:: Birthday Outfit : Red + Pink ::

shirt : Jcrew  | skirt : Romwe | shoes : Isa Tapia | belt : Asos | watch : Michael Kors

Just a glimpse of what I wore for my birthday dinner last weekend in Chicago. We walked around for hours, caught sunset at the top of the Willis Tower, and then walked for around for a few more hours trying to find a restaurant that was open.  Apparently restaurants in the business area of  downtown Chicago close like at 8 p.m. on Sundays?  

oh, and...

Red + Pink + Gold+ Tutu = One of my favorite outfits ever

After a rough weekend, I'm ready for a good week. 

 Happy Monday! 

:: Birthday Weekend ::

dress:  zara  |  shoes:  elie tahari  |  purse:  furla  |  belt & baubles: f21 & ysl

It's crazy to think that we took these photos back in May during our California trip.  I had my eye on this dress for a while, but could never seem to find it online.  After hunting down different Zara locations I finally found it and I'm so glad that I did.  I've already worn it three times, and it's a party on it's own.  Nothing like a fun dress to get you in good spirits!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!  Tomorrow's my birthday but I'm not sure yet just how we'll be spending it - but I'm hoping glitter and cake are involved!

Check out more Friday Fancies here!

jet lagged

top, pants, and belt: f21  |  shoes: zara  | bag:  furla  | ring : ysl  | necklace:  diy

The next time I book a quick weekend trip where I return home a little before midnight Sunday night and then have to be up the following morning at 6 a.m. for work , please tackle me.  It's 2 days later and I'm still feeling jet-lagged.  What's up with that?

But on a much more cheery note, despite the jet-lag and throwing up in the airplane, this weekend was amazing.  Nothing like sitting at breakfast watching the deer run into the backyard, spending time celebrating a loved one's big day, and getting to meet so many (!) new and unknown (to me) family members.  D.C. is such a gorgeous city and each time I leave I'm dying to go back.  It doesn't hurt that I got to squeeze in a little Zara action as well :-)

Happy Wednesday my pets!

heading west!

After (not so) patiently waiting for the opportunity to take a vacation, Alaa and I have finally decided to head West in a few weeks.  We'll be splitting our time between San Diego and L.A. and will be doing lots and lots of eating, shopping, and beach hopping in between.  To say that I'm excited is an understatement!  Do you have any recommendations about where to eat, shop, and roam in these two gorgeous cities?  I'd love to hear your recommendations!  And if any of you live in either San Diego or L.A. maybe we could get together and play for a few hours?  Just e-mail me!

My weekend with Nashville

LV display at Greenhills Mall, Taking a small shopping break and enjoying the gorgeous weather,

Channeling my inner Princess Jasmine at Nordstroms,  A few mini indulgences from Whole Foods

Alaa and I took an impromptu trip to Nashville this past weekend.  It was filled with shopping, eating, and late nights.  I've always loved browsing through Calypso's collection online, but seeing it in real life is so.much.better.  So many gorgeous colors and fabrics!  Popped into Anthro, West Elm (my first visit - bought Grapefruit Candy ha!), Posh, MGBW and a million other cute little stores.  There was this gorgeous navy 3.1 Phillip Lim purse that I'm still dying over.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that by some act of fate it will still be there next month when I go.  Oh sir who answers prayers!  I love that purse, keep it for me will ya?

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Nashvegas

Last weekend Alaa and I took a mini vacation to Nashville.  I heart Nashville.

A lot.

While it may not be NYC, I always feel relaxed and refreshed by this cute southern city.  And we got to see family & friends we hadn't seen in a while.

We stayed at the Hilton Suites in Brentwood.  It was in a good location, not far from restaurants or shopping (Greenhills Mall!).  And the houses nearby were gorgeous (we're talking celebrity homes).  The hotel itself is cute too, but there is a lack of parking and we had some pricing confusion.  Next time we'll probably go back to the Hotel Preston or try out a new hotel. 

This is me.

This is me hurting your eyes.

Memphis doesn't have much in the way of shopping, so The Mall at Greenhills is like heaven to me.

Not to mention, they've got a Cheesecake Factory.

Need I say more?

No..I didn't buy these.

{Insert sad face here.}

And we stumbled across the cutest little bakery.  Puffy Muffin.

We got cream cheese muffins and chocolate croissants.

yummmmm.

And any trip to Nashville wouldn't be complete without stopping by one of these stores.

Again, no..i didn't buy anything.

{no need for tears}

Oh, and another Nashville ritual?

Maggianos.

Have Mercy.

 Do any of you have any recommendations for food, shopping, and hotels for the next time we're in Nashville?  I'd love to hear them!

xoxo

Memory Lane

To some, summer means the end of school, sleeping in, and family road trips.  Growing up, to me summer meant long letters that could only be read on the airplane, endless hours and days lounging by the pool, and last but not least....airports.  Whether going, coming, or seeing a friend off airports hold so many memories for me.  I've mentioned before that I'm a first generation Arab-American.  This means a ton of things, but one of my favorite things is that it means that we have family "back home".  So with the end of schools, comes the beginning of a long list of goodbyes.  So many of our friends make the trip back home during the months of June- August.  It's probably a mixture of nostalgia and a desire to go on vacation, but I found myself looking through old pictures of places I've been and would love to return to.

NYC

December 2009

Egypt

With my cousin in 2003? 2004?  

The Nile (2008)

Lebanon

June-July 2008

Being taught how to techtonik

and last but certainly not least....my favorite place of all :

Palestine

Nablus

Ramallah

Jerusalem


after all, home is where the heart is