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…