Net-Picks.

Staying at home for a couple of days because of the flu allows one to surf the net freely, find interesting things, and see 3 DVDs from the Planet Earth DVD series (**thats an entire post on it's own, I feel like I wanna be a Nature-photog now or maybe change careers and become a scientist.)

And now some of my Net-Picks (**things I stumbled upon, shared on Google reader, and just found to be mesmerizing, amazing or interesting).

*New way to store books, perfect for people like me who feel that shelves of books are claustrophobic. Here's a new twist to book storage, and really puts the emphasis on details; "Bibliochaise"- directly translates to book chair.

PC: Oh Joy

*Recently joined a spinning class, called "Virtual Spin"; in which we exercise our butts off whilst watching a screen of a road in Germany. This screen is assumed to somehow transport us visually into the stunning scenery that is Germany, but whoever filmed it must be kidding me, the dwindling roads and asphalt ridden ways don't even look half as good; then again, maybe I was too tired to pay attention to the beauty. Either way, I'd take biking outdoors somewhere other than our roads anyday (**for fear of being killed by a lunatic driver in the first 5 mins). Somewhere like Paris, on a rented bike, preferably looking ever so chic, and snapping a photo such as this (**taken by the Sartorialist, who at that time did not know it was Adrian Grenier the actor in the shot)

PC: The Sartorialist

*What I'd do to be laying down in a grassy pasture looking up at a canopy such as this with my best friend who is miles away, lattes in hand bundled up in a comfy jumper, and just reminiscing /conversing in endless conversations that made no sense to anyone but us with no where to go and nothing to do.

PC: This is Glamorous

Thank God for the internet, beautiful pictures, marvelous ideas, and endless inspiration.

xx

Baroque

Ps. Life is art; you etch your way through it.

Sun-Salutation

two points for honesty
Originally uploaded by Kirsten Beth

I've mentioned this before, but I honestly think the best lighting for any picture possible is at that eerie yet beautiful basking afternoon light; when the world is washed with a marvelous orange hue.

Sometimes I wonder how such a big ball of fire can create such a beautiful shower of color.

How something that can singe you within a kilometer (**the sun) is a major source of life to many things on Earth?

Life is full of ironies I guess,
and this is just one.

xx

Baroque

Ps. No one is invisible, but you can totally see thru people at times.

Nostalgia.

There's something about old things that attracts us humans.

Old things bring back certain memories, are nostalgic, and remind us of old days long gone.

Days that we now sit back and reminisce about, smile about even though we might have not been all beams back then, laugh about even though we might have been crying.

The past claims a certain charm, with the present being intolerable as we go thru it, or indifferent to us at the moment and the future being a bleak spot in the horizon.

Show anyone an antique and they for sure will smile involuntarily or drift off into another world where this piece used to be a generic thing as opposed to an antique, and then perhaps despise the price (**since most antiques to people are overpriced, and vintage is really something 2nd hand that was worn to death, pun intended or worn by someone before you but thats another thing on it's own).

But one thing's for sure, if old things and old days aren't cherished we'd never have history classes, history books, demand for vintage products and antiques, and a blooming antiques market in almost every city.

It's like old things are reminders of lives once lived, experiences once cherished, lessons once learnt and taught/shared and ripple effect-ed through society; something that connects us to our ancestors, or people that have graced this Earth before us if only for a decade.

I also believe we sometimes seek refuge in the old days since they are over; we know what has happened, we're over it, but fear the future and present day since we are not that clued in on what's going to happen, or what the world has in store for us.

However life always ends up proving the fact that "History almost always repeats itself"; something that is neither entirely good nor bad.

In the end, nothing like a dose of nostalgia and sentimental bouts to remind us that time is fleeting and we have to make the most of it.

xx

Baroque

Ps. "We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they are called dreams."- Jeremy Irons

Photo Credits: Oh Joy , and the original source of those images are from Jessica Claire named "1 of top 10 wedding photographers in the world in 2008" by the American Photo Magazine (**note those images are from a vintage-inspired wedding shoot, the images are simply exquisite!)

Endorphins; positive externalities.

"Covered Yourself Up in Snow"

What happens when you've done everything in the world that you can possibly do:

spilled your guts out,

worked as hard as you can,

sweat like there's no tomorrow,

felt the pain,

but not the gain,

and took that feather off your head, (**pun intended for the "على راسك ريشه" quote);

If only for a couple of moments.

What if you've gone against all that "عزة نفسي" ideology;

Let your guard down,

fell head over heels,

and got the bruises to prove it.

What if you've studied ever so hard,

Crammed yourself in for ever so long-

just you and the books-

diminishing your "enjoy" time,

and just focusing on that prize,

but never ever won.

"Tea Party"

What if you've let your guard down.

Opened up your heart.

Divulged everything.

Gave others the secret code.

Valued trust.

But were let down.

What if you never succeed,

No matter what you do.

Never reach that acme,

What now will you do?

Sit tight.

For "Good things happen to those who wait."

If you exercise but not loose weight,

It's the endorphin boost that matters in the end.

The joy and thrill you get when you know that,

at least you tried.

"Sparkles"

xx

Baroque

Ps. "Don't let me down"said She; knowing that old habits die hard.

Photo Credits: One of my fave Flickr Photographers Laurence

Float like a balloon contently up into the Sky.

"Untitled"

To be "content" is to be at peace.

To be one with your world, and happy; not wanting more, not wanting less.

Just happy as you are.

Right now.

Right here.

Satisfied with your achievements, your life, and yourself.

Never doubting,

Not giving a care towards anything around you despite yourself,

Unselfish,

But pleased with everything.

Calm and peacefully immersed in sheer merriment.

I am "Content"; I'm trying to program myself to be ever "Content."

For you are lucky if you live many "Content" days;

That's one of several keys to eternal gratification.

"الحمدالله"

No matter what you are going through, there is always someone going through heap loads worse than you.

Smile, you only "live" once.

xx

Baroque

Ps. "When you find you, Come back to me" *listen*

Photo Credits: Laurence's Photo Stream on Flickr

"Par Avion"

I have an issue with "Distance"; apparently it's a fairly new thing I've acquired.

So this Maison Martin Margiela airplane bracelet totally makes sense; apart from looking so retro and avant-garde, it holds a sentimental value and reminds me of someone far yet of ultra close proximity to me.

Thank God for the guy that invented the airplane; a mechanism that makes it possible to convert from being a 2D depiction on a screen to an actual 3D meeting.

To hopping on a plane and being there at a moment's notice,

xx

Baroque

Ps."Distance makes the heart grow founder"; But I'd rather have you right here

Photo Credits: Because I'm Addicted

Wo-Men.

Adds so much perspective to such a backward developing society and reinforces something I stumbled upon and blogged about a year ago.

We are half of society, bring up the future generations yet are treated like we make up less than a third by people we have nurtured, and parented; a contradiction in itself.

Enough said..

And some say that the battle of sexes ended, well here it's still in it's prime.

In the dark? Well, we're all heading there at the rate we're going, click on for more information and onto this article to shed some light.

Why this sudden surge on personal freedoms?

We were and still are the most liberal Gulf Country when it comes to personal freedoms in the region despite being nestled between conservative states.

As the Kuwaiti proverb goes, "لا ترفس النعمه"..

Oh Boy are they kicking hard.

Bewildered, dazed, and distraught with a dash of comedic giggle; are those guys for real?

xx

Baroque

Ps. "Que Sera Sera"-"ما باليد حيله"

Sitting Pretty.

"Sitting Pretty" used to be a metaphorical statement that translated into sitting comfortably money-wise and life-wise, in a sense that you are balanced and sitting pretty when it comes to your finances and such.

This chair gives a new meaning to sitting pretty.

Who knew a chair could put "ريل على ريل", all pretty in pink and ironically keep itself balanced.

Artistic, creative, with a quirky sense of humor; I know I'd love to sit pretty on such a hot seat.

After all, who doesn't like everyday furniture pieces with a twist?

Made me smile

xx

Baroque

Ps. I keep re-playing, editing, and shifting scenarios in my head.

Photo Credits: Fashion Week Daily

Turn off that Spotlight; the only way to see the Stars.

Step out of that familiar limelight, out of that reassuring light that is your social circle, or comfort zone, and venture off into that daunting darkness.

Citron Bleu

You don't know what you might find; a new adventure waiting to be experienced, a life-comrade waiting to be befriended, or at best a new world waiting to be discovered.

We get so comfortable with our social circle, with that road we always take to get to our destination, with that set of websites we check every day, with that drink we have every day, or with the places we visit every holiday, that we forget there is another world out there.

Life is not all about that set of posts your friend shares on google reader that involves what everyone is wearing in Fashion Week, what everyone is twitting about, what Blair and Chuck seem to be up to in Gossip Girl, those calories that are waiting to be blasted on the treadmill, or that upcoming social function that you are dreading/looking forward to.

It's so much more, we get so comfortable that we overlook all that is life.

Serhio

We rediscover the moon every time a lunar calendar restarts, then we forget about it when it waxes and wanes.

We rediscover the joy of traveling and immersing one's self in cultures so different from ours, not to mention remembering that there are different cultures out there.

We realize and thank God that our problems and frustrations are no where near other peoples' problems, and count our lucky stars.

We realize that one Man's victory is another's defeat, one Man's junk is another's treasure, and that history does repeat itself, even though we are better off than previous generations.

We realize there are other flavors out there we haven't tasted, other colors we disregarded and myriads of possibilities available.

Annuska- Anna Theodora

Best of all, stepping out of that limelight reassures us that Life is multi-faceted, never-boring, never-constant, and has so much to offer.

So every now and then, jump out of that podium you've been standing on, take off those high heels, and venture off on the unbeaten path; the path you've disregarded, out of your comfort zone, and open yourself up for new possibilities.

You never know what you'll stumble upon.

I know I've loved every trip I've taken into that mysterious darkness; that light will always be there waiting for you at the end of your journey. No pun intended.

xx

Baroque

Ps. Take a plunge, as long as you've got a life jacket on, you have no worries.

Photo Credits: Amazing Photographer Galleries on Flickr, Photographer cited below each picture.

Fashionable Lifetime Staple Pieces

Friends have always been in fashion; I don't recall a season gone without friends being on top of the agenda.

Friends are those special social ties one makes, that aren't forced on him like relatives; lucky are those that stumble upon a person so amicable, so caring, and so in sync with them that they need no one else when things get rough, when the world is pink and shiny, or when it seems dreary and grey.

I believe in "Friends"; it's one of the core things I believe a person needs in life, and I'm not just talking about those people that call themselves that label, but are total knock-offs, I believe in the real deal, that someone that knows you inside out, the person you start talking like and behaving like with every passing day since you spend endless hours on the phone, bbm, skype or even face to face with.

That person whom you believe has gone with your through every life phase, even though that isn't necessarily true; the person that can sing that song in your heart back to you with not a lyric, or beat off tune; that person you can yourself with, no fancy embroidery, or embellishments just the raw you with all those visible seams.

That deep well, in which all your secrets, desires, dreams and thoughts lie embedded within; that true friend that is there for you every single step, in every hour of the day; whenever you need them they will definitely go out of their way.

To Best Friends,

To Life Comrades,

To those daring people who paint your life with smiles, hugs, fun and thoughtfulness.

The one thing that never goes out of fashion, "Friends."

xx

Baroque

Ps. This goes out to the people I confide in, the people I vent to, the people that know me inside out, outside in, through and over and out.

Photo Credits: My fav. street fashion photographer of all-time The Sartorialist

Sun rays take 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth; You can't make them go faster or slower.

Sometimes you just have to forget about it, 

Forget the conniving, strategizing, and list of short-term/long-term goals, 

Not everything in life can be planned. 

You can plan your day, 

But it won't ever end up a carbon copy of your task-list. 

Things will pop up, things will seize to exist, other stuff will be out of supply or demand, 

Depending on your luck. 

You'll experience agitation, excitement, happiness, and deceit. 

You'll stumble upon things you never knew existed, 

Maybe get your break in an unexpected way, 

Or fail foolishly at every step you take. 

But one thing's for sure, 

Not everything can be planned.

Don't draw up a map, 

You are bound to stray. 

Go with your gut instinct sometimes, 

And just wait.

You can't hold a ray of sunshine in your hand, 

nor go after endless beams. 

It just happens naturally,

Sometimes with not an ounce of sweat or effort, 

Unexpected that is, 

Drawn on your face; 

A "beam."

To a life of endless surprising unplanned smiles, 

xx

Baroqueish 

Ps. The beauty of a piece of clothing is not often visible but at the seams. 

Photo Credits: Viva's Flickr Page