FingerPrint's Domain

A Dusty Revival

2010-10-17T19:07:00.002+04:00

I don't know how many of you actually read my infrequent ramblings, but I guess, more like I hope there are a few of you out there .. My baby blog still needs to be kept alive from time to time, I'd not leave it unless I had a damn good reason to ..

I've found a new love .. Yeah don't look at me that way, I have a soft spot for new viral trends i.e. Twitter, and now Tumblr .. So I'vr decided to keep my Tumblr for the gorgeous eye-candy that are called photos, so in essence, it's an inspiration photo blog .. This one if for my occasional ranting .. Much more fun that way and a flimsy excuse to use both at the same time ..

There hasn't been much of anything interesting in my life other than the fact I have started my senior year .. The emotions towards that are still mixed .. I mean, when I have to to think of the fact that I actually have to become a responsible adult and face the real world as opposed to a university student who is still living in her own protected bubble .. I do and don't want the academic year to come to an end .. I do want to walk across stage, my heels clacking on the wooden stageboards of our university's auditorium, to receive that piece of paper that tells me I need to face up to the real world now .. But that's the part I don't want to do at all!

This mini musing now has to come to an end as my editor needs me to edit articles for our beloved magazine which we don't wan to let go .. But that's another rant for another time ..

Throw Them Across The Aisle!

2010-08-09T23:50:00.002+04:00

Best.Pillow fight.Ever!

She has got to be the awesomest air-hostess ever .. At least fun is still around in the alrline industry .. I wonder if we can do this in Emirates? Maybe if we ask nicely?

Bucket List

2010-08-02T02:03:00.000+04:00

As I was sitting down to dinner with my sister in our apartment, an ad came on tv about a music festival or something of that kind .. My sister and I started getting into a discussion about music festivals, and I've always wanted to go to one .. Feel the atmosphere and have a good time ..

It's something on my bucket list; the list of things I want to do before I die .. I know that may be a kind of depressing thought to some people, but I want to try and live my life to the fullest and take advantage of every single opportunity .. I got to thinking about what I would like to put on my bucket list, and here's what I came up with so far ..

Bucket List:

-Go to a music festival
-Go to Milan, London, Paris, and New York Fashion Weeks
-Take another all-girl trip with my girls
-Visit Bali
-Study my Masters degree abroad
-Be featured in a magazine
-Travel around the world on a food trip

That's what I came up with so far .. I've noticed most have to do with travel .. I guess I just enjoy traveling that much ..

What's on your bucket list?

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You Better Be Good

2010-08-01T02:14:00.000+04:00

July and I didn't exactly see eye to eye most of the time .. We had ups, but there were more downs .. I got a lot of shocks; few good, and mostly bad ones ..

As much as I love my family, we can only be confined for a while, and this while is over .. I just want to go home and see more of my friends than I do my sisters .. I've had my fill of you to last me til next summer ..

August, be good to me please ..
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London: Day 2

2010-07-09T04:07:00.000+04:00

Day 2 in London will be one of my most memorable days here .. Why? Well, because I was with the girls who made New York special for me .. 4, including me, of the 6-strong group were together in New York, and this day out in a country abroad took us back to that place in our minds and subconsciouses .. After a trip without the parents and with the best companions, every trip doesn't live up to the great times we had together .. This is why today was the best day of my vacation ..

Morning consisted of hailing a taxi to Oxford Street and getting busy walking up and down, and in and out of stores .. All we saw there were other Arab women doing the same thing .. It's as if you can smell the burning of plastic from the women's wallets! Except, at the end of the shopping trip, we were forced to walk back to Knightsbridge because the roads were completely blocked due to traffic, and it consisted of, at least, a half hour walk -,- with heavy shopping ..

The highlight of the day was going the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.. Seeing as the few days I'm spending in London is as if I've discovered this city for the first time, going to the V&A was something I wouldn't have thought of doing .. But Grace Kelly is a style icon, and will forever remain so .. Seeing as Van Cleef and Arpels have sponsored a Grace Kelly exhibition, it was only fitting that we go ..

It was gorgeous! Most of her famous outfits were on display there .. The dress she got her Oscar in, the dresses she had when she was pregnant, the dresses she was snapped in, the pieces of clothing that helped reinforce her elegance and grace were all there for the public to see .. Of course, what Grace Kelly exhibition is complete without her jewels and the Hermes handbag that is names after her? Yes, they were on display, and I have never wanted a bag more that when I saw it encased in the glass box, hanging so elegantly as if it will be pulled out in a matter of minutes and have the lipstick slipped in and drape over the arm, lending it the understated elegance that is the Hermes Kelly ..

After the exhibition and some wandering around in Knightsbridge, we decide to head for lunch as I could feel my stomach trying to eat itself from hunger .. Stop at Joe's Cafe and have to wait in line, which just made us hungrier than Godzilla trying to eat Tokyo .. As we got seated and ordered our lunch, Mayed Bin Mohammed walks in, and gets his food before us :P we, on the other hand, had to wait 45 mins for our main dishes to come and another 15 mins for the heavenly sticky date pudding to come .. I've heard it's good, I've heard the one in Dubai isn't as good, and I've heard it's a must-try if I ever step foot into the cafe .. It was the BEST date dessert I've had! And now if I go back to Dubai and it really is not as good, I'll really get disappointed .. Who cares about the calories?! It was worth every last one!

As we were finally back in the hotel, we decide we'll act like Arabs and hang around Harrods as it is the tradition here .. The Kuwaitis who were also hanging around there made my dad furious with their staring -,-

So we went out for dinner at one of the Lebanese places that's popular with the Arabs, and we're back in the hotel and I'm tucked into bed! So this means goodnight from London gorgeous readers! ;*

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Ciao Italia!

2010-07-02T17:32:00.000+04:00

Ciao Italia is what I'm saying to this gorgeous, but hot, country .. For now .. You think of Italy in summer and you think of heat and sun ..

That's not wrong; you totally get heat and sun! But then the nights are cooler and it's as if the temperature wasn't at 35 and 36 degrees .. The country becomes the balmy summer evenings you read about in stories .. You go out, you walk around, and it's what everyone else is doing as well, except the Italians always have gelato in their hands ..

We've come to Italy for 3 days and not more .. We've already seen it, and we just want to experience it again .. I kid you not when I say we experienced it all over again .. The romantic, ancient streets that still survive .. The old, old buildings that still stand strong .. The Arena di Verona that still housed an Opera in it last night .. It's all a sight to behold .. And I stand by saying everyone should experience Italy at least once in their lifetime ..

Besides Verona, we went to Milano, fashion capital of the country, and deservedly so .. Of course all the Italian women and tall, leggy, tanned and toned beauties and the men are all dapper in 3 piece suits despite the scorching heat ..

Oh, and of course I burned a hole in daddy's pocket over in Milan :D

We are now on our way back to Munich .. And I will miss the vibrant life that is Italia, not to mention all the food! No wonder the Italians don't eat anything else .. Their food is just to die for! If you think you've had delicious Italian food, you haven't until you eat IN Italy!

Ciao for now! xx

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Day 4: München

2010-06-29T18:40:00.000+04:00

It's the fourth day we spend here in Munich, Germany .. My sister and I are currently relaxing in one of their coffee shops, sharing a bagel and having cold drinks ..

World Cup fever has taken the city by storm! And when they won over England, they all swarmed into the streets, dressed up, painted, touting vuvuzelas and generally celebrating in every single way possible .. My father even donned the German flag and was waving to all of them celebrating in cars ..

Tomorrow we head out to Italy before the real heat hits the country and we all end up melting and feeling as if we were back home in Dubai .. Verona and Milan, here we come!
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Testing 2.0

2010-06-24T21:52:00.000+04:00

LOL, I like blogging from here actually .. Let's see how a pic will look like, shall we?

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Testing

2010-06-24T21:48:00.001+04:00

This is to test whether I can blog on the go when I travel tomorrow!
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Escapade Vol.2 Issue2

2010-05-25T23:58:00.003+04:00

And it's here again! Escapade vol.2 Issue 2 .. Second time around was a better success, even though I loved the first one .. It's a learning process I guess .. It's a bumper issue this time, 30 pages cover to cover .. A big achievement for the 'staff' who haven't worked this crazily ever xD

A big thanks to the designers for this issue .. I know us editors put you through hell and back, but you guys came through in the end .. I think if we weren't the great friends that we are, we would have killed each other by now! Thanks for putting up with the craziness of it all!

Another thanks to my Editor-in-chief, the lovely Dee .. The crazier times with this magazine are still ahead of us, and we have loads more work lined up .. But you know we're gonna miss it when they will force us to hand it to the kids (whom I don't trust til now btw) .. We have senior year ahead of us, and we gotta make our mark just like those of Echo before us ..

So what's in this issue?

-Memoirs in NY, written by a dear friend <3,>our first male contributor in the university magazine for an all-girls university, our lovely friend Andrew from the States ..

-Leadership with limits, how ZU wants the girls to become the leaders of tomorrow while becoming hypocrites and get our parents involved in every minute detail of our university life ..

-Proximity log, yet another way that ZU give the overbearing parents a change to keep MORE tabs on the girls ..

-Trip to Thailand, where ZU girls got to visit Thailand with Habitat for Humanity and build a home for a family in need ..

-Limited Parking, otherwise known as the catastrophe that is the ZU parking ..

-Embarrassing Moments, anonymous embarrassing moments from the students ..

-Babe on a Budget, things to do in Dubai for under 100Dhs!

You gotta read the issue to find out the rest! :D

Write The Future

2010-05-25T22:43:00.003+04:00

One of the best Nike ads I've seen .. And that's saying something as I do enjoy their ads .. The future can change in a matter of seconds ..

Blog Layout

2010-05-24T20:19:00.003+04:00

It looks kinda weird but I think the colors work together .. I had black with a bunch of colors that bordered on neon, so I decided it was time for a change .. I don't remember where I saw this color scheme but I liked the colors; I thought it was weird ..

What do you guys think?

This Is For You, FourMe

2010-05-22T19:52:00.004+04:00

I recently discovered a fellow blogger, FourMe, is suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma .. For those for you who don't know what that is, it is a form of cancer that originates from the white blood cells .. I did my research on this kind of cancer and el7mdilla found out that it is one of the few cancers that has an extremely high survival rate, even when detected at the later stages .. And this post is dedicated to her ..

FourMe, I may not always comment on every single blog post, but I do read every single one of them .. Half the time the do express stuff that I'm feeling or can relate to .. But this isn't about whether I'm an avid reader of your blog; this is about you .. You have cancer .. It's there and you can't run away from it ..

I'm not here to try cushion it with pretty words that mean nothing .. I'm here writing this blog post to encourage you, to pray for you, to show you that there are people all around the world who are giving a damn about you! I have seen what cancer does to a person, and I've seen what happens when someone gives up .. DON'T GIVE UP! I know you're a strong woman, one of the strongest I know, and something like this isn't going to kill the spirit that you have ..

We are all here, we are all praying, and you are in my prayers everyday dear FourMe .. I pray to Allah to give you the strength to fight through this and kick the cancer's ass into oblivion .. I pray to Allah to ease the pain that you are going through, and to keep your faith strong throughout all of this .. I pray so that he gives you the ability to face each day as it comes, to keep that smile on your face through all this .. I know it's painful, and tiring, and exhausting, and every other adjective a person could think of in that context, but do NOT give up ..

I can keep going on and on but I won't .. I'll leave my words for the prayers I keep you in .. Allah yshfeech hun, and keep fighting!

www.pray44me.com - A site to keep giving the woman encouragement and strength to fight this!

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Into The Sensory Box

2010-05-22T19:40:00.003+04:00

I was mesmerized while watching this .. Looks like a lot of hard work!

As Long As Nutella Is Involved

2010-04-27T01:17:00.008+04:00

Photograph credit: SUGARCOOKING

So this is what I do when I've done everything else I can think of online .. Look for a feast for my eyes and stomach, and I found it in the form of cookies ..

These cookies are, how do you say this? Well, all I can say is, as long as there's Nutella in the mix. I mean, what kind of person would not enjoy these Nutella chocolate chip cookies? As if cookies alone were not enough ..

You guys could probably tell that I have a sweet tooth the size of the UAE .. And sadly, I'm being forced to cut down for the sake of keeping the results of the gym up! Yes, I'm being a good girl *sure :P* and hitting the gym again .. Frankly, I got jealous of my cousin after seeing him lose 16 kgs in 2 months and toning up becau

se of regular hours at the gym and a healthy diet .. I want instant results though

But I'm only human, and I'm still me, and these cookies are just BEGGING me to make them and eat them, and hand them around my friends because as soon as they'd hear Nutella chocolate chip cookies, I can forget about leaving any for the late-night hunger pangs ..

Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies (Taken from SUGARCOOKING's blog)

Photograph credit: SUGARCOOKING

Yield: About 24 - 30 cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4

tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
7 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temp.
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (it's just what I had in my pantry. feel free to just add more of the regular chocolate chips instead)

Directions
-Mix together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside dry ingredients.
-Cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in Nutella and vanilla extract. Mix in egg.
-Add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add chocolate chips.
-Chill for 1 hour. (This step can be skipped if you want, but I always chill my cookie dough because I think it makes a huge difference).
-Drop tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 for about 11 minutes until the edges look set. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then carefully remove to cooling racks.

I showed the recipe to my best friend, and straight away, I got the question "When are you gonna make them for me?"

NY-sick

2010-04-13T03:56:00.004+04:00

I'm back from my whirlwind visit to the US, where I went to the Big Apple and Newark, Delaware. It has got to be the best trip I've ever taken, partly because I was with my friends and no parents (we still had chaperones because it was a university trip, but they were the coolest chaperones a person could ask for.. Most of the time xD)

That's it! I've adopted NYC as the home to my heart <3

Pics coming up in the next post, after I've collected a decent amount from 17 other girls!

Escapade

2010-03-17T20:02:00.003+04:00

It's always nice when you see your hard work being brought to life. See what you put down on paper become a reality. Watch people admire your work. Know that it was time and effort well-spent. It's what motivates you to go at it again and watch your had work transform into something tangible.

And that's what happened today! Standing in front of you dear bloggers, is the new Co-editor of my university's magazine, Escapade! And, to tell you the truth, I never thought it would be something I'd ever be doing. But hey, there's always a first time for everything. My lovely Editor-In-Chief is Dee has formed the perfect team for this new takeover :* Ironically, the permanent team of Escapade are all made up of Dee's and my close friends :D

Escapade is finally FINALLY on the stands in university! My first issue as Co-editor, and Dee's first as Editor-In-Chief. And we're proud as hell of the hard work we put in this issue. Most importantly, we couldn't have done it without the amazing team we have!

Our topics range from a profile feature of 3 graduates, to the 10 booths to watch at our in-campus carnival, to a blast from the past, and our own column from the blogspehere's very own Hunoof. You're a great addiction to our Escapade family, even though I haven't met you yet.

For all you ZUers of the Dubai campus, you better pick up your copy! Trust me, it's worth it!

10 Things

2010-02-26T20:16:00.014+04:00

In university, I'm taking a photojournalism course .. Has nothing to do with my major other than being part of my college but I've taken it for the heck of it ..

We had an assignment, our first assignment for the course .. And the assignment was: Photograph 10 things that you will miss should you ever go to space and never return, aka the Spaceship Assignment ..

Easy, right? WRONG! The photo actually has to mean something while being a decent photo .. And that's not as easy as it sounds ..

So my 10 things were:

The big Kahuna in the house, I can't go without my father!

Mama <3

I am beyond obsessed with shoes, and these are my all-time favorite pair <3

FOOTBALL!

We have these alphabet and number magnets on our fridge in the kitchen and I love playing with them and writing stuff, especially my name .. Unfortunately, so do my little sisters, who always remove what I've written .. So I'll miss them, even if they're annoying as hell!

No girl can be without her trusty red lipstick!

My karak .. Milky goodness <3

Strawberries.Chocolate.Whipped Cream. Need I say more?

Of course I'll miss cupcakes, but I'll miss baking even more .. Baking is my way of de-stressing and relaxing .. It's my therapy

And finally ..

The beach, because I adore the beach and it's my getaway place

Now my question to you guys is .. What would be your 10 things that you would miss?

RIP McQueen

2010-02-13T00:29:00.002+04:00

"If you want to feel like a Queen, dress in McQueen"

I heard that phrase a few months ago, God know's where from .. And I hear that McQueen hanged himself in his London home yesterday, at the start of New York fashion week and a few weeks before he was due to show his new collection in Paris fashion week .. I also heard a rumor that he hanged himself cuz him mother died a few days before .. Maybe he was depressed and that pushed him over the edge?

Of course I heard it off Twitter ..

Ah McQueen was an artist! Your eccentricity in fashion will be sorely missed!

RIP Lee Alexander McQueen March 16 March 1969 – 11 February 2010

This Is It

2010-01-27T01:51:00.001+04:00

How cool is this? And in how many prisons will you find 1,500 inmates dancing like this?

5 Stages Of Death

2010-01-19T22:27:00.000+04:00

Linked by a friend in a moment of her being high LOL

Avatar: Cinematographic Masterpiece

2010-01-17T00:29:00.002+04:00

I went to see it yesterday, and I wonder why I never went to see it earlier!!

Because I was stuck at home all weekend, I decided to go and sleep over at my cousin's house for a change of scenery and because I missed her .. So I packed my things; I packed junk .. After all, what's a sleepover without junk? I present myself at my uncle's house and make myself comfortable in her room .. And so we began a relaxing Thursday night, filled with chatter, tv shows, and food! Then fall asleep at 4 in the morning out of sheer exhaustion ..

We stay dead to the world til my uncle comes in in the morning to bug us to wake up .. Because my uncle is annoying like that lol! Up we are at 12.30 *which is early for me as I'm on holiday* and go feed ourselves and laze around .. Til my aunt had the best idea, why not go to Avatar today??

So my cousin and I head off to Mall of the Emirates and book our tickets at 4, because even though Avatar has been here for a month, it's always being booked full! So 4 hours to kill before the movie, we decide to hang out at the mall and generally finish any business we might have .. One of them being Pinkberry <3>

Okay, back to the movie; nothing really interesting happened in the 4 hours we were at the mall .. Mama and my sister come to join us and, after dinner, we head to the movie theatre, take our seats, put on our 3D glasses, and of course, start taking goofy pics *the movie hadn't started, and trailers weren't up yet*

Anyways, I loved the movie, seriously!

The world of Avatar is seriously one that would be beyond imagination .. I mean, everything was thought of, from the blue Na'vi to the tiniest detail on the leaves of a tree .. Everything was there, and everything looks cooler in 3D .. It's obviously a sci-fi movie .. The story is about the human hero, Jake Sully, who is taken to Pandora and is put into the body of an avatar, a body made by human scientists made up of the native Na'vi DNA and human DNA, so he can establish relations with the Na'vi .. Because, of course, there's a company mining what they call Unobtainium, which sells for $20 million a kilo, and the Na'vi are living right on top of the biggest collection of it ..

What starts out as a mission quickly changes when Jake realizes he actually wants to become part of the clan, and starts preferring to live through the avatar instead of his human body .. You know what? I won't ruin the movie for you .. It's the must see movie of the decade! Well, seeing as it premiered the 10th of December 2009, it was the movie of the decade!

The thing is, when I volunteered for DIFF, the Dubai International Film Festival, I was at the doors of the movie .. And I had the chance to see it, and I did sneak in with my sister and my friend, and we did take 3D glasses and stand and watch .. The problem was that we only watched 5 minutes of it in the middle of the movie x_x

All of you who haven't seen it, go! What are you waiting for?? This movie is gonna pass Titanic and become the all-time highest grossing movie .. And by the same director too! He's been working on the script for 15 years, and has been waiting for the technology to create it since 1999!

Oh yeah, there's gonna be a sequel :P

Time And Time Again ..

2010-01-09T22:51:00.002+04:00

I keep wanting to post about so many things but I end up not doing that because Twitter has spoilt me and made me lazy ..

It's time I wrote a recap post for 2009 as it was a very eventful year for me; I've met new people, gotten close to some acquaintances, joined Twitter and there I found a whole new family, been through many ups and downs, got my license, got to go to TEDxDubai, got to volunteer for and participate in the Dubai Cares Water Bucket Walk, got to be a part of the Dubai International Film Festival 2009, and so much more that I can't name!

We had a great New Year's Eve by the beach at the Palm .. The whole family was there and it was a huge BBQ with too many desserts lol, and then a fireworks battle between Atlantis and Burj Al Arab and we were fortunate enough to be able to witness that .. I also went on a amateur photography spree during fireworks time :D Didn't exactly get the results I wanted but oh well, it's a learning road ..

I hope 2010 holds better for all of us than 2009 did .. It's the start of a new year and a new decade .. Open up the new pages people! :D

Okay, I'll end the inspirational, cheesy line rant of mine .. I'm on holiday, I don't need to be inspiring or anything right now ha! *dances off*

Procrastination 101

2009-11-08T20:20:00.005+04:00

I have a Principles of Advertising midterm tomorrow .. I should be a good student and study the 5 chapters I have .. Nope

Welcome to my version of Procrastination 101

-I took a nap

-I made me chai 7leeb

-I was sitting with my parents and chatting to them

-I decide to go upstairs and study except that my friend's talking to me on BBM and I couldn't resist

-I complained to my cousin and he told me to watch the AC Milan-Lazio match .. I love my family :P

-I'm now watching the Man Utd-Chelsea match

-I'm reading tweets

And blogs

-I'm chatting to one of my best friends on statuses on Facebook, even though we both should study

-I have 11 minutes of battery on my Mac and I can't be bothered to go and get my charger

-I will start downloading tv shows now

-After the match I'll go have dinner

-They're 5 long chapters

-I'm reading posts on a site called MLIA .. Hilarious stuff xD

-I also have a tab open which is on research about punk culture in Islam .. Yes, it does exist, mostly in the States and with the younger generation

-The movement is called Taqwacore .. Made up of the words Taqwa and Hardcore

-I just went to annoy my younger sister who's working on a research paper

-Most obvious one, I'm writing this blog post

Upgraded

2009-10-15T17:44:00.002+04:00

I finally got an upgrade that was long overdue .. I upgraded from PC to Mac! And I'm loving every minute of it! I've been pro-Mac for a while, and now I got a legitimate reason to upgrade to it lol

No more Dell, no more Windows! I can live a happier and less stressful life .. I don't need to wonder if it's gonna crash on me in the worst possible time, or if I need to throw my laptop out of the window and try to make it look like an accident ..

I am free of Windows and its problems!

*victory dance*

TEDx Dubai: Spectacular

2009-10-10T20:01:00.011+04:00

10/10/09 First TEDx Dubai

And what an event it was! But I'm guessing most of you don't know what TED or TEDx is .. I didn't hear about it until my Public Speaking professor told us about it last semester! To explain it better to you, I went onto the TED website and this is what it says about it ..

TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDIndia Conference and the annual TED Prize. The annual conferences in Long Beach and Oxford bring together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). Our mission: Spreading ideas.
We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. The TED Conference, held annually in Long Beach, is still the heart of TED. More than a thousand people now attend -- indeed, the event sells out a year in advance -- and the content has expanded to include science, business, the arts and the global issues facing our world. Over four days, 50 speakers each take an 18-minute slot, and there are many shorter pieces of content, including music, performance and comedy. There are no breakout groups. Everyone shares the same experience. It shouldn't work, but it does. It works because all of knowledge is connected. Every so often it makes sense to emerge from the trenches we dig for a living, and ascend to a 30,000-foot view, where we see, to our astonishment, an intricately interconnected whole.
So what's TEDx?

It's an independently organized TED event, and it happens at a local level. What happens at each TEDx event depends greatly on the individual organizers. Events can be held in homes, workplaces, schools, universities or public theaters. Events may last just an hour or extend to a full day, consisting of a dozen people or several hundred. Some TEDx events will focus solely on recorded TEDTalks. Others will include short talks from live speakers. What all TEDx events have in common: + TED's format of short, carefully-prepared talks on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder -- and to provoke conversations that matter + Inclusion of at least two recorded TED talks + Lack of a commercial, religious or political agenda + Free admission (although a small contribution toward costs is permitted) + A short introductory video in which TED Curator Chris Anderson explains the TEDx program (see below)

This was hands-down THE best event I've been to, and I'm proud to say I was there to witness the first ever TEDx Dubai! Not only was it the biggest event of its kind, it was also the first of its kind in Dubai .. 20 amazing speakers who had us captivated the whole time .. I left the house at 8am and left there at 6.30pm .. and it was worth being there the whole time! It was a well-organized, exciting conference and I hope that I'll be in TEDx Dubai 2010!

I also found out I tweeted about 80 tweets about the whole thing today lol .. It was great, the whole twitter community was buzzing with TEDx Dubai! Some of my tweets to give you an idea of how it was ..

@ TEDx Dubai!! The atmosphere here is amazing.. Can't wait for the event to start! #TEDxDubai
RT @tedxdubai: TED not a conference, but a platform for sharing ideas... (Bruno Giussani) #TEDxDubai

Different views from around the world.. What's right and what's wrong? Is there situations which can be judged? Mohammed Gawdat @ #tedxdubai

RT @tedxdubai: Mohammad Gawdat: In the last two decades we've come across the golden age of stereotyping... #TEDxDubai

"If you're intelligent, we can't seduce you with our ways" Leo Laporte #tedexdubai

RT @tedxdubai: no google, no survival #tedxdubai

I want to sit in the red chair!!!! #tedxdubai @jamesED_me, how about you let me do that next? :D *you'll see that in a bit lol*

We believe that design is about impact .. ! Paul Bennett is amazing! #TEDxDubai
Have the guts to take your dream and make it real (Bennett) #TEDxDubai "Dream + Success = Happiness" #tedxdubai

"Find your purpose, live your purpose, find your happiness" Thomas Lundgren #tedxdubai "Is a broken down car parked?" Something to think about.. Ian Gilbert #tedxdubai

"We can't solve the problems using the same thinking we used when we created them" Ian Gilbert #tedxdubai

"Dubai is CEO City!" LOL @ Mohammed Saeed Harib #tedxdubai

RT @tedxdubai: Sometimes you have to go after what you are passionate about even if it by yourself. #tedxdubai

LOL! "Put THAT in your stereotype shisha and smoke it!" Jamal Abu-Wardeh #tedxdubai

"The road to success is always under construction" Jamal Abu-Wardeh #tedxdubai

@wildpeeta is the Mac of the food world! #tedxdubai RT @tedxdubai: To get something, you have to believe! Dubai Abdulla Abuhoul #TEDxDubai *she's 13 btw*

RT @NadaAI: Dr Naif Al Mattawa talks about 'THE 99' as a contemporary media sucess story. #tedxdubai

"My greatest feat must be that I'm the only Middle Eastern to go to Beirut and come out with money!" LOOL Dr. Naif Al Mutawa

RT @tedxdubai: The Dubai we have today is a city that got inspired by the sea...Ernst Van Der Poll #TEDxDubai

Masarat Daoud on stage talking about 8-day academy.. #tedxdubai

RT @algergawi: #tedxdubai "If this education system has failed all of us, how do you expect it to educate rurals?" Masarat Daud

"The day we stop dreaming is the day we die" Qais Sedki #tedxdubai

RT @algergawi: #tedxdubai "Don't focus on minimizing loss in venture capital, move on and keep investing" Jiochi Ito

Bashar Al Atiyat, the bedouin in Hollywood! #tedxdubai

RT @tedxdubai: How do we change the distorted image of the Arab World in the West? Educate. Joke. Reach. (Bashar Atiyat) #TEDxDubai

RT @NadaAI: Unleasing hidden talents is what Khulood Al Atiyat talks about @TEDx Dubai. #tedxdubai

"Were reaching 4 the stars & we might land on the moon, but who knows? It might start with a journal" Khulood Al Atiyat #tedxdubai
"I will apologize for not being a good public speaker, but I will not apologize for being a good artist" Samar Jodha #tedxdubai RT @tedxdubai: Biophotonics (Abed Ayyad) #tedxdubai

TEDx Dubai doesn't end! @jamesED_me #tedxdubai

#tedxdubai is over. It was an intellectual blast. Its gonna be annual. RT @Liallena: I'm on inspiration high right now, #TEDxDubai was more than awesome, I think I'm gonna need doses of this stuff to survive. <3>TEDx Dubai one word: Phenomenal! #tedxdubai

And that's only part of them ..

That's my delegate pass :D

The stage before the start of the event! Me and my friends got prime seats! 4th row, right behind the sponsors, and in the exact middle :D

The place filling up after the second break ..

The end of the event, both coordinators on the stage .. Thank you for making it amazing!

Onstage .. One of the TEDx Dubai posters ..

X marks the spot! The X on the middle of the stage, with the little X marker ..

THIS IS THE RED CHAIR! It's on the side of the stage, great for first-hand view of the speakers.. I did get to sit in it in the end lol ..

This is what it looked like from where I was sitting ..

Sorry for the bad-quality pics, they were all taken by my BB ..

Anyone who can get into TEDx should come at least once! It's too good to miss! Ideas worth spreading!

Few More Days

2009-09-16T01:12:00.003+04:00

This sounds horrible, but I want Rama'9an to finish so I can get back to my normal routine .. I haven't been able to do anything productive during this whole month .. And I've thrown my sleeping pattern out of the window .. I'm generally a nocturnal person, but when sleeping early means 4am, then there's a problem .. Especially when there is a little dilemma called university the next day ..

I know after a little while back into my normal routine, I'll wish for my Rama'9an routine again .. To be able to do nothing and have a reason for that .. Sometimes I just can't be pleased xD

P.S. Yes, I changed my nickname, URL, and blog name .. People kept getting confused so I used the nickname I use everywhere else ..

Of My Holiday Abroad

2009-08-26T00:46:00.021+04:00

As much as I love to travel, and I seriously love to travel, it always feels great to be back home! I had a blast all around Europe and I got to see the places I love around Europe.. We went to Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and Switzerland .. Though my favorite of all those places was and always will be Paris <3 To me, Paris has a charm like no other city, even any city in Italy .. It had to be my favorite part of the whole trip ..

But seriously, the Arabs on the Champs this year were a joke! I have no idea who tells these girls strutting down the Champs in painful 5-inch heels, dressed up as if they were going to some kind of club in Ibiza, that they look good! I mean seriously, the guys there just make fun of you! And when they chat you up, they think you're jokes and easy to get .. I saw a couple of Arab girls and I swear they looked like hookers >.< God knows what the Europeans think when they see these as examples of Arabs ..

Germany wasn't that much fun .. I had much more fun in Italy, and Switzerland :DThe only decent places for shopping in Munich is the Marienplatz and the Maximilian .. Did manage to burn enough plastic to stop my card from working by the end of the trip xD Now with all this shopping I brought back with me, I don't have place to put it! So my room is now a pigsty :P

I took shots and I'll share them with you :D

I love the Haagen-Dazs in Germany .. But the one in Paris makes crepes which are amaaaazing!

Sitting at the edge of on of Germany's many lakes, reading ..

LOL! Look at what he's picking up trash with xD

Zell Am See .. Austria's answer to Geneva :P

Creepy stairs .. They take you around and under a waterfall .. And they take them down every winter! And put them back before summer ..

Ice-cream in Europe .. Amazing everywhere! <3

Best risotto ever! In Verona

Best salad! Also in Verona :D

The Duomo <3

Beautiful Venetian masks

Crepes in Paris, my favorite city in the world <3

McDonald's in Austria have CURLY FRIES!

By Zurich's lake .. My converse are awesome ^^

Interlaken, the view is breath-taking!

Best Turkish food outside of Turkey

Breakfasting at Starbucks

Munich Airport .. Finally on the way back home! <3

Yes, I Know But I'm Travelling

2009-07-07T00:34:00.003+04:00

I know I haven't been posting AT ALL but I don't seem to have anything to say at the moment .. It has been a hectic summer for me and I still didn't get to enjoy it properly in this oven we call Dubai .. Didn't get to see much of my friends unfortunately *I'm gonna miss u all! :(*

6 weeks in Europe .. I'm seriously gonna turn into a mothball or something .. matwa9oony 3la shay min hnaak??

Btw do any of you guys twitter? Cuz I would love to follow you .. I've been twittering more than blogging *obviously* but I find it much easier than actually blogging cuz I can do that within seconds from my BlackBerry ..

My dad told us our flight is gonna be on Thursday .. He checks the tickets today and finds out that no, it's actually TOMORROW .. Can you say hectic much? :/ Ma3laih, I work well under stress ..

Anyways, this is me for now .. I will try to post something, MAYBEEE *and that means a big maybe* pics .. Or at least keep up with your posts ..

Stressed

2009-05-21T23:53:00.003+04:00

I bring it on myself I guess .. I procrastinate way too much .. like right now, I should be working on a paper which my partner in the United States tomorrow .. and which I should also be doing a multi-media part for it .. which I'm not seeing as I'm writing this blog post ..

But I do my best work last minute! I can't help it .. the night before the assignment is due my brain goes into work mode and the juices start flowing .. I get my best ideas last minute and I know that's not a good thing ..

3 weeks and I can become a couch potato! 3 long, stressful, exhausting weeks .. this last minute stuffing of work down our throats is ridiculous!

I'm ranting now .. or procrastinating .. or both ..

Random thought .. my birthday is in exactly 1 month .. =D

Okay I will leave now and start working -.- as much as I love it here, I have to go ..

Twittering Away..

2009-05-09T00:42:00.002+04:00

I joined Twitter ..

YES I DID! It's like I don't use enough technology already .. and as if I need any other thing to help me procrastinate ..

Well, I joined .. and, surprisingly, I love it! It's a way to blog without actually blogging in a blog .. you get 140 characters to answer the big question ..

What Are You Doing?

It's addictive! I feel like I always need to answer this question, even in class lol!

So, all you bloggers that Twitter, find me >> @FingerPrint10 *don't ask about that, just find me*

Last Minute Gasp!

2009-05-07T00:43:00.002+04:00

FINAL MINUTES

THEY LEFT IT TO THE FINAL MINUTES!

AAH GALBY!

I thought it was all over after they started the stoppage time .. Barcelona will be out and i had my heart set on both my teams reaching the final! It didn't look that way in the end .. Chelsea had the defense tightened up after the goal they scored and Barcelona weren't playing as well as they should have been ..

I was disappointed .. Wondered what happened to the team that demolished Real Madrid 6-2 in Bernabeu?! Where did the star quality go?

INIESTA SCORES!!!!! 1-1!!!!!!!!!! MY HEART STOPPED! i screamed, JUMPED UP!! I could have very easily cried my eyes out there and then!!

The adrenalin rush!! Ahh i got dizzy from the blood rush to the head! BUT IT WAS F***ING WORTH IT!!!!

THEY LEFT IT TO THE LAST MINUTE!

OMG!

MANCHESTER UNITED/BARCELONA FINAL MAY 27th!!

The Manchester United match was over after 10 minutes *sorry Arsenal fans* and I wasn't worried about them getting into the final .. 10 minutes into the game they sealed the deal .. but it was one hell of a match .. beautiful football, beautiful teamwork, beautiful goals ..

The last Ronaldo goal .. Was WOW .. the play .. the backheel to Park .. the run down .. the pass to Rooney .. the cross to Ronaldo .. Perfect teamwork ..

MANCHESTER UNITED vs. BARCELONA IN THE FINAL ..

yes, I'm high on adrenalin..

*PS: this post was supposed to go up on wedneday .. i have no idea why it didn't ..

Reason I Haven't Been Using My Blog

2009-04-26T20:12:00.001+04:00

Has hit writer's block ..

GREAT.

In Other News ..

2009-03-23T20:34:00.002+04:00

*COUGH*

*COUGH*

*COUGH*

wow '3baaar! my blog is dusty!!! i can see the dust particles floating in the air..

I MISSED IT!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 *squeezes the life out of her blog* i know i left for a while but i blame the university! chena ma9adago that we're students! OMG! karfeena karf =( too much work, kila work!

i have had nothing interesting happen in my life so far because all i've been doing is work on university crap! and today i feel so good! finally done with the work! i know they'll probably give us more .. it's like they're waiting for us to have nervous breakdowns from all this work .. but right now, i feel like i can fly from how happy i am!

why? why am i this happy?

because ya naas, today,

LIMITED

IS

FINALLY

LICENSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah i finally got my license!! i can drive!!! <3

Insert Ideas And Suggestions Here

2009-03-05T14:02:00.002+04:00

Okay, so i need you guys to start brainstorming and spilling out your ideas for me here .. about what? well, i *i meaning me and 3 other friends, a group* have a bit of a problem .. clothes-wise, or better say, uniform-wise ..

The deal here is that our university is holding a carnival this month and our group will be opening a booth there .. our idea is along the lines of a cupcake bar .. It will be called Dreams Choc-Shots .. cuz the cupcakes that will be available there will be mini-sized chocolate cupcakes, in other words, chocolate cupcake shots! we were also thinking to theme the place .. we were thinking along the lines of tiffany blue and chocolate brown ..

Our problem is, we need a uniform .. but we dont want anything ordinary, like wearing black or brown or blue or whatever from head to toe .. we already have the idea that we want aprons that get tied around and look like skirts .. u know the ones im talking about, the ones waitresses in movies usually wear ..

Now we have that idea, we still need the idea of a uniform .. so im asking all of you out there .. WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?? bear in mind that we will be in those clothes for a long time and working in them so they should denifitely be comfortable .. other than that go crazy! i want ur ideas and suggestions on what our uniform should be .. and if u guys have any other ideas for funky original color themes *ones that dont include black, pink, yellow* then feel free to share them with me ..

Sorry!!

2009-03-02T23:12:00.002+04:00

I know i've been the annoying blogger who doesnt update and leaves u all wondering what the hell happened over here?? this blog is DUSTY .. yeah i know, and i have my excuses walla! and before u all start throwing me with rotten tomatoes and shouting off with her head! let me explain!!

i havent had time to write .. i swear! i havent had time to even properly check my blogroll, maybe once in a while id comment and read but ive never actually been able to go through it properly for two weeks .. I've been busy that i've been negleting all my entertainment ..

Forgive me bloggers .. i promise i will write by the end of the week!!!

Grumpy Tag!

2009-02-09T21:53:00.004+04:00

Okay so i was tagged this tag by Silhouette Crime and Moi .. hilarious tag! xD

The rules are as followed:
1.Put a picture of any grumpy person.

*I mean like u cant get any grumpier than the original Grumpy dwarf* lol

2.Then Mention 3 things that are just abnormal.

a. Diet chocolate .. yeah i saw that somewhere once .. what the hell is diet chocolate??
b. The poke application on facebook .. okay so u poked me .. w ba3dain?
c. My sister who doesnt like chocolate .. enough said!

3.Two things that irritate you.

a. My little sister who want to act like theyre 18 or something ..
b. Idiots who drive ..

4.One trigger to your anger.

a. Cheating on ur other half

5.Three people you can't live without.

a. My parents
b. My cousin
c. My friends

6.Two people you don't want to see.

a. My high-school chemistry teacher .. i hated him more than he hated me ..
b. My 8th grade Civics teacher .. long story! xD

7.One of your favorite foods.

a. Noodle House prawn bags *currently craving!*

8.Three of your favorite songs

a. I Dont Wanna Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
b. Living In A World Without You - The Rasmus
c. Superhuman - Chris Brown

Tag 5 people:

-7aleeb Kakaw
-MashMosh
-Libero Anima
-Maitha*
-Abk

Awards and Other Things ..

2009-02-06T19:56:00.003+04:00

Awel shay .. Sadia awarded me the Butterfly Award (award for the coolest blog) .. and its so pretty looking sitting in my blog like this =D thanx sadia .. my first ever awad =D and i know i have to tag people for this bs seeing as most of u already have this award, anyone who comments here can have the award bcuz i know all ur blogs r cool!

This award was also given to me by Sadia .. i got 2 for 1 special =P this Lemonade Award is for the blog with great attitude .. again thanx sadia!! and again, this award goes to any of u who comment here .. i know u guys have a great attitude around each and every one of u .. i havent seen a mean or disrespectful blogger yet .. i love all my blog friends! :**

This week is the last week of my holidays =( im looking forward to uni, catching up with all my friends, hanging out, having fun in general .. im looking forward to my semester cuz this year i actually start my major!! finally .. after 3 semesters of pointless courses, i get to do something new and actually interesting! i look forward to that, but not to the amount of work theyll be giving us ..

I start my driving lessons tomorrow, bright and early =P last day of my hoilday and ill have to be at the center at 8.15 .. this should be fun xP ive been waiting for this for a LONG time! and FINALLY FINALLY ill start .. yeah yeah i know u guys r gonna say driving is tiring w the bachak on the roads r too much w traffic w ma3rf shoo .. i STILL want to drive, and at least have the ability to drive .. its a useful skill =P

So i went to Mall of the Emirates today in the morning with my cousin and sister for breakfast and a bit of shopping .. the mall seems to have been sucked dry of emiratis .. but instead i see kwaitis EVERYWHERE! and a lot of them keep staring at us cuz of the 3bas we were wearing .. no offence, but i mean u guys dont have to stare at me everytime i make a move or walk around .. and do the guys back in kwait usually stare this much?? i mean they kept staring and staring even though they were with whom i assume were their sisters or cousins or something .. its just creepy! a little OTT ..

Though me and my sister managed 4 pairs of shoes between us .. we share the same shoe size .. and i made cheese fondue which i was craving .. so all in all, im a happy blogger =D

Still Eating

2009-01-27T22:31:00.003+04:00

I Still Eat Frosties .. And Im Proud Of It!

and im nearly done with this next part .. itll be up soon enshalla ..

Favorites Tag

2009-01-24T17:51:00.003+04:00

Tagged by Pourqui and Desertpalms ..

Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite getaway place: The beach
Favourite perfume (guys): Paco Rabanne Black XS and Chanel Allure Sport
Favourite perfume (girls): Delices De Cartier
Favourite pj brand: Victorias Secret
Favourite clothes brand in general: I mix and match pieces from all over the place so i dont have a particular brand ..
Favourite person in the entire world: Mama and Daddy (yes i call my dad daddy!!)
Favourite country: Italy
Favourite car: Ferrari <3 has been my dream car since i was 2 =P
Favourite sport: Football!
Favourite sport player: Lionel Messi
Favourite spot in Kuwait: My mothers aunts house =D
Favourite animal: Tiger
Favourite movie: The Godfather
Favourite singer: My music taste is too varied to have a favorite!
Favourite day in the week: Saturday
Favourite time of the day: Night-time (im noctournal =P)
Favourite holiday season: Summer .. mainly cuz its my birthday season =D
Favourite number: 10
Favourite food: Italian, local food, sushi ..
Favourite chocolate: Okay this is hard .. I LOVE CHOCOLATE .. swiss chocolate
Favourite cartoon: Captain Majid .. actually my childhood cartoons .. nothing like them!
Favourite blogger: My blogroll eb kbra =D
Favourite superhero: Superman!

And The Curtain Falls

2009-01-13T12:44:00.003+04:00

The curtain has fallen on the Fall 2008 semester .. courses have bowed out and made way for a well-deserved break for us mentally exploited students .. now is the time to catch up on those lost hours of sleep, those hours wasted doing useless projects, the hours spend in the university library frantically studying, the days spent being mentally exploited ..

We now wipe our slates clean .. reboot the system .. refresh our memories .. now is the time to put our brains on sleep mode because in 2 weeks we rejoin the university life full of work, studying, and projects ..

To a well-deserved vacation!

*P.S. u guys will be getting a really long post soon now that im done with all this stress .. :**

XOXO
Limited

Unsurprisingly

2009-01-11T19:59:00.003+04:00

Why am i not surprised that we lost 3-0 to Saudi?? 5ala9 i believe last 5leeji was all luck =P such a stupid way to lose the title -.- 3nad y6l3oona min the competition ya3ni??

Dont worry .. im not pissed.. there is no point in getting mad, whats done is done w mayswa 3ly a7rg a39aby 3l fa'6y .. i prefer international football anyways .. and by international i mean not 5leeji =D

Anyways .. back to the books again .. 2 days and ill be FREE .. and 2 more days and ull be getting a nice long updated part of the story :**

XOXO
Limited

The End Is Near

2009-01-10T16:21:00.003+04:00

Yes as sinister as that title sounds, im actaully quite glad that the end of this semester is here .. a couple more days of exams and well be rewarded with 26 university-free days .. what more can u ask for after a *mostly* boring semester?

I know u guys r waiting for the next part but i do have to study for my exams .. as much as i would love to spend my day writing and posting ad blogging, that is just not possible during exam season .. i promise u a long post after my exmas r done =D

everything right now seems like a very nice and important distraction to me .. my phone, my laptop where my notes r, even a conversation my sisters r having outside my room .. im not a big fan of studying so i really really hope these days pass in the blink of an eye ..

XOXO
Limited

Honesty Tag!

2009-01-07T16:55:00.007+04:00

Tagged by Change

Let's start with the rules:
The honorees are to:

a) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!

1- Im a football freak, but im also a girly girl ..
2- My dream destinations are Milan, NewYork, and Tokyo
3- Ive been wanting to drive a car since i was 2 and found out about cars =P
4- Short guys turn me off .. why? its cuz am short as well .. i want my husband to be really TALL! en3adl el nasl shway ;P
5- Im a tv show addict .. My hard drive will burst from all the tv shows that r on it ..
6- I love distractions, and i look for them every single time im supposed to be doing something important ..
7- Im a shoes addict .. my favorite things to wear r shoes! <3
8- The one thing i cannot stand in people is cheating .. mool ma at7ml!
9- Im craving cupcakes right now ..
10- My favorite part of me is my eyes..

b) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap

Well whoever wants to get this award, feel free to take it yourselves =D

XOXO
Limited

Enterting The Blogging World

2009-01-06T19:57:00.003+04:00

You see, ive been following blogs for quite a while now .. you can label me a blog addict cuz that would be true .. i toyed around with the idea of actually starting a blog but i never took it seriously ..

But many of you have inspired me to start writing and put the ideas floating around in my head to paper .. make them a reality without limits ..

The thing is, nobody can restrict your dreams or your ideas .. and this blog hopefully will my way of escaping a mundane reality and entering one that is vivid, dynamic, and whimsical ..

I will leave you guys for now .. ill be off to your blogs to lose myself =P

Until next time
XOXO
Limited