Digital Wonders

How clever is this concept of an online only magazine? I'm not sure how long they've been around, but I've recently discovered them and think they are awesome. I get to flip through them just like a regular glossy, I can zoom in, I can click on whatever interests me and I'm immediately directed to it's retailer or designer (a marketer's dream!), it's usually free and not that I'm a tree hugger, but it's environmentally friendly! Of course a big factor for the creators of these magazines is their understanding of the new social media landscape, so lots of talented bloggers get featured which makes the content all the more real.

Here are a few you can check out.

Fashion & Lifestyle:

1. Glossy Magazine - Fashion magazine from London, need I say more?


2. Cellardoor Magazine - Fun read with beautiful fashion and great interviews.
3. Antler Magazine - Fashion, Design and Photography all presented beautifully.

Kiddies:

1. Small Magazine - Covers fashion, crafts, kid friendly recipes, and showcases stylish toys.
2. Papier Mache - Scope out the coolest in kid's fashion and decor while enjoying stunning photography.




Home Decor:


1. Rue Magazine - this magazine has just been launched by two bloggers. You go girls!


2. Lonny - Started by two former Domino staff, this magazine is full of great ideas.

Food & Entertaining:

1. Sweet Paul Magazine - A spin off from Paul Lowe's successful foodie blog Sweet Paul. Yum!

2. Nesting Newbies - Recipes and tips from professional chefs and bloggers too.

What I fancy this week - Fall!

Autumn is my favorite season. Beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, browns and auburns. Long walks enjoying crisp weather. Soft knit sweaters and funky boots. People watching in a cafe while sipping on a cappuccino. Too bad we don't get any sense of that here in Dubai. It's almost October and it was 38 degress (celsius) and still so humid my shades fogged up when I walked out the door today, nice huh?

Here's what Autumn should be like...

Images: By Oer-Wout via deviantART, Sweet Paul, Toast, Shopbop

Good Morning

This just made me smile, so I wanted to share.

Image: jwlphotography via Bodie and Fou

Maxim Shmaxim

A few months ago, men's magazine Maxim released their infamous Maxim's Hot 100 list.  This is a list of the top 100 hottest female celebrities of the year.  Men love it as it's a great collection of pictures of 100 ummm HOT women in 1 magazine, so it simplifies their lives.  I love it (you do too admit it!) because I get to scrutinize these women and compare them to each other, as well as analyse the male psyche.  Every year there are many entries that I 'approve' of and many that I gawk at the thought of them even being considered.  I recently got my hands on this year's list, and I gawked unpleasantly quite a bit, especially at the top 5:

• No. 5 Megan Fox  - OK, she is stunning, she can be part of the top five.  So it's the top 4 that pissed me off.
• No. 4 Blake Lively - Come on!! The way her lips crumple up every time she mumbles something is one of the most annoying things in the world.  Yes she has a fantastic figure and great style, but I still find her borrriiinnngg.  Plus Blair kicks her butt in G.G.
• No. 3 Zoe Saldana - Look... she's attractive, she is.  But give me a break! Did her publicist pay Maxim's editors?  I think she got enough publicity from Avatar no?  
• No. 2 Brooklyn Decker - Yes she has to be hot to be a Sports Illustrated model, but top 5? Don't think so.  Again... boorrrriinnnggggg!  No I don't think all blondes are boring, promise!
• No. 1 KATY PERRY - Seriously?! I mean she's pretty, but this is who you choose to put as the number one hottest woman of the moment?  This is the girl we should be secretly envying? The same girl who wore a dress that lit up on the red carpet?! The same girl engaged to that hairy, skinny guy? 

Just for fun, here is who I would have selected as top 10 (in no particular order):

1. Jennifer Connelly - She can look angelic, smart and sexy all at once
2. Rose Byrne - Elegant and classy
3. Marion Cotillard - Sexy and sophisticated with attitude, ah ze French
4. Milla Jovovich - I saw her sitting in a cafe, zero makeup, wow!  Oh and she's one of those people who have 50 talents, actress, musician, fashion designer
5. Angelina Jolie - Ok she may need to gain a few pounds but she IS half of the coolest couple ever!
6. Jessica Biel - She has grown on me in the last year.  J.T.... yes she is up to your standard
7. Freja Beha - The 'IT' model of the moment.  She oozes coolness, Tom Ford agrees.
8. Jessica Szohr - This girl is so stunning AND she's dating Ed Westwick a.k.a Chuck Bass a.k.a. my latest crush.
9. Rosie Huntington Whiteley - I first saw her in a Burberry campaign a couple of years back and still think she is one of the most beautiful women ever.  There must be a flaw... ugly toes perhaps?
10. Scarlett Johansson - She looks better and better with every film she's in, did you see her in He's not that into you or even in the latest Mango campaign?

A few of these have been on "my list" for a few years, which makes them even more special.  They just get more beautiful with age!  A few are new entries like Jessica Szohr and Marion Cotillard.  What makes these ladies top my list, other than the fact that they are gorgeous is that there is something classic and natural about their beauty and the way they carry themselves.  Also, I want to look like them. 




Images: ABC Entertainment News, The Cinema Source, The Hit List, Supermodels.nl, Jessica Szohr

Nursery blues

Yesterday I thought I was super lucky. I thought I managed to get through the key milestone of Y starting nursery seamlessly.  It was his second day of nursery, and it was relatively painless.  He didn't cry when I left, but when I walked in to pick him up he cried a little while hugging me.  The day before he apparently only cried for 10 minutes then proceeded to be his usual Tasmanian devil self.  Today however, was the third day.  I was warned that it will get worse before it gets better, that he will throw proper fits when he realizes that this is a recurring event that he never agreed to.  When he starts to think that mommy is so evil, that she can cheerfully drop him off at a place with new big people who try a little too hard to make everything sound exciting, and a bunch of other unfortunate smaller people who are as lost as he is.  The third day is when he realizes that life as he knew it, is over.  


It wasn't all that easy on me either.  The first two days I was the calm, collected mom who gave a quick kiss and hug and walked away.  Today, he started crying as I was walking away and I felt awful!  It's so hard to keep walking knowing the little guy is tearfully looking at my back, wishing and praying I would turn around and rescue him, wishing I would be his hero.  I'm hoping I can still be his hero, maybe if I find a way to wipe this day from his memory? 

Emmy Awards 2010

I feel bad that I've been M.I.A. in the last few weeks.  I've been traveling around.  My best friend had her wedding in Lebanon (Congrats again Carol!!!) so I was quite busy with that, plus the internet there wasn't as accessible as I would've liked.  In any case, I'm back.  Just in time for the Emmy's.  I have to say, I was super thrilled that Modern Family won best comedy, it's a brilliant show with a perfect cast.  I was also happy that Jim Parsons won best actor in a comedy, as Dr. Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory.  I have a HUGE crush on Sheldon! Does that make me weird?  And of course, I was super happy that Top Chef won best reality show instead of Amazing Race, if you haven't watched it and you love food, you have to check it out.   Ok, so that's my two cents on the awards, now on to more important stuff.


Christina Hendricks in Zac Posen.  She made curves hot again, VERY hot.  This dress is a perfect compliment to her figure as well as her colors.  It's feminine and hugs the body in all the right places. 

Anna Paquin in Alexander McQueen - I have mixed feelings about this army/matador inspired gown.  I actually like the top part, but find everything from below the chest very unflattering.  

January Jones in Versace - While I wouldn't be caught dead wearing this, I like it on her. The girl's got guts.  It's playful and very modern.  It would've been cooler without the long train though, I hate trains.

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta.  Mermaid hem with tonnes of ruffles and it's still gorgeous! Stranger things have happened I guess.  Love that her hair is so natural to balance the glamour of the gown.

Rose Byrne in Gucci.  I love her.  She's great in Damages and I think she is absolutely stunning. The 70's inspired gold accents, and the sexy cut outs work really nicely together without being OTT.  Not sure about the hair though, a little too 'just got out of bed'?

Julie Benz in Pamella Roland.  While she totally bores me on Dexter, I found this really beautiful. Very simple with a nice touch with the cutout at the waist.  

Eva Longoria in Robert Rodriguez - This is probably the most unflashy I've seen Eva ever, which is a good thing.  Doesn't she get bored of the mermaid hem?  

Julie Bowen in J. Mendel.  My husband always thought she was cute on Modern Family and I never understood why, until now.  She looks fantastic here.  Love the gown (obviously I'm a fan of this color) and love the simplicity of her look.

Toni Collette in Valentino.  This is so lovely.  It's dramatic and simple at the same time.  Very unique.  Love it. 

Images: InStyle.com, American Superstar Magazine