Introducing ZuZu...

I'm excited to introduce you guys to the little person who has stolen my heart  - baby Suzanne aka "zuzu".  I've held off on showing her online for a lot of reasons, but one of them was that I wanted people to see her face to face for the first time versus them seeing a picture of her online.  With social media being the way so many of us communicate I felt like I'd be doing her an injustice if I simply uploaded her picture online and said "Here she is!  Our baby girl!"  I wanted to see peoples reactions when they first saw her.  I wanted them to see her in the flesh.  Witness her feisty yet amazingly sweet persona first hand.  I think a false sense of security comes with interacting with others via social media.  A lot of times we'll "stalk" one another (with good intentions!) - yet never leave a comment checking up on them or even to say hi.  In our minds we know they're okay, and we think about them constantly, but in reality they have no proof of any of that.  So basically, I wanted to make sure that she saw all of that.  That she heard all of the beautiful comments that were directed towards her and she felt the love all around her.

And with that I say happy Monday morning and heres to a wonderful week!

xo

Those People

shirt : everlane // pants: j.crew // jacket : f21 (old) // purse : kate spade // shoes : steve madden // necklace : paris // sunnies: f21

Well, this weekend we crossed over to being those people.  Yep, "those people" with the crying baby in the restaurant.  There's nothing like a crying baby to clear out a restaurant - fast.   If only people could hire us to do it.  Oh you wan't your guests to leave?  We've got you covered!

So basically, on Saturday Alaa and I wanted to enjoy the weather by having dinner on a patio somewhere.  We finally found a restaurant ( why is it always so hard to choose?!) and since it was so beautiful outside there weren't many tables left so I told Alaa I'd wait outside and get us a table while he ordered for us.  As soon as we got outside the baby started crying and the people started fleeing.  Really, one minute I'm all like "Hey guys!  Beautiful day outside!"  the next it's crickets chirping and tumbleweeds a blowin'.  Part of me wanted to stay there and say "You've never heard a baby cry before?!"  the other part was pretty mortified because it was such a pretty day and I didn't want to ruin anyones meal.  Not to mention, the people at the neighboring restaurant were starting to look too.  I called Alaa and told him to get our meals to go ASAP.  

But in the midst of it all, the nicest thing happened.  A girl walked up to me and just started making small talk.  Turns out she has a baby who is 4 weeks and could kinda relate.  So to you random stranger lady I want to give you the biggest hug.  Thank you for being so nice.  It meant the world to me.

Nice strangers are pret-ty amazing.

Suit Up

blazer : dillards (0ld)  | denim : target | shirt: j. crew  | scarf: love culture | purse : zara | sunnies : f21  | watch : anne klein  | 

After a busy week, the main thing on my agenda was laying low for the weekend.  We relaxed, visited friends, ate some crepes, and did a little shopping.  The weather was beautiful on Saturday so we took advantage of it and spent the day outside.  It was so cute to see the baby smile when the wind blew.  That girl - she slays me.  On Sunday, I went to get my hair done.  After a very in-depth explanation of what I wanted (something along these lines)  and a warning that my hair doesn't take color well, I left 4 hours later looking .....exactly the same.  Does anybody know how to lighten dark hair?!  While people look for the elixir of life..I'm looking for someone to give me the hairstyle I've coveted for years.  Needless to say I was mucho disappointed.  I'm about to start a contest open to any hairstylist who can give me the hair color I want.  I dare you to win. 

 Double doggy dare you actually...

Now on to the outfit!

I'm loving the dressed down suit trend that's going around right now.  The polished yet casual feel of it is perfect to run around in and still look put together.  Plus, it's perfect for the weather right now since the blazer is enough to keep you warm.  Add a light scarf to it and I'm a happy girl.  

Time Management

shirt : jcrew  | vest : old navy | denim: target | shoes: zara | purse : valentino | sunnies : f21

Before having a baby I was always on the go.  I always had a mile long mental to do list that I never got done.  A lot of it was things that didn't have to get done, just things I generally wanted to do.  Kind of like a bucket list of sorts- except I wanted to finish them before bedtime instead of before I died.  I like the extra time crunch.   So on my days off I'd plan on you know clean a little, cook dinner, bake something I've been dying to bake, blog a little, maybe venture out of the house and get some fresh air.  I just like to stay active and do stuff.  Now, with a newborn, I'm sitting around more than ever.  My to-do list is a faraway thought and basically I feel like I've won the lottery if the baby sleeps more than 3 hours.  I take my hats off to those of you who find the time to work and be mommy.  How do you do it?! I know it's too early to start a routine, but I'm craving some sort of stability where I can actually find a way to get things done.  I'd love to hear about your experiences!

:: Welcome Baby ::

Exactly one week ago Alaa and I welcomed our sweet baby girl into this world.  This past week has been life changing to say the least.  The baby and I are trying our best to adapt to our new lives - and to get as much sleep as we can (successful on her part, unsuccessful on mine).  

I'll be back soon with a couple of guest posts.  Thank you to those of you who sent well-wishes!

Leather, neon, and Arabs

top: jcrew | pants: topshop | shoes: zara | baubles: asos, apricot lane, michael kors, ysl

Alaa and I haven't had a real date night in a while, so this past weekend I took it upon myself to invite him out to dinner, coffee, and a movie.  I would like to add that I had every intention of whipping out my wallet to pay for all of these events....but I kinda- sorta forgot. 

 I remembered on the drive home.  

Whoops!

And that is reason #3478904 why I love my husband.

We ended up going here , and ohmygosh, it was so good!  I'm already dreaming of going back!  Alaa has been wanting to see Taken 2, so that's what we saw.  It was good, but I'm ready to see a movie where Muslims/Arabs aren't the villains.  It's stereotypical movies like that that make me want to stand up and say "I'm a Muslim/ Arab and I like butterflies!  And pink!  And hugs! - I'm not a bad person! I'm not what you see on TV!"

There are so many misconceptions about Arabs and/or Muslims and I really hope this blog dispels a lot of them.  I can't say that I represent 100% of our population, but I do think that I fit in with the vast majority - either living here or overseas.  I always find people to be hesitant to ask questions about Islam and/or the Arab culture for fear of sounding stereotypical or mean.  In all honesty, I would rather you ask me and get an honest answer , than just assume what you've read or heard is true.  

You can always e-mail me here if you have a question! 

 I'd love to hear it :-)

P.S. The tag of these pants blatantly say "keep away from fire". After noticing that, I was a little paranoid all night long.  

My thought all night long :

Must. Stay. Away. From. Flames!

Happy Weekend

Source: fluent-theories.tumblr.com via Nuha on Pinterest

Here's to kicking up our feet and basking in this gorgeous weather.  

Have a good one.

:: XX or XY ::

Today we have our 18 week ultrasound and it's a big one.  Hopefully, we'll find out if we'll be welcoming a little dude or dudette into this world - just typing that out gives me the chills!!  I'm super excited yet so nervous at the same time!  I guess having another peek at the baby and finally being able to call it a "he" or "she" kind of makes it all the more real.  This is crazy!

So do you think we'll be having one of these:

Source: onlywishing.tumblr.com via Nuha on Pinterest

 or these:

Source: weheartit.com via Nuha on Pinterest

I have a slight guess, but I refuse to say just yet.   My other hunch is that the babe will be a little secretive  and not give us any peeks - keepin' us on our toes! Either way, all I truly want is a healthy, good hearted child.  

That would definitely be the gift of a lifetime.

<< weekend >>

vest + chambray : old navy,  pants: guess (very old), shoes : zara, bag : celine, vintage

Happy Tuesday guys!  How was your weekend?  We had a really great relaxing, yet productive one. The kind where summer storms make you want to be productive, but force you to be cozy.  Hubs was busy all weekend painting random parts of our house, we bought a rug to go with our new living room furniture, (finally!) caught Batman, and got to swim a bit yesterday.  No surprise that I finally got a tan at the end of summer.

So who's excited about NYFW?!  I'm anxious to see what the runways churn out, but I think I've got a bit of an idea - florals, light colored leather, return of the neutrals, and a lot of tailored pieces.  We'll wait to see if my predictions are right or not.  For those of you living it up in the big city - enjoy it!  I'm living vicariously through you :-) 

Life Lately

his +hers  |  my new "baby bag"

outdoor reading + sweet tea + pandora = bliss | finally painted the door and railings black.  love my hubs!

P.S.

I've finally jumped on the bandwagon and joined twitter.  

You can follow me 

@nuhasofiyan

instagram: nuhasofiyan

<< thank you + a little note >>

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Nuha on Pinterest

This picture serves no real purpose except that this is how I look 99% of the time, just less glamorous.

Wow!

  Thank you all so much  for your sweet comments and encouragement yesterday.  It's nice to finally have the cat out of the bag!  You may have noticed that blogging took a seat on the back burner for a while there, and we can just go ahead and blame it on pregnancy.  I was still getting dressed ( I promise!) and heels were still involved ( to the outcries of many), truthfully, I  just had no desire to sit and blog.  I didn't want to publish something with my name on it that I, myself, wasn't interested in.  A lot that goes on in the blogmosphere is copy and paste.  There I said it.  We tend to blog, pin, tweet, and squeal over the same things and while we may genuinely be fond of whatever it is we're blogging/pinning/tweeting/squealing about..it just no longer feels original.  But don't get me wrong.  If you truly love something, share it with the world - but do so in your own way.  Be YOU!

This isn't a sudden revelation by any means, it's just something that's been on my mind for a long time now.  My biggest fear in life has always been living a life filled with regrets.  Not really the regret of making mistakes, more so the regret of not doing.  Of not trying enough.  Of being too afraid to try.  I don't ever want to look back and see that an opportunity was missed simply because I was too afraid to put myself out there.

Growing up as a first generation Arab-American was tough.  I didn't look like my peers, my name was always the inspiration for jokes, we spoke a different language, celebrated different holidays, the list goes on.  Then 9/11 happened and suddenly I was lumped in with the "bad people" category.  Add all of that to my shy and ready-to-please personality and you got yourself a kid that was incredibly self-concious.  I'm mentioning this only because I've finally come to accept who I am, quirks and all.  It took a long time in the making, but I am not bound to any one else's thoughts, actions, or opinions.  I am defined by my own character.  If my character so happens to like spider necklaces, tutus, and fascinators..then by golly that is who I am.

That is who I want to be.

I used to feel like I couldn't be successful, Arab, Muslim, and a wife all at the same time.  Those combinations would never work, especially not here in the U.S.  But if I set myself up for that, then that's exactly what I'll get.  I don't want to be that mom that tells their child to take the path well taken, only because it's more secure.  I want to set the example for my child that you are who you set out to be.  Hard work and failure aren't  excuses to take a step back - they're the more reason to keep going.

No matter if you're an Arab or a Muslim..whatever ethnic or religious origin you are or you aren't I hope this little post here is the push you needed to go out there and try.  No one is saying you'll conquer the world, but at least you'll conquer your fears and be a better person for it.

:: Surprise ::

Yep.  

We've got a bun in the oven that's set to be ready on February 4th, 2013.

We cannot  wait to meet you little one.

Word.

on a random street in downtown San Diego

Just a little bit of inspiration to get you through the end of the week. 

San Diego Eats

One of my favorite things about traveling is trying new restaurants.  Unfortunately, Memphis is bombarded with franchises and while there are a select few privately owned restaurants, there has yet to be one that keeps me coming back.  We didn't eat out much in Los Angeles, mainly because my Teta was there.  And well, you don't tell Teta that you're going out to eat.  She cooks amazing food, so it really wasn't much of a sacrifice.  Just a quick note :these may not be the most amazing restaurants in San Diego, but I thought they were worthwhile to share.  Even more, the majority of which I would love to re-visit one day.

Cafe Chloe

This was our first bite to eat upon landing in San Diego.  It was recommended to us by a local and ohmygosh..i loved it!  The atmosphere is so very chic and alluring.  There's outdoor and indoor seating, and a menu that is just as inviting.  It doesn't hurt that our waiter was incredibly nice too.  Go here with your girl friend or with your beau..just go!

Snooze

via Snooze website

  This restaurant is breakfast only and closes it's doors at 2:30.  The wait is kinda long (about 1 hr to 1.5 hours), but in the mean time you can take a stroll around the downtown area.  Buy coffee and relax or shop next door at Urban Outfitters.  If you're remotely sleepy, Snooze will definitely jolt you awake.  It's a hip, vibrant restaurant that has songs blaring and a very modern feel.  I ordered the OMG! French Toast and it was OMG - to die for.  Super sweet, just like dessert.  And I was pleasantly surprised that the grapefruit juice I ordered had pulp.  Pulp makes me happy

The Mission

via Mission website

Again, another breakfast eatery in downtown San Diego.  Doors close at 3 so be sure to come before then.  Our hotel clerk suggested this restaurant to us, and I'm glad we went.  It's an eclectic space with a very tex-mex influenced menu.  They've got a ton of fun coffee's to try and the portions are huge.  If you're a potatoes for breakfast person, this is your place.

Costa Brava

( I can't seem to find a decent picture, so I won't do it the injustice of putting something up that isn't attractive.)

My original plan was to look for a good hispanic restaurant, and I kept seeing Costa Brava's name pop up.  This is an incredibly romantic restaurant that's known for serving things Spanish style a.k.a. tapas.  I had never been to a Spanish restaurant before, so in lieu of a traditional entree, Alaa and I just ordered a few tapas and split them.  It was late, and we weren't that hungry so around 5 tapas (split between the two of us..they're pretty small plates) was enough for us.  Try the croquettes..so so yummy!

George's Ocean Terrace

via Georges website

I wanted our last night in California to be special so we decided to dine at Georges.  Apparently, there's three parts to this restaurant:  California Modern, George's Bar, and the Ocean Terrace.  We decided to go to the rooftop and have dinner.  Again, be prepared to wait around 1 - 1.5 hour to be seated.  Luckily, there's a ton of gorgeous little shops lining the street and surrounding area.  A lot of really lovely galleries are right across the street, so that's how we killed time.  It was already a pretty chilly day, so naturally sitting on the roof, in front of the ocean, outside we were pretty darn cold.  But they've prepared by having outdoor heaters between every few tables, and they'll give you a fleece blanket if you ask.  I'll be honest, Alaa's steak and fries were actually really good..my Mahi Mahi on the other hand, was nothing spectacular.  But, I wouldn't mind going back again to try something else.  And my recommendation is to book a table at a time where you can watch the sunset.  I bet it'd be beautiful.

There's a ton of cute little shops that I would have loved to try, but even I can only eat so much.  Take Chocolat for example.  I'm a huge sucker for cute little restaurants and Chocolat is no exception.  Just look at all of the gorgeous gelato!

Dear Chocolat, 

Next time I'm in San Diego I will love you in my own special way.

Yours truly,

N

*a huge thanks to Megan for some amazing recommendations!*

Life, Lately

view from the plane  |  cute little flower shop in San Diego

gorgeous flowers in Anaheim  |  toes in the sand

Disney!

on Hollywood Blvd  | spotted this red carpet event

playing dress up in Zara  |   infamous Prada heels

oh Valentino, you kill me  | gorgeous fallen florals + elie tahari flats

gelato goods at Chocolat

my love  + the beach  |  airplane fun

blissful summer storm that resulted in...|   no power for 3+ hours

spotted Christine's Jewelry Lady and thought she looked familiar  |  i love sunglasses

Here's to a quick and fun week!  Happy Monday!

p.s. you can follow me on instagram  @ : nuhasofiyan