Gift Ideas

Christmas and New Year are just excuses for me to get creative with finding creative gifts for my friends and family (and sometimes for myself too). But a gift needs no occasion, that’s my motto. So, if you find yourself with gift block and a list of friends and occasions, here are some ideas:

A Children’s Book or An Adult’s Picture Book

The Essential Leonard Cohen and The Book of Longing

A Jack Dylan poster

Sac Magique (a very practical alternative to the hot water bottle)

A subscription to Tricycle magazine

Tea (from Tea Sante, for example)

Artisan oil such as La Tourangelle

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITES.

Life Would be Dreary Without an Addiction

Mine is called Downton Abbey.

It started a few weeks ago when I was belatedly drawn to Downton Abbey. Yes, I only just started watching it a couple of weeks ago after I had heard several addicted friends talk about it like it is the new age opium. Being the mature person I am, “I reserved my judgement” and decided to give it a look.

That was late October. Now, I am a full-fledged addict; I worry about Lady Mary’s future more than her mother Cora does, I proudly quote Carson, I swoon over Lord Grantham, and I am an avid admirer of the Dowager Countess of Grantham’s wit and sarcasm.

Every night now, between 10 and 11 pm, the ritual is as follows: a hot cup of tea (preferably STASH Ginger Peach Green Tea) and an episode of Downton Abbey.

(Ah, how I love Montreal! Hahaha!)

And why not throw in a few of my favorite DA quotes?

“Life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous.”

“I hope you know that really smart people sleep in separate rooms.”

“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”

“Are you afraid someone will think you’re American if you speak openly?”

“But nobody learns anything from a governess, apart from French and how to courtesy.”

”War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don’t.”

“I’d rather have the right man, than the right wedding.”

“I’m an American, I don’t share your English hatred of comfort.”

Confetti’s New Coat

In celebration of the change of seasons, I have decided to give Confetti a new look.

I chose the color dark orange for the new theme of Confetti; I thought I should pick a color that speaks more of the current season and somehow reflects better the identity Confetti. Nothing else has changed.

I hope you guys like the new look that I have given Confetti and continue to read it and spread it.

So, Who Got Married?

L.A.Y.O.V.E.R.

Until we arrive in Montreal, we have a couple of weeks of layover in Beirut to say goodbye to family and friends. This short stay has been pleasant and quite fast to tell you the truth! It feels like I left Jeddah last week. But I think R. and I are ready for our new adventure, our bags are packed, our one-way tickets are in our pockets and the level of excitements keeps rising!

We’ll miss all our friends and family especially that for the first time ever, we will be living in different time zones. But we’re hopeful that no year will go by without seeing any of them.

Here are a few photos from Beirut.

See you in Canada!

 

Now What?

OK, so what is the plan now for Canada?

We plan on arriving there in the middle of Spring when nature is at its greenest and the weather is the perfect warmth/coolness for a cycle in the neighborhood or a stroll in the park. We will travel light, with just one suitcase each, which is going to be a challenge I’m sure! I usually pack light when we go on vacations (sometimes as light as a backpack for 2 weeks), but how can you pack your life in one suitcase?!

As soon as we get there, we will get all our paperwork done before heading off for a few days to our friend’s wedding in Brookville (which reminds me: I still have to find a dress!!). The first month or two in Montreal will really just be a period of familiarizing ourselves with the city, the system and the culture. It will also be a break for us in between lives! We are planning on enjoying the outdoors as much as possible, visit galleries and museums, go to fresh produce markets, sip coffee outside in the sun (just like this man here), you know, things you’d do while on vacation And I will look for yoga studios to maintain posture, flexibility and composure. Another feature of life that I will make use of is the ability to photograph anything that I want. I cannot photograph freely in Beirut or Jeddah, so that will be an important advantage for me.

And I think after that the real hard work will begin: looking for jobs. But hey, one step at a time, right?

(Both photos via National Geographic)

So Why Montreal?

Um, why not?! It is a beautiful city with great schools, a good quality of life and a diverse cultural scene. We finally took our decision early this year and started the real preparations last month. We are both very excited, simply for the change. We have been living in Jeddah for 5 years now and have had enough of the 365 days of sunshine (NOT). It is time for us to move on, to move forward and as I always say, change is necessary for progress. So this crazy couple are embarking on a new freezing adventure late this Spring and they simply cannot wait!

And we’re going to …

Oh my god, Confetti hasn’t had a post in over 3 weeks! Where are you, Loulou?

Well, Loulou has been knee-deep in preparation for the big move. Big move? Yes, Loulou and R. are packing two suitcases (and selling everything else!) and heading West. What? West? Where? How? Um, Loulou and R. are moving to Montreal, Canada! Mamma mia, when?! Soon, very soon!

More details tonight. Have a good day everyone!

Motivational Quote

Best of 2011

What an eventful year! It started out alright. My mom visited me at the beginning of the year and we had a good two weeks together. Then, my health took a dip and I had a rough few months. But it seems that traveling was in the cards for me because I visited several new cities this year and spent vacations with my family, with R. and with my mom. Another good thing that happened this year was that I managed to lose the extra few kilos that I had put on the past two years. Not all news is good as this year I wasn’t able to see my best friend whom I normally meet up with once a year. However, the year ended on a good note and … I went for LASIK and that changed my whole outlook on life (pun intended)!

Here are a few photos highlighting the beautiful memories of 2011:

weekend mornings by the sea

family summer vacation in Spain

the BEAUTIFUL San Sebastian (Spain)

fun with R.

drinking a lot of tea in Istanbul with mom

the Bosphorus

BERLIN!

Paris with Mounir & Aida

friends