My first 2 page spread!

Remember that post I wrote, 40 things I’ve learned since moving to Lebanon? Well, because it was so popular with all of YOU, it was featured in this month’s 3D issue of RagMag!  So, a big THANK YOU to all of my readers!

This month's 3D issue of Rag Mag, 3D glasses, and my thumb

When they told me that my post would be reprinted, I didn’t think that I would have a two page spread, with pictures!

My spread! Isn't it nice?

Naturally, I read the magazine from front to back, well..more like back to front..and what is most striking about this magazine is the breadth of topics it covers.  The people at RagMag are right to call it a “social” magazine.

There truly is something for everyone within the pages of RagMag.  You have features on such varied subjects as fashion, diving, ECON 101 – or lack there of in Lebanese society, Beirut’s underground poetry scene, domestic violence, travel, healthy eating, how to set career goals, the glamorization of cocaine in pop culture, Lebanon’s dying marine life, relationship advice, art (if I had between 10k and 70k to spare I would definitely buy one the photographs in the “One Thousand and One Dreams” photographic series by Marco Guerra and Yasmina Alaoui!!) as well as reviews of CDs, books, DVD’s and even video games..only to name a few.  Not only that, but it is the first social magazine in Lebanon to do a 3D concept..most of the photographs in the magazine only truly come to life when you put on the 3D glasses..so make sure you put them on!

All of this to say, I’m proud to be featured in this month’s edition of RagMag..go and pick it up, it is definitely worth a read!

Dress my apartment!

So, I just moved into my new apartment right..which is a good thing.. except for the fact that the girl who lived in the apartment before me was a cave woman in her past life.  In the year that she lived there,,not once did she clean the bedroom, open the windows, dust, sweep, or mop.

Can you imagine what was waiting for me?  Ginormous dust bunnies.. that’s what.

After deep cleaning the entire room, the only thing that was left to deal with were the curtains.  In a fit of impatience and disgust, I pulled them down and threw them away..certain that no amount of cleaning would ever rid them of their filth..

It seemed like a good idea at the time..well..until I woke up the next morning to sets of peering eyes from the construction site RIGHT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW!  Did I mention that I’m likely the most impatient person you will ever meet, and have a tendency to make rash decisions?  Well, now you know.

there it is..my curtain-less window..and my fabulous view.

Where am I getting with this?  Well, I was on facebook, and saw that Skaff is running a social media campaign..where you have to locate the Skaff Jacket (see photo below) take a picture of yourself in front of it, and upload it to the Skaff Interiors page on Facebook. The winner receives a $100 gift voucher from Skaff..just what I need to buy some fabric and some curtains!

Does anyone know where this jacket is?  Will you help me find it?!?

What do we think of the campaign?

Skaff Jacket..I want to dress my home!

University Sage

THE University Sage

The order: "Nutella and Banana please!"

The result: The perfect companion for a day walking around Hamra..YUM

Lamest pick up lines in Lebanon so far..

1. “Want to ride in fast car loud music?” – sent via text
2. “You don’t work out like a Lebanese girl” – while on treadmill
3. “Wasn’t Miami built on coke?” – in response to hearing that I’m from Miami

Nothing can forgive bad game.

Yo game is lame!

Designers and Art Directors..

So, after three months in Lebanon I’ve come to the conclusion that there are only two industries in Lebanon:

1. IT/Web Design

2. Advertising

I don’t even have to ask people “what they do” anymore, I already know the answer:

“I’m a freelance Graphic Designer.”

or

“I’m an Art Director”

I can seriously count on one hand the people that I’ve met who work in other fields.

1. A professor of communication at AUB (but he teaches the advertisers and the graphic designers)

2.  A banker (but he was probably lying, I met him at the gym)

3.  A car importer (he was probably lying too, I also met him at the gym)

oh, and how can I forget

4. the self proclaimed entrepreneur (this just means unemployed)

Yep, that still leaves just two industries…

So, sorry to tell you, but if you aren’t in either of these two fields, and you live in Lebanon, there is no hope for you. Book your ticket to Dubai… NOW.

Good thing I work in one of them.

A day at the winery..

We decided to opt for something different this weekend..a visit to a local winery called Massaya..

Before getting to the winery, we stopped off at a place famous for their labneh..I had two labneh sandwiches and Turkish coffee, even before we got to the winery – I didn’t realize I had an organic feast waiting for me!

After arriving at the winery, we walked through the grape fields until we came upon a wooden cottage that looked like it belonged somewhere in Kentucky, not in Lebanon!  Ahhh!  What a breath of fresh air just being there was..The restaurant at Massaya winery is only open on Sundays for lunch, and sits only 50-60 people, we were lucky to have gotten a reservation.

What proceeded was a two and a half hour meal fit for kings: six courses, open wine bar, and an intimate experience with people that I’m lucky to know..

Inside Massaya gift shop

The restaurant, how amazing is this?!?

Goodness..

Marshmellows in Lebanon,,yes!

Eau du ASHTRAY.

Ok, so maybe I’m part of the less than 1% of the population who doesn’t smoke here in Lebanon.  But jeeeeze, I wish that just for once I could go out with out smelling like an ashtray at the end of the night – is that so much to ask?

Apparently it is.

I was reading a couple of local blogs, and there was an anti-smoking initiative organized by the Rotaract club of Beirut called “Ain’t No Smoking Tonight” on October 28th of last year.  That’s right, only for ONE night.  Out of the 35 pubs in Gemmazyeh (a very popular area for bar hopping) that agreed to partake in the initiative, only a few actually stuck to it! Many of them just used the opportunity for free publicity, and allowed people to smoke anyway..

This picture sums up what the Lebanese thought of “Ain’t No Smoking Tonight”

What a mockery!

This is what local blogger and illustrator, Maya Zankoul, had to say about the night.  She designed the poster above..the images below were taken from her blog.

taken from http://www.mayazankoul.com

taken from http://www.mayazankoul.com

My new scent – Eau du Ashtray.

How attractive.

First car accident in Beirut..

That’s right!  I was headed to the gym after work on Friday when a BMW rammed in the the back of my taxi BAMMM!!

My thoughts the moment before the accident, “Mannnn I miss my car..”

My thoughts moments after the accident, “Great excuse not to go to the gym.”