 90% of the people who sent flowers to their mothers yesterday or the day before were very disappointed with the results. This is a common problem we have in this country: Bad customer service, deceiving business owners, and over priced wilted crap.

Michael Abou Sleiman should be banned from Television

I usually don’t watch TV, let alone Lebanese TV, but when the show “Dancing with the Stars” became so popular, I was curious to know what all the fuss was about.

I have to admit, the dancers, the celebrities, the dances, the costumes… the entire show was truly very nice.

Apparently, one of the starts on the show, Mirva Kadi, had some type of wardrobe malfunction that showed a little more than was intended, I didn’t see the scene. Naturally, the tabloids went crazy, and as if there isn’t enough “on purpose” flesh on TV for them to watch; they had to emphasis the “by accident” flesh.

Anyway, what drove me to write this blog was not Mirva’s outfit or the general public opinion about it, but Mr. Michael Abou Sleiman’s (the co-host of the Lebanese talk show “Talk of the Town” on MTV Lebanon) disgusting, vulgar, inappropriate, ill-mannered, unacceptable comments about the incident when Mirva was a guest on the show.

The moment Mirva walked on the set of “Talk of the Town”, Mrs. Mona Abou Hamzeh gave a brief summary of Mirva’s modeling career and achievements, and then started at her regarding the costumes she wore on the show, especially the last one.

No matter how much Mirva tried to cut the debate short and stand up for herself by emphasizing how she is always careful in selecting her clothes, and that they don’t rehearse while wearing the costumes, and that it wasn’t such a big deal, Michael kept making those very dirty jokes about the costume and about the last Buzz commercial she did where the electricity generator pops and she asks her nerdy, chubby, unattractive neighbor to help her fix it, then joins him and his friends for karaoke.

I don’t know why is it ok for talk show hosts to pass dirty, sexual jokes and insults to a young woman on national television on a show that is watched by all types of viewers.

Mirva deserves an apology and Michael Abou Sleiman deserves to be kicked off television.

For those of you who understand Arabic, below are links for what I’m talking about.

Buzz Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUUZpgSzZO8

Mirva Kadi on Talk of the Town:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0NnXbMoUmk

It’s a PLUS - 19/9/2012

It was time to do the Clear Blue! A week had lapsed and still no sign, so doubt was beginning to eat me up in side.

My husband and I stopped by the local pharmacy and bought two Clear Blue tests; apparently there are two kinds, one that can tell if you’re “prego” even before you miss your period and is more expensive, and another than can tell on the same day! How lame! (12,000 L.L. v/s 6,000 L.L.)

Anyway, I bought both, took them home, and put them on my bedside cabinet for next morning! As if they need to be there in my face for me to remember!

The next morning, I got up, took one of the tests from the bag and went to the bathroom to do my business. I waited patiently for the result…

Two lines, a.k.a. (||).

Suddenly I became blind and illiterate. Seriously, it’s like you’re reading the results to an exam you want to pass so desperately! No matter how many times you read “Pass” it still reads gibberish!

Not convinced, I left the bathroom and went back into my bedroom to get the other, more expensive thus more accurate, test and tried again.

A Plus sign, a.k.a  (+).

Hmm, I swear I knew what a plus sign looked like before that day!

I called my husband, who came running into the bathroom, and asked him what he saw. Naturally he said two lines and a plus sign and grinned so deeply!

Still not entirely convinced, I called my Dr. and told him about the test. After saying those early congratulations, he told me to do the Beta HCG blood test.

 I admit, I’m usually a calm person, who takes things easy, but they say when you’re pregnant things change; and I guess calling the lab 3 times in an hour counts.

Mr. Lab Man: “Your HCG level is 3,300.”

Me: “Soo what? What does that mean? Positive or Negative?”

Mr. Lab Man: “It’s a Positive, Congratulations!”

Me: “Ok, Ok, Ok, positive, Ok, Ok.”

And I closed the line in the poor man’s face!

What came after were a bunch of tear filled phone calls, congratulations, and a new sense of serenity and content I had never felt before. May God bless every woman (who wants children) with such a feeling!

Ladies and Gentlemen, yes!

Me.be.mama.9 months! 

Is it too early for “Mommy Blues”?

I’m as blue as a Crayola Crayon, and I’m only in the 20^th week of my pregnancy!

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’d know that I’m very self conscious about my weight and looks. I really care about being fashionable and keeping a fit figure (meaning slightly under weight). So naturally, the pregnancy figure is bothering me.

I don’t know how many moms or moms-to-be can relate with me, but this is really a dilemma. One minute you’re enjoying the changes and thinking about what an amazing thing my body is doing; then you feel so fat, round, heavy and big that you wonder if you’ll still fit through the doorway.

Your inner demon keeps twisting your mood, and external factor don’t help. I mean I’m lucky to have a support system made up of my husband, my friends and family, but there is still the mirror, the skinny jeans that won’t buckle and the high heals that kill your back.

I did some research of the acceptable weight gains during pregnancy and found that I’m well under the threshold…feeling better.

Part	In Pounds	In Kilograms
Blood	3	1.4
Breasts	2	1
Womb	2	1
Baby	7.5	3.4
Placenta	1.5	0.6
Amniotic Fluid	2	1
Fat & Protein	7	3
Retained Water	4	1.8
Total	29	13.2

I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date! - 17/9/2012

I suppose you can guess what I’m talking about from the title! And I don’t intend to be quoting the bunny from Alice in Wonderland.

When we got married, exactly 1 year and 7 days ago, my husband and I decided to put off having kids for about a year just to get used to the new “Married” life style and the responsibilities. I wonder if the doors to heaven were open back then and God heard our plans and approved.

I don’t want to rush things and start planning the baby shower and college applications but things are happening to me that have never happened to me before. Such as:

1.       Late… I’m never late… I mean there could be an entire calendar made based on my cycle. Figuratively speaking!

2.       Weird cramps… it feels like your gut is being grabbed tightly for a new seconds and then nothing.

3.       Acute sense of smell… I mean I usually have a good sense of smell but this is ridiculous, bloody hell! I can smell my husband a mile away, I can smell the cotton that my shirt is made of and I can smell the papers on my desk… you know those very discrete smells that aren’t usually there!

4.       Acute sense of hearing… I can hear each one of my colleagues’ key board typing, and their breathing, and whispers of people talking from other offices.

5.       A little light headedness and an unprecedented disgust for the taste of toothpaste in the morning.

I suppose a quick Clear Blue test wouldn’t hurt.   

PreVue - Wearable Pregnancy Ultrasound Belt

I came across this while trying to get an idea of what my 3D ultrasould scan will look like through google images.

What do you think?

http://www.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=23800

Exploitation

In a country where labor laws are passed to exploit workers rather than protect their rights, you would hope that institutions take it upon themselves to support their employees, especially those who have fought tooth and nail for years on end to bring them growth and prosperity.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true.

I have heard of an institution; let’s call it “Bank Cheap” where employees are treated as worthless laborers through out the beginning, middle, and advanced level of their careers.

Below are just some of the cases at Bank Cheap I’ve heard about.

Case 1:

“Employee 70”, who has been working at Bank Cheap for a little over 14 years, has a masters degree from a prestigious French University, has single handedly built the base for one of the Bank’s indispensible control and reporting functions by gathering information from half the departments at Bank Cheap, has been in the same middle management position for the past 6 years with no promotion, and still makes about US$ 10 an hour.

Bullshit

Case 2:

“Employee 86”, who has been working at Bank Cheap for 3 years, spent half those 3 years working double shifts, taking on extra loads, and developing an entirely new program that automates all the monitoring and reporting process of one of the Bank’s key control functions. “Employee 86” still holds the same entry level position, with the same entry level salary of about UD$ 3.8 an hour.

Ridiculous

Case 3:

“Employee 88, who also has been working for Bank Cheap for 3 years, has graduated as an honors student from one of the country’s top universities with a Masters Degree in Business Administration, has an internationally recognized certificate in Valuation Analysis, and is currently working for a certificate in Financial Analysis. “Employee 88” is considered to be a key player in one of the Bank’s control functions, carries on extra loads and sometimes for other departments as well, and still holds the same entry level position, with the same entry level salary of about US$ 4 an hour.

No Comment

Bank Cheap is filled with similar cases of hardworking, well educated, and innovative employees who I consider to be exploited.

Disgusting!

I couldn't help but share what I read on msn.com regarding this Iranian blogger.

http://arabia.msn.com/news/middle-east/956526/bloggers-death-stirs-political-hornets-nest-in-iran/

I Haven’t Forgotten My Blog!

For those of you who were used to reading a new post on my Blog every other week or so, you might have started to wonder why I have been away for a little over 3 months.

Well, the truth is, I haven’t been away at all! As much as I would have loved to be on some long vacation, I have been here, on the other side of the screen but over occupied with thinking of the situation I’m in.

And the situation is: I’m Pregnant!

What will follow is stuff I wrote during this period, but never had the guts to publish before now!

Enjoy!

Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge & Spa

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you are well familiar with my rants and critiques of various restaurants, resorts, and other places around Lebanon. These rants are a personal opinion that was built based on an experience, and is in no way meant to defame any of these places. That said, and if you are offended in any way… Sue me!

It was finally Friday, and my friends/ colleagues and I were all in desperate need of a manicure, pedicure, and some pampering. After discussing our options we decided to try Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge and Spa on Bliss Street, because we all had friends who’ve tried it and liked it.

And so it went…

Noor and Aya arrived at the appointment at about 2:40 and began. I followed at about 2:50 because I had to run an errand. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I asked the gentleman at the reception about when I would start, so he informed me that I had to wait for Aya to finish and then it would be my turn.

After ages of waiting, I was able to begin at about 3:45. As I was sitting on the pedicure chair, the non-Lebanese (with all due respect to all nationalities and races) nail artist asked if I had an appointment; I said yes, but she insisted that I check. So I got off the chair and when to the reception desk and asked the gentleman to inform her that I had an appointment. We I returned with the gentleman, she was no were in sight. After 7 minutes of asking the other girls about her and tracking her down, we were able to find her and convince her of my appointment and I sat back down on the pedicure chair in hopes that the confusion was over. She asked me what I wanted to do and if I had selected my color; I told her I wanted a French manicure and pedicure, so again she told me to get off the pedicure chair as we were going to start with my manicure first. Again, I got off the incredibly annoying chair with the sink below the feet that trips you every time and went to the manicure tables. Then again, she decided that she would do both my manicure and pedicure at the same time, so again she asked me to sit back on the pedicure chair.

For someone with a history of hysterical anger episodes, and years of self anger management therapy, I was beginning to get irritated. Even Noor couldn’t help but comment on the extent of my patients, but I told her that she was about to see my other face, literally, if this continued.

I sat down again in that damned chair and began.

In the mean time, Noor was struggling with her own nail artist as she was not able to comprehend the fact that Noor wanted her nails to be filed rounded with a French manicure and didn’t want her toes to be filed too close to the flesh. With no use, the nail artist did exactly the opposite and hurt her. While this went on, another artist came behind Noor and asked her to turn around so she could soak her hands for the manicure. Can you imagine having to twist your back 90 degrees for about 40 minutes? Yes, that was the last straw!!! Noor asked them both to stop, got up, went to the reception desk, complained about the service, and left.

Yours truly was still sitting there trying to teach the nail artist how to file my nails evenly, and how to apply a French tip using the brush.

So much for the rest and the pampering!!

Finally, at 5:15, and after repeating my hand manicure twice, I was done and able to leave… and never come back!

Things that no one tells you about traveling to Istanbul

I admit, I have a travel bug that starts itching every 6 months or so, urging me to get on a plane to a new destination for a little adventure, discovery, culture, and excitement.

After London, Spain, London again, came Istanbul, the land of Mosques, Palaces, Islands, and the Bosphorus.

Istanbul is one big haven for those who enjoy museums, historical monuments, nature, the sea, shopping, and food… you name it, Istanbul has it! Our city tour included two cruises, one around the Bosphosus strait and another to the Prince’s Island (Turkish: BUYUK ADA – Big Island), Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmet Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.

 

Don’t ask me for a favorite, because each site has its own awe and story to tell.

Luckily, you can go to wikipedia and get all the details you want about those places, but what people won’t tell you about Istanbul is:

1.       Never stick to the price that’s on the price tag, especially when you’re buying from street vendors and local shops. If the price tag says 10 Turkish Lira, say 5 TL and keep bargaining until they refuse to sell you, and then pay the final, lowest price given.

2.       Never get into a cab unless they have a meter; if they don’t then make sure you agree on the toll before you get in, because you could end up paying 35 TL for a 11 TL ride.

3.       Avoid using the Metro, Tramway, and Funicular unless your life depends on it because, unlike London, Madrid, and Barcelona, Istanbul doesn’t seem to have specific rush hours. Those means of transportation are always fully packed to the extent that you’ll be gasping for breath and screaming “Speed Stick”!

4.       It is an absolute must to learn a few basic Turkish terms because most of the population doesn’t speak or understand English.

5.       If you’re on a diet, or a vegetarian, you’ll be missing out on a lot of delicious food, especially the best Kofta and Yogurt in the world. Seriously, I’m originally Lebanese, and Kofta is part of our traditional cuisine, but the Turkish Kofta is to die for.

6.       If you go to Ortakoy (the sea side area under the Golden Horn Bridge) and don’t try the Kumpir (Backed Potato – Turkish Style), and the waffles, you might as well not have gone the trip in the first place!

7.       Try to forget sleeping, use coffee, Redbull, or a lot of sugar, because if you go to sleep you will definitely be missing the endless buzzing streets, especially Taksim Square and Istiklal Street that seems to be swarming with locals, tourists, vendors… all day, all night!

*Sigh*, I just can’t wait for my next trip… perhaps the Far East?  

Good Diet=Life Style

I have been dieting on and off since way before my wedding and you know why!

http://byserene.blogspot.com/2011/01/ignoring-scale.html#!/2011/01/ignoring-scale.html

http://byserene.blogspot.com/2011/03/chemical-diet.html#!/2011/03/chemical-diet.html

All that, and unfortunately, nothing gave me the results I required!

It wasn’t until I visited one of the best nutritional experts in the country, that I realized that what I was doing was “dieting”, when what I really needed was a “life style” in terms of food.

And so it goes:

1.       You are asked a bunch of questions about your weekly routine, your food preferences according to certain variable (like what would you eat if you’re super hungry, super angry, or super happy, what you would prefer between chocolate and chips…),

2.       You get on that notorious scale that always adds that extra kilogram,

3.       You do the body composition analysis,

4.       And then, you sit for “the talk”!

The Talk includes:

1.       The do’s and don’ts according to your body type,

2.       The limits or portions your allowed in terms of carbs, proteins, sugars, and fats,

3.       And the things you should absolutely abolish from your existence if you ever wish to maintain the weight your about to loose in the upcoming weeks.

At first you will panic, and say it’s just not possible; but when you finally sum up the courage to give it a chance and do the effort, you will realize that it’s all about balance.

My current life style does not include juice, buns, beans and lentils. It permits only one portion of bread, chocolate, and fruit. But then again, I get a generous amount of chicken, beef, fish, white cheese, and eggs.

Ok... Ok... I admit, I only needed to loose 4 kg, but still… now I know how to tackle the extra weight if I ever commit Roadster Diner again!

Education Junkies

June 27 marks my 3^rd University Graduation Anniversary and already I’m beginning to feel that my degree has gone obsolete.

Every where around my are my fellow AUB graduates enjoying stable jobs, like me, progressing with their careers, like me, getting good mentoring, like me, and pursuing advanced degrees and certificates, not like me.

This matter has been lingering in the back of my mind for a while, but the course I attended last week at Ecole Superieure des Affaires (ESA) on Risk in Financial Services that was arranged by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) in London to prepare persons in the financial risk industry for an examination with Banque du Liban got me thinking of how important it is to make a strategic educational move towards acquiring a certification in this domain if not going all out for a Master Degree.

I have come to realize that the Lebanese people, especially those blessed with a sharp mind and an even sharper trust fund have been hitting the books and acquiring MBA’s, EMBA’s, CFA’s, FRM’s, CPA’s, CMA’s… and every other letter in the English alphabet next to their names on their business cards.

Companies, Bank’s, and every other major employer in the country have been on the lookout for candidates to standout due to those qualifications, even if the salary offerings are even less than the minimum wage given to a McDonald’s counter employee in the United States.

It’s not an option or an advantage anymore; being certified is a must if one plans to survive in this increasingly competitive domain.

Another “Tello” Fit for the Blogosphere

And there I thought I was the only member of my family with good writing skills!

I was surprised when I got a WhatsApp from my little brother, http://byserene.blogspot.com/#!/2011/11/little-brother.html, saying that he has begun his own blog!

Take a look! http://moudzz.blogspot.com/

Like, Share, and Follow!

Vampires in Suits

Vampires are widely known as undead beings who feed in the blood of living creatures. Vampires became popular in the early 18^th century when a superstition broke out in Western Europe, coming from the Balkans and Eastern Europe where Vampire legends and folktales were already popular.

I have come to a firm belief that vampires do exist, and they exist in our modern day corporate world more than any time in history. Being part of the corporate world for about three modest years, I have come across so many vampires that my belief is ever stronger, and I have facts to prove it.

·         Vampires are said to arise from evil and pursue blood; isn’t money the most evil thing in the world today, and isn’t it the blood that keeps everything going?

·         Vampires have no restraint on turning on friends or relatives to satisfy their thirst; isn’t it believed that “Business is Business, and friendship is outside the office”?

·         Vampires are characterized as charismatic figures usually dressed in dark attire; aren’t the people you work with charismatic in their dark suits and blazers?

·         Vampires hunt during the dark hours of the night; aren’t the most destructive corporate decisions that involve back-stabbing and ruin done after working hours?

·          Vampires never come near garlic as it disintegrates them; no corporate vampire would have a chicken shawarma sandwich during work even if his life depended on it.

·         Vampires have a way of bewitching their victims and turning them into vampires; don’t you feel that you or your friends change after being in the corporate world for a while.

Vampires are real, and they are all around, and I can’t help but be lured into the trap…

I Discovered Baking

After the Betty Croaker instant cakes became boring, I tried to sway my newly discovered kitchen talents into sweets.  And the results are award winning (at least in the Wife Awards category!)

Lately I have been using some of my mom’s recipes in making Apple Pies, Cinnamon Rolls, and Chewy Chocolate – Chip Cookies and they are turning out to be delicious; if you intend to turn a blind eye on all the sugar, butter, and calories!

 

If anyone is interested in a recipe, I’ll be glad to share!

Bino

It was a gift from my dad on my high school graduation; it was a new, cute, and silver Peugeot 307; it was “the” car for an 18 year old university girl; and I loved it. Naturally, I gave it a name, a character, and the accessories to go with it. Fabien, nicknamed Bino, was my car, a blond, gay Frenchman, who was tough and fragile all together with a dice in the mirror.

Then came the July war, and our trip to Canada, and the debate to stay there, or come back to Lebanon, to sell everything, including Bino, or keep everything until further notice. I still remember the temper tantrums I threw just to come back to Lebanon for Bino and AUB; and it worked!

For 6 years, Bino was my best friend and companion. I still remember all the traffic jams we used to suffer on the highway to Beirut every morning, and back home in the evening. I remember all the chocolate bars and the juice cartons I used to leave behind because I was always in a hurry. I remember all the clothes and the shoes I used to lose, then find again with Bino. I remember the longest drive we had, which was to the south for a picnic with a bunch of friends from university.

He was with me through my high school graduation, my university years and graduation, he went with me on all those useless job interviews, and then to my first job, and now my second. He was with me while I was running around preparing for my wedding and remodeling my house.    

But even the sweetest fruit will grow old and sour someday. A few weeks ago, I decided that Bino needed his retirement so I decided to put him up for sale. After the many phone calls, questions, price debates, and the lost Saturday at the Car Zone “Nef3a” (that is a different story) the deal was done and Bino had his new owner.

There are some moments in life that you know you will never forget, like the moment I found out I got accepted to AUB, or the moment I saw my husband for the first time, and now I have the moment I gave up Bino’s keys to the old man in the grey sweater.

Bitter, sweet… but I’m ready for a new car now!

Search in Progress…

Osaka Sushi Lounge Vs. Tsumani

It has been quite a long time since I trashed one of Lebanon’s top places, so today’s lash out goes to Osaka Sushi Lounge located in the Kantari area.

For almost a year now, I have been hearing from friends that Osaka is the best sushi place in town. According to everyone, it’s supposed to have the best atmosphere, best service, and the best sushi in terms of variety and taste. So on Saturday, and after a month of contemplating the visit, my husband and I decided to try it mainly because we couldn’t get a reservation at Tsunami, our regular sushi place, because it was fully booked.

And so it goes, we arrived to Osaka at 10:30 pm, and sat at the bar until one of the tables was cleared which took about 7 minutes. We sat down and looked through the menu at the very limited variety and decided on what to order. After 20 minutes of waiting, my husband finally motioned to the waitress to notice that we were ready to make the order.

While we waited for the food to arrive, I couldn’t help but notice that the restaurant was not divided into a smoking and a non-smoking section. Usually at sushi places with an open bar, guests are prohibited from smoking on the bar because it’s directly over the food while it’s being prepared; at Osaka, sushi and cigarette smoke mixed perfectly in an atmosphere of ultimate Zen! (Super sarcastic tone)

The food arrived with a great presentation, but I wish I could say the same thing about the taste. Each and every piece of Maki was spicy, even the ones that didn’t include “spice” in their descriptions, not to mention salty to an extent that you are not able to taste the ingredients.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for over priced, smoky, and salty sushi, brought to your table with bad service, then Osaka is your place!

For reservations, please call 01-360630

Tsumani, on the other hand, has a menu that is filled with pages and pages of different types of Sushi, Sashimi, Maki, salads, appetizers, and hot dishes to an extent that you can visit once a week for a whole year, and still order something new each time, as is the case with my husband and I.

The service is speedy and friendly, and if you choose to sit at the “non-smoking” bar, you will really enjoy watching a pair of very professional and talented chiefs make your delicious sushi with such skill that triggers your appetite even more.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for affordable, clean, and delicious sushi, brought to your table with friendly and professional service, then Tsunami is your place.

For reservations, please call 01-337327

Fashion Trends for Spring/ Summer 2012

After quite a rough winter, and all its leather jackets, fur vests, scarves, and high boots, one is in serious need of a hint of spring, and all the new trends in store for the much awaited season.

The past fall/ winter’s fashion was rich in animal prints, dark metallics, furs, leathers, and a few signature colors like caramel, grey, burgundy, and dark green. All of which made the season warmer and the shopping, especially enjoyable.

From the looks of store windows, fashion websites, and catwalks, this spring/ summer seems to be promising so let’s skip the poetic mumbo jumbo of spring being the season of rebirth, and jump straight into its fashion must haves!

Even though prints and metallics have been scaling catwalks for a while now, they don’t seem to be backing down anytime soon. Floral and geometric prints are making their way back onto store shelves, accompanied by more metallics, but instead of the classic gold, silver, and bronze, it’s more colorful with electric shades of blue, teal, and pink. When it comes to colors, light pinks, peaches, yellows, blues, and other pastels are everywhere, and getting them mixed together in a floral pattern is the way to go.

The Bohemian look, along with its head bands, wavy hair, large bangles, pale make up, and loose fit clothing is one of the hottest looks this season. It is my personal favorite because it gives off a relaxed yet mysterious aura.

 

Happy Shopping!