Musings of a City Girl

My Life in Polaroid

2011-08-12T10:18:00.000+05:00

Mom & Me on my 31st Birthday.

In case you cant tell, I have just discovered the delights of editing ones pictures online! Stay tuned for more editing exploits

Lawn Mowers & Bulls

2011-08-11T12:17:00.000+05:00

As many times as I have shopped for summer clothes over the years, i'm amazed at the lengths women will go to for fashion. The phenomenon know as "Designer Lawn Exhibitions" which have become very popular over the past few years, have whipped the female population into a complete frenzy wherein buying clothes for the summer is no longer a fun experience but an extreme sport.

Now granted that, in a country with 9 months of intense summer and the nature of the shalwar kameez (in that it can't be made to mix and match as one can do with seperates in the west) it is imperative that one replaces one's summer wardrobe almost every season; heaven forbid that one should be caught in a print from last years collection!

Add to that the fact that in such extreme tempratures lawn is the only fabric that can be worn, and you have yourself a market which is a mecca for textile manufacturers.

Local designers have also jumped onto the lawn band wagon and have collaborated with prominent textile manufacturers to produce exclusive designer lawn prints for the masses.

and so every year as summer approaches the series of designer exhibitions start with women flocking to them from all corners of the country. I kid you not, I have seen women actually travel from other cities especially to attend a particular exhibition; not to mention the countless others who get their friends and relations to shop for them and ship them their clothes half way across the planet; although why one would want a lawn suit in sweden is beyond me!

These ladies are fondly reffered to as "Lawn Mowers" that is they must have each and every design of each and every lawn range ever produced.

With eid approaching at the end of august, several designers have launched a mid summer eid collection hoping to incite another hysterical reaction within the "Lawn Mowers" and thus double their profits.

It was at such an exhibition held recently in Lahore that I witnessed the following events

Pictures by Sarah Najam

As we approached the exhibition venue we could see a whole crowd of ladies lined up before us. Thats my head in the right side corner.

Pictures by Sarah Najam

The shop was scheduled to open at 10:00 and we showed by by 9:45. By the looks of the crowd, I'm sure ladies had started lining up by atleast 9:00am and mind you these are ladies who never rise before noon on a normal day!

The crowd of women all waiting anxiously for the store to open, kind of reminded me of the San Fermin Festival in Pomplona Spain, More commonly know as "Running with The Bulls".On the day of the festival swarms of people wait anxiously for the time when the bulls will be released into the streets

Look Familiar??

And just as the doors slowly open, everyone makes a mad dash for their lives,

or in this case a mad dash for the design of their choice before someone else buys it *gasp* now that is a fate worse than death!

And here we Go!

Once inside the situation does not improve and lots of pushing, shoving and elbow jabs ensue

Those who are lucky get the prints of their choice, those who are not...well lets just say things can get a bit ugly if God Forbid a certain desired print is not obtained! If i had to pick between a bull on the rampage or a Lahori woman who has not been able to buy the designer print that she wanted.....it would be difficult deciding which option would result in a less painful death!

So with that said I will leave you with a clip from the bollywood film " Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara" (loosely translated You Only Live Once) wherein the three protagonists take part in the running of the bulls festival as part of a childhood promise.

See the expressions on their faces; they look intense, determined, scared, excited, .....emotional all the expressions one has when all you can think is, if we dont do this now, we'll never be able to do it again.

It is the very same sentiment that echoes in the heart of every Lawn Mower as they push and shove their way to their ultimate goal.

Watch & Enjoy

Things I See From My Window

2011-07-27T11:51:00.000+05:00

I'm lucky enough to live in a house which is bang infront of a small park. I'm even luckier to have a room with an amazing view of the park so every morning when I draw my blinds I am welcomed to a new day by a lush green view and the hope that today will be better than yesterday (that doesnt always happen but one can dream)

When we moved to this house we brought with us a small tree which was bought by my dad and was still small enough to be in a flower pot. We planted it on the small green belt bordering the park right in front of the house. Today 6 years later it has grown into a huge tree. I love looking at it everyday, it makes me feel my dad's presence in a way.

Another great advantage of my view is that one gets to see the interesting goings on of the neighbourhood that are often very amusing.

Take this next picture for instance

This little girl was following her siblings on her tricycle when she suddenly decided to dismount and survey the situation.

After some thought she decided that it would be a much better idea to carry her tricycle rather than riding it!

Who can tell what goes on in the mind of a toddler.

Oh..also in the top half of the picture you can see the leaves of my Dad's tree :)

Stay tuned for more amusing and interesting views from my window

Profound Political Views

2011-04-19T17:41:00.000+05:00

and that is how we achieve World Peace!

For more profound insights visit http://www.vimrod.com/

How Can you Mend a Broken Heart - Micheal Buble

2011-04-12T17:31:00.000+05:00

	Michael Buble - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

The song running through my head since the past few weeks.
Clearly I am stuck in what is now becoming a rather long phase of misery and gloom and cant seem to pull myself out of it. Ofcourse listening to songs like this is not helping that, but what can one do when a song is stuck in one's head?
Hoping for the advent of a more cheerful song soon. In the meantime any tips on cheering up are more than welcome.

Pakoras in the Snow

2011-04-02T23:32:00.000+05:00

A few weeks ago, I had to make a trip to a mountain resort known as Bhurban to arrange and attend a conference. The conference is an annual occurence and is usually a nightmare to arrange with people coming in from all over the country which means additional egos to appease ofcourse! This time was no different.

It took a month and two people (me and my colleague Sarah) plan every little detail and by the time Sarah and I were ready to leave, we were thoroughly fed up with the entire idea and just wanted it to be over with.

We were scheduled to reach the resort a day earlier to make sure that all the arrangements were in order for when the rest of the motley crew arrived the next day. This meant taking a flight at the crack of dawn to Islamabad (the capital city) and then taking a two hour shuttle ride to the resort. Something that both of us were not looking forward to.

Upon our arrival in islamabad, we were pleasently suprised to find out that we had the shuttle to ourselves which meant we could hog all the seats and be comfortable. Actually this is what it meant to me, to Sarah it meant that this shuttle was our hostage for the next two hours and that we could do whatever the hell we liked!!

Now lets get somethings straight here, I am somewhat of a studious traveller that is i like to plan my trips and then stick to an agenda. This in my opinion is not boring at all I simply like to know where i'm going and what Im going to do next.

On a recent trip abroad, a friend told me to throw the agenda out the window and just do whatever popped into our collective heads. And we did. And I have to admit, it was the most fun Ive had in the longest time! Since then I have decided to be more spontaneous on my trips and in life in general. (which is big for me!!)

As we started towards Bhurban, i thought I would just settle in and get caught up with a book that id been wanting to finish, Ofcourse Sarah was having none of this! First she had the driver fiddle around with the radio till she found a station she liked and had it cranked up to full volume and secondly she demanded that the driver stopped at the nearest Pakora stand.

For those of you dont know, pakoras are a local snack usually made with either onion, potatoes or sometimes even spinach or all of the above, mixed with spices and fried in a corn meal batter. Basically its like fried onion rings but with a singularly subcontinental flavor. For some odd reason, Pakoras are always the food of choice in the monsoons.

When the sky is overcast and theres a cool breeze blowing just before the heavens burst into thousands of raindrops, invariably someone will ask for pakoras!

Sure enough about 45 mins into the drive we stopped at a road side Pakora stand, known to have the best pakoras on route; so said our driver. He also insisted that we must have a hot cup of tea to accompany the pakoras.

Till our plate arrived we proceeded to photgraph the pakoras on display at the stand.

I wasnt feeling very hungry but the sight of the pakoras and the smell of a fresh batch being fried got my taste buds going and I waited anxiously for ours to arrive

And arrive they did!! Hot from the wok and covered with a dusting of chat masala...perfect and ready to be eaten!

Washed down with a cup of steaming hot tea! made the traditional way by cooking the tea leaves and milk together resulting in an extremely strong cup of tea!

Time for a quick apres snack shot with the shuttle and off we go again!

As we set off again, I couldnt concentrate on my book anymore; I was too distracted by the view as we gathered altitude and the fresh mountain air blowing through the shuttle windows

I couldnt wait for my first view of the snow capped mountains. The last time I was here I was a teenager on vacation with my parents. we came every year like clockwork because my father loved the mountains. I havent been back since he passed on but oddly enough thinking of him just then made me happy instead of sad for once.

As we drew closer to the resort, much to our suprise we saw small patches of snow on either side of the road. And ofcourse Sarah insisted that we stop and take a picture in the snow.

As Bhurban is a resort town, the rod to it is lined with road side vendors looking to sell tourists anything that they might need for their stay there.

Care for a pashmina anyone? or an umbrella?

Finally when we reach the resort, we rush to check in and get on with the arrangements, but its hard to tear yourself away when the view from you room is like this

From that moment onwards, the rest of the trip was a blur of constant activity followed by sheer and painful exhaustion which i am still trying to recover from!

But by far the most memorable part of the trip will be hot melt in the mouth pakoras by the road side.

Yes there is definitly something to be said about the benefits of spontaneity

I am a Domestic Goddess!

2010-10-25T09:02:00.000+05:00

Inspired by the cupcake mania that has over taken the world in general and the fact that i havent baked in years other than the odd cookie, I decided to make muffins this weekend.

Not just any muffins, Chocolate- Choc Chip Muffins! And as any good blogger should do i took lots of before and after shots of my re-entry to the world of baking

This is what the muffins looked like before they went into the oven

And to my great relief this is what they looked like after they came out, is it just me or do they look absolutely fantastic??

I think they look good enough to do a few muffin portraits

Perhaps an individual portrait to start with

And a nice group shot to finish, they all look like they're having fun dont they?

Ok, i think the lovely baking smell has sent me into some sort of muffin delirium!

I made mine from this wonderfully easy recipe by the original domestic goddess Ms. Nigella Lawson at the following link

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/chocolate-chocolate-chip-muffins-recipe/index.html

Try these out over a weekend and release your inner domestic goddess.

Watch this space for more baked treats!

Heaven is a Plate of Bread Pudding

2010-10-21T14:45:00.000+05:00

I dare anyone to disagree!

What if This Was You?

2010-08-20T11:34:00.000+05:00

What if you lost everything?

What if you were this helpless?

What if you had nowhere to go?

What if these were your children?

What if you were this desperate to survive?

What if you felt all of this and more?

Would'nt you want someone to help you?

So this Ramadan.....

before stepping out to buy your new clothes for Eid

or having an expensive iftari in a restaurant..............

Ask yourself this question

What if this was you?

Would'nt you want someone to help?

This Ramadan, be that someone for those who really need our help.

Whether its through collecting donations, distributing relief goods or even just saying a prayer.

Every little bit counts!

Because it could so easily have been us....And we would want someone to help.

What I'm reading right now.....

2010-07-29T17:35:00.000+05:00

A friend of mine recently presented me with a bookmark listing the "50 books to read before you die". While perusing through the list I felt both smug and dismayed! Smug because I had read 40 of the 50 listed (pause for applause at my literary prowess), most of them in my teens when all the other girls read sweet valley high; and dismayed because apparently I'm a complete ignoramus for not having read the remaining 10!!
One name out of the list stood out for me, Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy". A suitable boy centres on Mrs. Rupa Mehra's efforts to arrange the marriage of her younger daughter, Lata, with a "suitable boy". At the heart of the novel it is a love story, set in a young, newly independent India. Lata is a 19-year-old college girl, vulnerable, yet determined to have her own way and not be influenced by her strong mother and opinionated brother, Arun. Her story revolves around the choice she is forced to make between her three suitors, Kabir, Haresh, and Amit.
I remember reading this during summer vacations when I was 14; I remember that it was a particularly rainy summer and how I would drag my old bean bag to sit by the window and listen to the rain as I read. Inspite of having a very vivid memory of having read the book, I couldnt for the life of me remember how it ended!! I remembered most of the characters and situations but I just could not remember which boy Lata chooses in the end!!

Is this what happens when you turn 30? Do you start to forget bits an pieces of your life? is 30 the advent of old age?? As you can see i'm handling turning 30 really well!!

In an effort to prove that I am nowhere near my dotage and that it is simply a matter of having read too many books to be able to keep track, I have taken on the herculean task of reading A Suitable Boy again!
I call it a herculean task because taking on a novel that is 1349 pages is by no means a task for the faint hearted. yes you read correctly, it is 1349 pages!! and yes you can call me crazy for reading the book not once, but twice!!

The title is interesting and especially pertinent to my part of the world as the parents of most young girls in Pakistan follow Mrs. Mehra's quest of finding a suitable boy for their daughters.
The idea of suitability varies from family to family and more often than not, the daughters personal likes and dislikes do not figure into this idea! For some it is the caste or religious sect which bears the most significance, for others it is purely the physical appearence of the *ahem* prospective candidate. Where some would rate the family's collective level of education above all else, others are only interested in one thing; Money!

Whatever the family preference, it rarely if ever matters if the girl in question likes tall men or short men, whether she rates having a sense of humour above financial stability, or whether she even likes men or not!

I know what you're thinking.....its archaic, its barbaric, it completly nullifies the entire suffragette movement; you're thinking all those things that go against a women's free will to choose a life for herself. However before you think as such, you may be interested to know that in most cases, the boys preferences are shown equally little consideration when choosing a spouse! We are nothing if not equally discriminatory!

The fact remains, that just like you cannot change the concept of a jewish mother, you cannot change the concept of marriage in the sub-continent! There will always be the odd family like mine that does not subscribe to the norm but generally thats the way the things are done.

I think Jane Austen said it best when she said (although i'm sure she was not reffering to the sub-continent when she said it)
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters"
Methinks Ms. Austen had zero-ed in on the perfect sub-continental definition of a suitable boy way before Mr. Seth had even thought about writing his novel.

Oddly enough, I was recently asked the same question; what do you look for in a potential partner?...... and I was at a loss for words (me! lost for words!! clearly this is another side effect of turning 30!!) Probably because I inherently feel that its not something that you have to look for, its about being on the same wavelength as the other person, a closeness and deeper understanding that is not restricted to being with someone 24/7. An acceptance of the other person's strengths and shortcomings. And most importantly, having the same values

Having said that, it doesnt mean that everything will be perfect, there will be the odd argument or misunderstanding but generally speaking you would rather have this person in your life than to have to go through life without them.

Well, that concludes my two cents worth on the prospect of suitable boys, and with that i'm off to start my advance on those 1349 pages.

Till the next post...Au reviour!

Bennie & The Jets- Elton John

2010-07-06T16:13:00.000+05:00

This song has been running through my head for the past few days now. I heard it years ago in school and till now i have never been able to make sense of the lyrics!! But its a great song all the same

	Elton John - Bennie and the Jets .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

I hadnt heard the song in years until I recently saw the it sung by James Marsden & Katherine Heigl in the movie 27 dresses. Judging by their rendition, they couldnt make much sense of the lyrics either!!
Anyway, listen & enjoy folks...Au revoir!

Globetrotting 101

2010-07-04T20:21:00.000+05:00

Most people who know me, know that one of my greatest passions is to travel. I have been very fortunate to travel all across the globe and see places that people only dream of. Having said that in no way or form has my wanderlust been satisfied, and I would love to go back and rediscover the places I’ve been to already and of course to venture into new territory as well.

Last year my voyage of rediscovery led me to one of my favorite cities; London. This year I'm heading to the Far East to the uber clean uber developed and uber fabulous Singapore! This is a repeat visit for me but the first visit for my mother who will be accompanying me so it gives me the chance to rediscover the city through another person's perspective

I'm due to leave in 3 days time and am occupied with all my preparations for the trip, however having traveled for so long, I have accumulated over the years certain tricks of the trade, which make packing, preparing and the actual voyage an enjoyable non stressful experience.

So this post is all about what you need to be a true jet setting globetrotter!...well maybe not so jet setting but you get the basic idea!

The first thing you must do is plan! Now I know all you type B, carefree, spontaneous people are scoffing at this but trust me, it pays to plan! Planning ensures that you do not get lost, caught in bad weather, bad situations or get cheated. All these things can ruin even the best of trips! A bit of research on your destination covering things to see, the transport system, cultural dos & don’ts, language and weather conditions can make all the difference between a terrific and a terrible experience. If you don’t think this is important, just try remembering what happened to the girls in SATC2

Another great thing to do is to check out what’s going on in the city during the time you're visiting so you can incorporate a concert, play, cultural/sports event etc into your itinerary. A great site for this is www.timeout.com. Time out covers most major cities and gives you hotel and restaurant reviews as well as the latest happenings in terms of music, events, festivals etc

Invest in a good traveling wallet that will have enough space for your passports, tickets, insurance, cash etc. Trust me its worth it having all your important documents in one place; do you really want to be the person holding up the line at the airport while you look frantically for your passport or ID card in all of your bags??

you can see m traveling wallet in this picture as I get all my stuff together

Packing constitutes a major dilemma for most people who travel. The first and most important rule is that unless you are the Queen of England or a major Hollywood movie star or Anna Wintour, you must under all circumstances travel light!! Trust me no trip will warrant packing ten pairs of shoes or an outfit for each day that you are away in a gigantic suitcase. Invest in good key pieces that can be dressed down or up (dark jeans, crisp white shirt) and are neutral enough to be worn with many things. Believe me no one really cares if you wore the same shirt twice in the same week!!

Another thing that I do is pick what clothes to pack a few days in advance and keep them out in your room for a few days so you can see them often and have a chance to get comfortable in your choices. That way if you need to edit, you can do so without repacking your bag at the last minute.

As you can see this is what I have done, much to the surprise of my bear who does not understand what all this is about. Unlike Carol’s (parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com) Bear or Tom aka squeak the cat, my bear is completely uninterested in helping me. I think it’s because he is miffed at not being asked to accompany me on the trip!

Another very clever trick is to put in a foldable traveling bag in the bottom of your suitcase. This can be used to pack the “shopping” which just might make it on the trip back home. It is not a nice feeling to realize that your suitcase is in fact not big enough for everything that you bought and an even worse feeling to go looking around for cheap travel bags at the last minute which will inevitable tear or bust a strap just as you enter the airport!

A great way to pack intelligently is to put heavier items like shoes on top of the rest of your clothes; it’s a great way to save on space and to ensure that your clothes do not slide around in the suitcase during transit

Last but not least, when you’re going to another country, go with an open mind and with a will to try and experience new things. There is no point in traveling if all you want is the same things you get back home. Case in point, I know of a colleague who went to Paris, the food capital of the world and just ate McDonalds for the 4 days that he was there!! Now that is a trip wasted!

Traveling gives you a chance not only to discover new cultures and people but to discover things about yourself and to enrich your personality with the things you learn along the way.

oh oh before I forget, dress comfortably but please always try to look nice when you're on the plane as you never know when you might run into your future best friend, employer or soul mate. Granted Ive only ever run into screaming babies and strange burpy men but you never know it could happen!!

So I hope that tips I’ve handed out have been helpful and that your next trip will be more enjoyable because of them! Till the next time….Bon Voyage!

Going to the Park with Dad

2010-06-20T18:50:00.001+05:00

This is my favourite picture of all time. This is me at about 1 year old with my dad at the park. For as long as I can remember the park has been a key feature of my relationship with my father. As soon as i could walk i was taken for walk here every weekend and as I got older, I would accompany my dad for his daily walk with our dog. It was in this park that i learnt about various trees and flowers; it was the first place i learnt how to ride my bike without training wheels and i still have the mark on my ankle that reminds of exactly how badly i fell down when I did that for the first time. It is also the place that i would confide, discuss, argue and laugh with my father

The last time i went to the park was over 8 years ago, exactly one day before my dad passed away; that was our last walk together. I havent had enough courage to go back to the park without him. About 8 months before he passed we were walking in the park and discussing whether we should spend money on a family trip to europe or whether he should buy a new car and i remember saying to him "please lets go on the trip dad, who knows when we might be able to go together again" and so we did go on the trip together and it was the last time we travelled together as a family. I wish i had known then how prophetic my statement would be, if i had i might not have said it.

Today is father's day, the 9th one ive spent without my dad and not a day goes by when i dont think about him or miss him. And not a year goes by without it being difficult to watch others buy presents for father's day, or to read the special restaurant offers specially for father's day. Its all just a reminder that the person I love most in the world is the one person I can never see again.

Recently i under went a session of hypnotherapy as part of a team activity for work. During the exercise we were put into a semi trance state to reinforce confidence and determination. As part of the session we were asked to think back to our child hood; most of my colleagues found it hard to do so but for me no sooner had the words been uttered and i was back in the park walking alongside my father.

Some memories become so etched in our mind that they remain indullable with the passage of time. So even though i dont have my father with me anymore, I will always have the wonderful memories of all the times we had together.

Happy Father's Day Dad

Fix You

2010-05-28T11:49:00.000+05:00

	Coldplay - Fix You .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

The song running through my head today. Listen, Enjoy and Have a great weekend everyone!

The Dance of the New Shoes

2010-05-25T21:27:00.004+05:00

Some people dream of and wait anxiously for the pitter patter of little feet. I dream and listen out for the clacking of a new pair of high heels. I am a well known shoeaholic and proud of it. My fascination with shoes started from an early age as my Dad worked for a large multinational shoe company. I was always mesmerised watching rows upon rows of shoes glide gracefully across a factory floor on a conveyor belt; each pair headed for a brand new box destined to bring joy to its new owner.

whether its the first pair of baby booties, a school girl getting a new pair of sneakers, a teenager buying their first pair of heels, a young woman buying shoes for a special occassion or a bride finding the perfect pair of shoes to match her dress; the wonder of trying on and walking in a new pair of shoes is something that no one can deny

Ah yes, one of life's great joys is a new pair of shoes.

Those of you who know shoes, know that the ultimate pair of shoes to own are a pair of Christian Louboutin heels. Worn by movie stars on the red carpet and pretty young things the world over, the bright red sole and classic shape of these shoes make them the most recognizable.

As a treat to myself for my upcoming 30th birthday I decided i deserved a pair of Louboutin heels. After many hours searching through pages and pages of different websites I finally found the perfect pair. It was the right shape, the right size, the right colour...the right everything! Thank God for Ebay, I also managed to get a really good deal on them; Gorgeous designer shoes at a bargain...can things be any more perfect.

So I waited with baited breath for my precious purchase to arrive and finally this sunday, They Arrived!

I opened up the box with as much reverence as i could manage

I sat and stared at the box in disbelief, can they really be mine?

Such a simple box, yet it bears one of the most gorgeous pairs of shoes inside.. Ok I know i'm being melodramatic but i'm way too excited!

I unwrapped the box and the dust covers to reveal the treasure inside

They are known as the Rolando Pumps, Classic shape, slightly over 4 inch heels with a hidden 1 inch platform for good balance and the best part is......

The gorgeous, Iconic red sole

*doing a little dance as I type*

And the climax of getting a new pair of shoes..trying them on....

Taa Daaa!!!

Oh they are a perfect fit and they look beyond stunning!

The Only problem now is that i'm so scared of wearing them lest the beautiful red sole should get damaged!!

The Only solution i can think of is to wear them and be carried everywhere in a sedan chair like cleopatra and alight only in the midst of very thick carpeting!!

No I'm kidding i plan to wear these on a night out on the town on my 30th ....Now all I need is a dress to go with the shoes!

My Dentist and the Weapons of Mass Destruction

2010-05-20T14:17:00.000+05:00

After months of avoiding the inevitable and telling myself that it was too expensive or that the gaping hole in my molar was nothing to worry about; I finally dragged my self to the dentist today.

I have had a fear of dentists since I was a child. all the implements on their table looked very disturbing, not to mention painful. Plus the dentist's chair, which I consider to be the work of the devil, is designed to keep you exactly where you are with no chances of escape. Yes indeed, no individual should have the kind of power that a dentist does!

Having successfuly avoided going to the dentist for over a decade, i finally gave in Last November when it had become impossible for me to eat or drink without excruciating pain in one of my teeth; infact i couldnt even breath in as the air coming into my mouth was way to cold for my teeth to handle! I can handle the not eating or drinking but being an asthmatic, the breathing part is crucial!!

So I mustered up all the courage I had and went to the dentist, who took one look inside told me my teeth were a complete disgrace and then proceeded to hold me prisoner for another 45 minutes while he administered a very uncomfortable root canal! (with a bit too much enthusiasm if you ask me) And then you wonder why Ive been afraid to go before!!

After paying the walloping bill for my half hour of pain, I was told to come back for my crown in two weeks time. So here I am sitting in the waiting room of my dentist's office almost five months from the last time! Ok Ok I know he said two weeks but give me some credit, at least i came back in five months; the last time i didnt go back for 13 years!! Definite improvement in my opinion!

I was happily waiting reading an old issue of instyle when my dentist came to get me. My Dentist must be in his late 30s to early 40s, has a goatee and long salt & pepper hair which he keeps in a ponytail; a smart hippe so to speak. Under normal circumstances, I would probably find him quite charming and funny however no other circumstance exists other than the fact the he is my dentist!

So as I walk to the devil chair, i'm thinking ok this wont be so bad, its just a crown, there is no root canal, no need for a drill, just breath and be calm.....breath and be calm.

As soon as i'm in the chair my dentist tells me off for showing up after 5 months and again reiterates in minute detail that my teeth are in deplorable condition.

Dude give me a break, I showed up, dont make me feel worse then I do already!!

After a quick examination I am informed that before he can do anything, he must scale clean and polish to ensure a hygenic environment to work in! I cannot believe this guy is questioning my hygiene! My hygiene!!! I mean he may as well have questioned the pope on whether he took catholisism seriously! Just to see his expression, you would think that i actually had a roach problem in my mouth!!

I tried not to let this slight to my clean freak nature get me down and tried to concentrate on the positive; the positive being that cleaning and polishing was not likely to be painful at all!! Yay!!

The minute this thought popped into my head, I saw the doc pick up an instrument shaped like a half tweezer and that started making a very loud wheeeeeeee sound. Not good Sonya, definitly not good!!!

The dentist starts scraping my teeth in all directions with the constant wheezing sound at high pitch. Next he starts to really prod my gums with the thing and has the gual to ask me "do your gums bleed when you brush?strange they're bleeding quite a bit now".

uhhh, that might be because your poking them to within an inch of their lives with a small instrument of torture!!

while this was going on in my mouth, this is what was going on in my head........Oh God Oh god, when will this be over?? Its ok Sonya, just breath and be calm...oh crap oh crap that really hurts..ouch!! ok try thinking of a song Sonya that will help....ok here goes...Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every...son of a b*^c# that really hurt!!!

As i winced my Dentist jovially says "did you know they used dentists as torture administrators during World War II?" Doc seriously!! Give me a break here!

After what seemed like an eternity, the spell of torture was finally over and I was told that the real work had yet to start. Not only did I need a crown but the tooth nextdoor now also had a huge gapping hole in it and would need a filling! The dentist followed me to the reception where he ensured that i get another appointment for Monday and then said "so i'll be seeing you soon then" in a half pleasent half threatening sort of way to which i said a very meek ....yes!

As I walked out towards my car, I couldnt help but wonder why they sent that team to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? they should have just sent them here and they would have found this maniac with the little wheezing half tweezer!!!

What I'm reading right now.....

2010-05-18T11:48:00.000+05:00

I just started reading " The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4" by Sue Townsend.
I love the title of the book; I love the name Adrian Mole, it has a nice ring to it; Also I love how its 13 and 3/4!
Thats the age where every fraction that you can add onto your age is important because one is so desperate to be considered a grown up and taken seriously. I remember doing the same thing all through my teenage years; nowadays ofcourse things have changed!

The book reads like a daily diary of a typical teenager describing the great trails and tribulations of Adrian's life in a hilarious and insightful manner. Lets face it when one is a teenager, everything that happens is a great dramatic extravaganza usually played out in ones head and un-noticed by so called grown ups.
A crush appears to be the great love of one's life, a small argument with one's parents is perceived as a reinactment of the great war, not having a bicycle is considered to be the greatest depravation in life and having spots is as close to physical deformity as one can get!

"Pandora and I are in love! It is official! She told Claire Nelson, who told Nigel, who told me. I told Nigel to tell Claire to tell Pandora that I return her love. I am over the moon with joy. I can overlook the fact that Pandora smokes five Benson and Hedges a day and has her own lighter. When you are in love such things cease to matter"

Ironically I can actually imagine one of my friends, who is in her 30s now, still saying that and meaning it! Some people never move out of their teenage years and for them life continues to be a theatrical performance.
I'm only a few pages into the book and its very amusing; its not harry potter but very amusing nonetheless! Will Let you know how i found it after i'm finished

Constant Craving

2010-05-14T10:44:00.017+05:00

My mother and I are going to Singapore and Thailand for our summer vacations in July.

You know what this means?

It means I get to wear skirts and dresses and tank tops and capris to my hearts content. However in order to be able to do this, I have to first get into mint shape, which ofcourse means that i have to give up on all my favourite things to eat and do some serious damage in the gym.

I so hate being on a diet! Even though I'm not on a crash diet or anything I still hate not being able to eat whatever i'm craving on any particular day. Have I mentioned that I have cravings almost everyday? Well I do. Sometimes for just plained home cooked food but mostly for the kind of food that will just instantly travel to your hips and then stay there for life!

For instance, just the other day i was craving for

Waffles with chocolate syrup and ice cream! Yum Yum!

But sadly there can be no Waffles
There can only be

There can be none of this

or this

There can only be

Or this if ive been very good

I mean, I know its good for you but how much fruit can one person take?

I know all the different colours are supposed to be good for you, but then why cant all these different colours be just as good for you?

Incidently my last shipment of macaroons came in exactly the same box and I am expecting another shipment to be coming through at the end of the month. Which means that i'm going to have to do extra minutes on the treadmill just so that i can enjoy them. Isnt it a complete shame to have to equate eating macaroons to minutes spent on the treadmill?? What is this world coming to?? I'm sure CarolG will agree it is indeed a sad state of affairs *tsk tsk*

Writing this post has made me even hungrier than I was before! Note to self: Do not write posts about food when on a diet!

I could seriously murder one of these right now

I havent had a pret sandwich since I was in London, Btw while we're one the subject, why are there not more pret a mangers in the world?

Note to Pret a manger: Please open more outlets! Starting with one in Lahore!

I can just imagine sitting on a bench and opening my pack of skipjack tuna and cucumber or if its a thursday then I would have the mushroom risotto soup *slurp* or maybe the lemon cheesecake......ok stop thinking about pret Sonya! Stop It!

*sigh*
I think I'm going to stop here and listen to this song instead of thinking about food

	k.d. lang - Constant Craving .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

For the Love of Fashion

2010-05-12T12:14:00.017+05:00

They seek him here, they seek him there,
His clothes are loud, but never square.
It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
The Kinks

What wont some people do for fashion?

People all over the world will spend thousands of dollars/pounds/euros/rupees just so that they can have a coveted fashion item. They wait in line paitently for hours for their favourite store to open during sale season and once inside they will pounce on their favourite while prodding and pushing other buyers to keep them from buying the same item as you. They have their favourite clothing/accessory stores on speed dial. They will keep a close eye on their friends' travel plans simply to get them to carry stuff that isnt locally available. They will try to balance off their credit cards against one another in order to fund the next big purchase. They will stay up all night searching on ebay for genuine designer goods at a bargain price. They will hound friends and acquaintances who own stores or are related to peolple who own stores in order to locate the particular outfit that they want. They will covet items that they see the stars wearing no matter how impractical they are. They will be able to identify designer clothing and accessories in any movie they watch and will rate movies according to the quality and quantity of designer fare on display.

Yes Some people will do all this and more for Fashion

Now before all you fashionistas rush at me with last seasons jimmy choos, Let me explain! I am one of you!

I have at one time or am currently or would like to do all of the things that i have just described! I even day dream about myself wearing certain outfits or accessories that i'm craving in various dream scenarios!

Last month I stood in line for a lawn exhibition on all three days that it was on and then fought my way through the maddening crowd of women just so i could get the one print i was after. Yes not just one day.....All Three Days!!

These days I am coveting an exquisite bag...well its not so much a bag as an ornament come statement come movie memorabilia.The piece in question is the famous Eiffel Tower bag by Timmy Woods featured in the Sex and the City Movie. Timmy Woods uses the wood from fallen trees to produce his one of a kind bags and then plants two more trees for each tree used in production. Now is that not fashion for a good cause?

Now although this bag is completely Gorgeous, it is not the most practical. Firstly, it is made of wood which makes it very difficult to stuff more than a few things into it, which makes things a little difficult for a carry everything and the kitchen sink kind of person like me. As its not exactly a clutch or a shoulder bag, the best way to wear it, is to sort of dangle it from your side like SJP here

But wont the bag just keep hitting your legs that way?

Plus what would one wear this with? it looks great with SJP's outfit but that would mean that i would have to get the dress and the coat and the shoes.....catching my drift here? Buying this bag would start off a chain reaction of spending which is definitly not practical!.....

But I still want this Bag!!!!

Maybe its because of the scene in which its used in the movie, Carrie is wearing it to go meet Big to go look for an apartment

Maybe I want it because it represents two people in love who are happy, and maybe if i get it, i'll get my happy ending too...............naaaahh who am I kidding I want the bag!!!!

Not for any other reason other than the fact that its just beautiful and ofcourse lets face it, if its on Sex and the City, its a must have!

You see what its like being a dedicated flower of fashion, reason and common sense just fly out of the window and all thats left is the urge to possess!! What guys feel when they look at a beautiful woman, we feel when looking at a truly beautiful work of fashion!

So until next time with more on my life and times I bid you adieu and will now return to take my place in line

WTF!!!!

2009-11-25T09:05:00.001+05:00

For days when WTF is the only appropriate reaction!The lyrics are hilarious and bound to make you laugh even if you have just had a WTF moment. Enjoy!

P.S. Can you tell that I'm getting over excited about being able to embed videos and songs?

Psycho Killer

2009-11-18T20:07:00.003+05:00

The song on my mind nowadays, i sometimes wish i could yell like that!! some days more than others! Listen & enjoy :)

	Talking Heads - Psycho Killer .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

One Life to Live

2009-11-10T21:49:00.006+05:00

A couple of weeks ago I had a cancer scare. I went to see my doctor with what seemed to be a very simple problem. After hearing my symptoms the Doc had a good dig at my medical history, lifestyle etc. After surveying her findings and looking at me thoughfully she told me that I needed to get a few tests and an ultrasound done.When I asked her if it was anything serious, she replied that it could be as some of my symptoms indicated that there could be the chance of cancer and by the looks of it, treatment may or may not be effective

Cancer. The word that everyone dreads hearing. I never really understood what it meant for one's heart to sink till that minute. I couldnt believe this! I'm only 29, never had any health problems other than asthma, not married, no kids.....this could not be happening to me! But maybe it was happening to me, maybe this was it

As I headed to various hospitals and clinics to get my tests done, my thoughts centered around this one thought, what if this is infact, it? This is all the time i had and now its over? Did i spend my life the way i wanted to? What do i do with the time i have left? How will i ever tell my mother? How can I bear to leave her?

By the time the day of the last test came, I had worried myself into a silent frenzy of what ifs but could not find the strength to talk about it to anyone, how does one ask the question, what do i do if i find out i'm dying?

As i waited outside the doctors office, I prayed silently, thinking God if i find out that there is something wrong then please give me the strength to bear it and if there isnt than please give me the strength and fortitude to live my life to the fullest

I know it was only a few minutes from the time i entered the doctors office till the time she finished going through my test results but it felt like forever. When she finally looked up at me to announce her diagnosis, I was, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, petrified. When she finally smiled and told me all my tests came out clear and that there was no chances of cancer, I sighed an audible sigh of relief.

I have been prescribed a handful of vitamin supplements as one of the problems came out to be anaemia and i've also been put on a strict diet and exercise regimen for three months. As tough as the schedule is, it beats being at deaths door!!

As I walked out of the hospital, My mind was abuzz with several different thoughts and emotions; relief, gratitude, joy but more than that was a feeling of determination; determination to live my best life possible!

I made a vow to myself never to let even one day pass without enjoying my life and living it in the best possible manner! I admit that three weeks later,on especially crappy days at work it is very hard to remember this resolve but i do try to enjoy some part of my day even if it is just having a laugh with my mother or watching a funny tv show, i try and do so from the heart, letting go of all my burdens.

As for living my best life,I am on the road to doing that; whether its giving my all at work, working out hard at the gym, cooking for my mother or just reminiscing and giggling with an old friend. Is it all perfect and sorted, no it isnt, but it will be! I just dont ever want to look back and realise that I hadnt given it my all, that i hadnt lived upto my full potential and hadnt achieved all the goals that i had set for myself. But mostly I want to have lived my life on my own terms, to come upto my own expectations and to have fulfilled my dreams.

So to all my readers I ask you this question as food for thought.....are you living your best possible life?
If you have to think about your answer like i did then you probably arent! but here's the good news, there is nothing to stop you from doing so, so dont wait :)

Love is Gonna Get you

2009-10-28T12:01:00.009+06:00

So this post is significant in two ways, number one i have f inally managed to embed a video (Yay!!) and secondly this song really speaks to me.

I'm sure most 29 yr single girls like me are plagued by just one question......why are you still single??

I'm always amused at this question because it always seems like we are in some way or form supposed to be in control of our single status! To all of those who are asking this question i would like to say once and for all my being single is not something i am in control of!!! Everyone always says, why dont you find someone?? and i think is there an aisle in the super market where i can find the person i'm looking for that ive just been passing by all these years?? Seriously people!!

I cannot orchestrate an epic romance which ends in happily ever after with singing bluebirds and talking chipmunks like some people can (yep these people do infact exist) nor have i been fortunate enough to bump into God's answer to every woman's wish for the perfect man (as if such a phenomenon exists)

But despite the cynical rant I really do believe in the lyrics of the song .....someday one day i will find, somebody for me!

To that effect, watch and enjoy! Ciao!

What I learned on Vacation

2009-08-13T15:26:00.019+06:00

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes - Marcel Proust

Going on Vacation, one doesnt really intend on learning anything in terms of great life lessons. Sure you think you will learn something about a new culture or new people but one doesnt really focus on what one can learn about oneself and about life.

My recent vacation to london, which I have been droning on and on about for months, turned out to be not just the most fun i've had in a long time but also a great learning experience.

Some of the things i learned are trivial and funny and then some are meaningful and profound and I feel it is my duty to share what i learned with the world for prosterity ; now if that isnt noble I dont know what is!

One of the first things I learnt was that wherever you are in the world, if there is a sale on, women (whatever nationality they may be) will go crazy! At times I thought i was back in lahore and being pushed and jostled in liberty market rather than a Zara or an H&M on Oxford street. Having said that I was not far from the crazy crowd and thoroughly enjoyed spending two years savings on all my favourite things!

Trust me you have never really travelled unless you travel with or stay with a friend on vacation! It is a completely different level of fun! uptill now I had only ever travelled with my parents or on my own, whereas this time I was staying with my friends. I have never enjoyed myself more, it is so amazing to experience things with friends, to discuss them afterwards, to do silly things with ....and so on and so forth. Trust me, next vacation, grab a friend along, you will love it!

(My lovely hosts Arsalan & Hareem)

You know the statement i'm too old to make new friends? Absolute Bull!! That saying was obviously invented by a perocial twit who was too wrapped up in himself to try and make friends or probably a very grouchy old trout who no one wanted to befriend . As much as i enjoyed spending time with my old friends, i enjoyed meeting and hanging out with new ones just as much; it all depends on how open minded you are! open minded and me?? must be another thing that i learned on vacation!

(My new friend Sana & Me at the salsa bar)

Savouring the little things. How often have we heard this? but it really is true! The things i loved most and miss most are the smallest things that i did or had....running in clayhall park every morning, riding the tube, the smell of fresh waffles as you exit bond street station, my little noisy airbed, tesco chocolate milk (yum!) saying so doggy (whole other post) all the time even when it is not remotely applicable! So people, stop worrying about every little thing, it all comes around in the end! Take a deep breath, let go of the weight on your shoulders, stop and smell the roses (or the waffles) smile and be happy to be alive! Trust me its the only way to live!

Any money spent on yourself is money well spent. After years of feeling guilty everytime I even considered buying something for myself, i was finally able to let it go (and thereby turn into a shopping maniac) but on a serious note it really is ok to do things for oneself! And if you still dont believe me I will get my friend Hareem to give you a really good scolding like she did with me in Uniqlo when i dared to choose one blouse instead of just buying all three that i had chosen!!

One of the things that I did was to get a really good (and expensive) haircut from the Charles Worthington salon near Covent Garden. I cant describe how nice the whole experience was and needless to say the haircut was fantatstic and made me feel and look like a million bucks! (thank you sophie wherever you are) Everytime i look at my hair now i remember being there and relive the feeling of excitment the first time i saw my hair all cut and styled, for that feeling alone it was definitely worth every penny.

So if you are ever in the neighbourhood, do drop by the salon for a cut or a blow dry and just splurge a little on yourself; a little splurge never hurt anyone!

http://www.charlesworthington.com/salons/the_house_of_charles_worthington

Havent you heard all the books say try something you've never tried before? Well all those books were right! My never tried before thing was going to a salsa class. I went to two classes and i cant remember when ive had more fun! I think everyone in the class felt the same way, as all of us left with having a great workout and a huge smile on their faces or in our case a very long giggling fit and a bit of impromptu dancing on the street! All these self help gurus going on and on about finding happiness and contentment and all you had to do was go to a salsa class! So whats stopping you? go and enrol in your nearest class now!

http://www.pineapple.uk.com/

Feel free to be silly. Have you noticed how seriously we all take ourselves? Half our time is spent in wondering what people think of us. Vacations are a perfect time to stop thinking what so and so will think and to start thinking about what you really feel like doing however silly or childish it may be. So even if its posing in phonebooths or trying to climb a giant lion, just do it! Stop caring what people will think, the most they will do is have a laugh so its almost like you're providing a public service! Trust me you will feel joyful and free at the end of your silly act!

By no means is this the end of what i learnt on my vacation, but if i went on an longer it will soon be time for my next one! I went on my vacation at 28 yrs old and came back feeling 19, take my advice to heart and you too may come back ten years younger!

Untill next year....

My 29th Birthday

2009-07-13T03:40:00.011+06:00

As far back as I can remember, my birthday has always been a source of great concern for me. Concern for what I will do on the day itself, concern for whom to invite or not to invite anyone, concern for what to wear and lately concern for how the numbers seem to be creeping up on me...but thats a whole other post!

This year was a bit different, I was so caught up in getting my visa and trying to be in London by the time the big day rolled in, i had completely forgotten to focus on all my concerns of previous years!

So at the last minute, my dear friends Arsalan & Hareem suggested that we go see the Lion King. I had wanted to see it anyway and as this was a special day we thought we'd do it then. Plus you cannot go to london and not see a musical!

So this is how the day went...I started my day with a jog in the most beatiful park ever called Clayhall Park, sounds prosaic right? well if you live in Pakistan, you know what it feels like to run freely in the park with fresh air without having to worry if the rest of the park's population have you under surveillance!

After our jog, we had a quick breakfast on the patio, as the weather was lovely and sunny. Thank you God for making it sunny on my b'day :)

Hareem and I rushed to oxford Street to get a top which would be just right for the day, the birthday girl must look good afterall! We didnt have a lot of time so after a very quick spin in a couple of shops we finally found the right top in Zara. its official, I love everything in Zara!

Arsalan had booked the tickets online, so we had to pick them up from the lyceum theatre in covent garden by 4pm and the show started at 7.30pm so we had a bit of time to kill, which we did by roaming around covent garden, watching the countless street performers, having pasta at this amazing italian place called Ponti's (have to go back there for the cannelloni, yummy) and having our palms read by this american dude who was uncannily accurate!

we sat for a while to listen to this guy who was playing acoustic guitar and singing U2 and pink floyd covers.

Picture this, a cool breeze, people roaming around perusing shop windows, the sun slowly decending from its flight across the sky and a guy with the coolest voice singing wish you were here, my most favourite pink floyd song! This is turning out to be the best birthday ever!

Before we went to the theatre, we stopped at Patisserie Valerie, as both my friends insisted that no birthday is complete without cake! well we didnt exactly have cake, but in my book raspberry tart comes pretty close to the perfect birthday cake!

(Me with my new top and said birthday tart)

Finally the time for the show came and we hurried to get to our seats eagerly waiting for the show to begin.

To say that the performance was amazing would be the understatement of the year! It was beyond amazing! I was enthralled and enchanted by every minute of it! I watched with rapture and mouthed the words to every song, half not believing that I was really there.

After the show was over we walked throught the streets to the tube, where at every corner people gathered outside these really cool pubs kick starting their weekend. The was such an air of merriment and cheer. Was it just me or was everyone as happy as I was :)

Ah so with that my special day came to an end as we ride the tube home, i'm so grateful that i got to have such an amazing day and share such an amazing experience with some of my dearest friends!
so here's to the last year of my 20's and here's to all future birthdays, may they all be as happy as this one!

Burnt out!

2009-06-18T15:20:00.020+06:00

I am completely burnt out! work and life in general are all consuming and my mind is turning into mush!

This is why I havent had time to post for a while now, I have my hands full with everything else!!

I am so tired that I cant even sleep well! I really really need a vacation! the last time I had a vacation was 2001 so I think I'm long overdue for one, n'cest pas?!

These days I find myself trying to lull myself to sleep by not counting sheep but by imagining everything I would do on a dream vacation where money was no object

A serene Island getaway with blue seas and a white sand beach

waking up every morning in a beautiful bed like this one

and spending your day lazing away or getting a nice massage on the beach

or strolling along the beach trying to clear your head and organise your thoughts

and after all these tiring activities, one could just lie in a hammock and wait for the sun to set

reinforced by several umbrella drinks of course, what would a vacation be without an umbrella drink!!

Of course one must also use vacation time to primp and pamper oneself

Perhaps a nice long soak in this glorious bath tub? Check out the view isnt it gorgeous?? I used to be an avowed shower person but this tub makes me want to switch to being a bath person right now!

Of course a little vacation merriment is not only required but expected

So one would be perfectly right to don one of these fabulous Roberto Cavalli dresses for a night on the town!

Dont these girls look happy, i'm sure they've had an amazing recent vacation, having said that if I owned of those dresses i wouldnt need a vacation!

Any beach vacation would be incomplete without flip flops and in this case, as its a dream vacation, they would have to be Tory Burch flip flops

arent they the cutest?? not too mention terribly expensive!! But on a dream vacation, who worries about trivial things like money!

Alas, I am nowhere near my dream vacation right now, I am still stuck in the rigourous grind of work, traffic and errands. ah the agony and drudgery of a normal life!!

If you have been reading previous posts you would of course know that I have reapplied for my visa to go visit my friends in london. its not exactly my dream vacation but its a break i desperately need and want so keep your fingers crossed everyone!!

till then I am waiting and pining for my dream vacation to come true

complete with louis vuitton luggage bien sur!!

This is not us!

2009-05-29T21:48:00.034+06:00

This is how the world sees us

But this is not us!

The world sees Pakistan as the most dangerous place on earth

But this is not Pakistan

We are Free

We are Spiritual

We are Patriotic

But This is not who we are

We love Colour

We love Cricket!

We Love Music

We Love to Dance

We love to Smile

But this is not what we love!

We are Talented

We are Fearless....

....and Beautiful

We are Quirky

We are full of Life

But this is not the life we want

We are Vibrant

We are Diverse

We are Proud of our Heritage

We are Young and Alive

We are not Cowards

We are not Killers

This is not the face of Pakistan

This is the face of Pakistan

We are Praying

to be seen for what we are

to live as that which we are,

Free, Young and full of Promise

The Brands of a Brand Manager

2009-05-20T12:18:00.026+06:00

Being a Brand Manager means constantly trying to keep your brand at the top of the consumer's mind. Our days are filled with thinking of strategies and ideas which will make our customers perceive the brand in a positive light and eventually make them want to a) try it out b) switch to it or c) keep using it

Companies all over the world dish out millions for extensive advertising campaigns all geared to change or reinforce consumer perception.
However in marketing and brand management just like in life, all the research, all the planning, all the forecasting can never give you a for sure solution. Sometimes products work and sometimes they dont; even when we disect the aftermath to death we are never quite sure why?

There is a funny side to this as alot of the time consumers buy products or favor brands accordding to their own very unique rationale. Many times this rationale has absolutely nothing to do with what the marketeer is trying to make them think or feel!!

I look at my choice of brands and realize that while some of them are based on product attributes and benefits, more often then not they are based on a very odd rationale which only i understand!!

Lets look at some sensible choices of mine

Fights cavities, freshens breath, the purchase makes perfect sense

An anti bacterial soap which smells nice, in a hot country like Pakistan, it seems like the perfect solution

Now here comes the unique rationale bit. My favourite shampoo for more than 10 years now has been Clairol Herbel Essences. Why do I like it? Is it good for my hair? does it improve the condition of my hair? Well i'm sure it does but thats not the reason I started using it.

When I was about 17, A friend of mine was talking about his girlfriend and happened to mention how nice her hair smelt, which got me thinking.....does my hair smell nice?? Before that it had never been anything which would cross my mind but now it had me wondering....hmmm... is this what gets you a boyfriend? nice smelling hair?

So of course i asked what shampoo she used, he told me it was herbal something. That very day i went to the store looking for "herbal something" shampoo when i came across my brand! I opened it up and remember my first whiff; it smelt amazing! so thats how I started using it! not because of the moutain spring water which claimed to thoroughly cleanse, but because of the smell and what that might ultimately lead to!!

Coke! a phrase so generic that we use it when referring to carbonated drinks in general. To me however its very specific as i am strictly a "Coke not Pepsi" girl!
Why the distinction?? Because I find coke to be stronger!! Yes that is my answer! does it make sense? absolutely not!!
How is it stronger?? what possible benefit am I hoping to achieve by it being stronger?? is it stronger flavour?? stronger taste?? stronger advertising??stronger bottle??
The answer is I have no idea, I just think its stronger and that works for me :)

Another favourite is Perrier! i absolutely love it!!

Why? the green bottle!! Yes they spent millions to advertise the product taste and refreshing qualities and all i liked was the green bottle!!

So there you have it! A lot of times there is no real rhyme or reason as to why we choose a product or brand, we just do!

There those brands that make it into your shopping cart based on product attributes alone

utterly Delicious!!

In the words of Joey Tribbiani....Bread..Good!! Cinnamon..Good! Cream Cheese Frosting...Good! I rest my case!

Great colours, great packaging plus its mint flavored and makes you lips tingle, whats not to like??

You get to smell like your favourite food, how can that be a bad thing??

There are of course those products that you swear by because they deliver every time!!

guarenteed to cure existing spots and prevent future ones!

The softest hands and feet ever!

Does not chip ever! Believe me I've tried!!

There will always be those brands that give you the best value and fulfill your need for pretty things

High end Designer inspired pieces at affordable prices. you can have your cake and eat it too!!

Two desserts for the price of one...perfect economics!

There are some things that you will even buy just because of who's endorsing them
or because they fill an aspirational need

If Sarah Jessica Parker must have it then so must I!!! Lets face it SJP is a brand in herself!

I want to be this girl who is happy because she smells divine and of course what girl doesnt need a bit of Chanel in her life!

However, after all this rational behaviour there will always be that one brand that sneaked in for the oddest of reasons ......like this one

you would think that the beauty with brains tagline would appeal to a woman like me but why did I buy my Blackberry???........

because the wide keypad will keep my fingers from bumping into each other when I'm texting!!! I havent even got the gprs on this thing activated! so much for beauty and brains!!

Do you have a favourite Brand with an interesting story behind it? drop me a line and share your story, you never know, I might start using it for the same reason you did!!

Till next time ma cheries! Au revior

Fashion Ala Blog

2009-05-15T08:44:00.001+06:00

This is a look I created on shopstyle to comemorate the launch of my new blog. Nothing says a launch like a new outfit n'cest pas?

London Calling

2009-05-13T21:32:00.016+06:00

My first post!! I'm so excited! I've always wanted a place to express my thoughts and talk about things that interest, puzzle and amuse me!

I decided that my first post would be about my my trip to London that didnt quite happen

I was due to fly to London on May 28th but thanks to the horrible UK visa people who rejected my visa for the most stupid reason, I am no longer taking the first vacation I would have had in 7 years!!

I was going to be stay with two of my best friends Arsalan and Hareem, who have just moved to London. We had a whole list of things that we were planning to do. Some of them very really basic.............like running in the park every morning like Kristin Davis, sans

the doggies of course

you cant think of running in Pakistan, not unless you want the entire city following you

I'd have loved to have grabed a nice cool drink from Starbucks as there is sadly no starbucks in Pakistan

Nor is there anyplace one can casually grab some sushi

Hareem and I planned to spend all our saturday afternoons at the Portabello Rd Market looking for odds and ends

We also wanted to do a few touristy things like visit Windsor Castle, maybe say hello to the queen if she's in :)

and take a ride on the London Eye

or go on a Jack the Ripper walk

and what would a trip to london be without catching a play at the Globe theatre

or go shopping on Oxford Street

I so so wanted to buy something from Mattew Williamson's new collection for H&M,from what i can see on the H&M website, its absolutely stunning!

This is my favourite piece from the collection, but even at H&M prices its way out of my reach *sigh*

How I wish I was there!!

However all hope is not lost, I'm reapplying for my visa in the first week of June so I may just make it there in July so please please pray really hard!

If so you will get to hear of my updated schedule of things to do in London!

Till then, Abientot!