WE HAVE MOVED

Hi everyone!
I have been having difficulty with blogspot for some reason so I have decided to move myself to wordpress!

If you're passing by .. please visit me at

http://maramostafa.wordpress.com/

all my new posts will be posted there!

xoxo

Attention all GRAPHIC DESIGNERS & ARTISTS!!!

                                COMPETITION 

To all you graphic designers and artists in the UAE here is an opportunity to be a part of CITY OF LIFE through your design!! 

PRESS RELEASE

8/10/2010

Dear friends of the media,

The Emirati blockbuster City of Life is preparing for its highly anticipated DVD launch in the MENA region for mid November 2010. The DVD will feature a double disc loaded with great special features and a “Directors Cut” 20mins longer than the theatrical release.

In the course of this preparation we decided to give the film’s UAE fans a chance to be a part of this special occasion.

We have setup up a competition by AFM FILMS in association with XPANSE - CGI called “The City of Life DVD Design Competition.”
This competition will allow all graphic designers / artists from within the UAE (only) to participate in designing the DVD’s front cover.

You can find more information in the competition guidelines (attached) and the link to the competition’s website via www.afmfilms.com/competition <http://www.afmfilms.com/competition>

Thank you for all the support you have shown City of Life to date!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!! GOOD LUCK! 

*image 1 belongs to apca.com
*image 2 belongs to cityoflife

Going somewhere?.. Flying EMIRATES?

To all you travelers out there around the world CITY OF LIFE's International Airline Premier was on the 1st of October!  It will be airing for a while so if you happened to miss it in the cinemas I hope you get to see it in the air :).

ALI F. MOSTAFA, the director of the film (my brother I may add :) ) is featured for the month of October in Emirates inflight magazine 'Open Skies'  and is also is also interviewed on their onboard entertainment 'ICE'.

wishing you all a pleasant flight with EMIRATES :) 

For those of you who loved the film soooo much !! <3 

DVD launch of the film is set for release in NOVEMBER 2010. The DVD double disc will include the "Director's Cut" and lots of great bonus material! It will also be available to order (worldwide) online at the time.

www.cityoflifefilm.com 

follow on twitter @cityoflife

follow the director @afmfilms

facebook : http://www.facebook.com/cityoflifefilm?ref=ts

*stay tuned for my "special" post on CITY OF LIFE coming soon.

xoxo

*images belong to EMIRATES and CITY OF LIFE

 

ECO- friendly Salon in DUBAI!!

Finally a salon with a conscience! If you haven't heard of this place already it could be because it's almost a year old and still very new!

For those of you who are "green" at heart and would like the choice to use toxin free products this place is for YOU!

Definitely a place to visit when I am next in DUBAI!

"Zen Beauty Lounge is Dubai’s first and only ladies salon promoting ethical beauty, by using toxic-free, vegan, plant-based and/or organic products from around the world.

Amidst zen-inspired elegance and comfort, we envelop you in a ‘green’ setting that respects nature: from eco-friendly wall paint and energy-saving lighting to using biodegradable towels and recycling our waste."

Services offered will include:

Organic Hair treatments, sugaring, threading, manicures, pedicures, home-made scrubs,soothing massages, reflexology and more.

Their Philosophy:

"We are surrounded everyday with man-made chemicals in practically everything we do and in every part of our living and working environment. From pesticides in our food, to chemicals in our clothing, make-up, deodrants, skin and bodycare products. Therefore, we believe in caring for one's whole body by using natural plant-based products, which contribute to a healthier body & lifestyle."

for more info.

check out www.zenbeautylounge.com 

and their facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dubai-United-Arab-Emirates/Zen-Beauty-Lounge/159270270927 

What's BPA?

As a mum and a wife I am always researching the safest alternatives to whatever my family's needs may be.  At the beginning of the year I started to hear a lot of the abbreviation "BPA".

What is it? What does it mean?

I knew it was linked to plastics and cans...  but I wanted to know more since I love my click on lid plastic containers which i use for snacks and just about everything!!..

BPA stands for Bisphenol -A. It is a chemical ingredient found in the lining of canned food, plastic bottles and containers. It is a synthetic estrogen that is used to harden polycarbonate plastic and used as a liner for cans.

"Each year, over 6 billion tons of BPA are used to make polycarbonate plastics. Chemical bonds that BPA forms in plastic can unravel when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods, prompting the chemical to contaminate foods. And while the plastic industry fails to see the need for alarm regarding the health impact of this chemical, researchers with no ties to the industry beg to differ." 
(http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.7713)

You will commonly hear the term " leaching" that is when the bond that holds the BPA together falls apart from high temp, wear, acidic food, using abrasive products for cleaning etc.. and then start to "leach" the chemicals into your food, therefore contaminating it.


BPA CAN CAUSE :

"According to the lead researcher in this study, BPA mimics estradiol, a sex hormone that can trigger major changes in your body, which is why medical experts are so concerned about the impact of even tiny amounts of it showing up in people. The problems associated with BPA include:

• Structural damage to the brain
• Hyperactivity
• Abnormal sexual behavior
• Increased fat formation
• Early puberty
• Disrupted reproductive cycles" DR MERCOLA

and this is what (http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-national/green-living-101-what-is-bpa-and-how-do-i-avoid-it) have to say :

"In laboratory tests, trace BPA exposure has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system. The endocrine system influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies, and is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function and reproductive processes. Disruption of the endocrine system triggers a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy."

WHAT DO WE DO? :

BPA seem to be contained in almost everything but do we really want our food near the stuff? I would rather be able to have some control of how much BPA we are being exposed to.

"Limit your exposure to BPA from canned foods and plastic containers:

• Almost all canned foods (including canning jars) sold in the U.S. have a BPA-based epoxy liner that can leach BPA into the food inside. Pregnant women and young children, especially, should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA. (If you’re feeding your baby infant formula, use powdered formula because it has the least BPA.)
• Buy fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned.
• For canned veggies and fruits, choose glass bottles where available; the lids may contain BPA but less than cans.
• For canned beans, choose Eden Foods brand because the cans are BPA-free. Or soak and cook dried beans; It’s a little more work but also costs less.
• Rinsing canned fruit or vegetables may reduce the amount of BPA you ingest.
• Make a special effort to avoid canned prepared foods like pastas and soups.
• Use glass or a BPA-free plastic baby bottles.
• Avoid polycarbonate containers (marked with a #7 or ‘PC’), especially for children’s food and drinks.
• Use glass incstead of plastics. However, plastics marked with a #1, 2, 4, and 5 don’t contain BPA and are generally safer for food.
• Don’t microwave plastics or fill them with hot liquids.
• Wash plastics on the top shelf of the dishwasher, where the water is cooler, or by hand.
• Avoid old, scratched water bottles.
• Use stainless water bottles without plastic linings. 

(http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-national/green-living-101-what-is-bpa-and-how-do-i-avoid-it)
Plastic toys also contain BPA so you're best alternative would be to be on the look out for natural wooden toys (better for the environment). Think about it every time you see your baby chew on that rattle .. and always be on the look out for lead free paint for the children as opposed to the plastic ones.

The effects of BPA are profoundly higher in children because they are at the growing stage.  With adults it is much less but ultimately prevention is better as much as you can.

TREATMENT :

There are numerous methods that can be used to help detoxify your body, and they vary in cost, time and efficacy. I tend to gravitate toward the treatments that are simple, effective, inexpensive and don't involve taking a lot of supplements.

The treatments below fit all of these criteria, and can be incorporated into your daily life. They all work to support your body's natural detoxification systems, namely your digestive system, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.

• Stimulate blood flow through your organs of elimination. Constitutional hydrotherapy treatments increase blood flow through your liver and kidneys, enhancing their filtering effects.
• Increase toxin elimination through the skin. Use a sauna regularly to increase how much, how often, and how deeply you sweat.
• Give you lungs some extra support. By practicing deep breathing exercises you can greatly enhance this vital detoxification mechanism.
• Stimulate lymphatic flow. Dry skin brushing and exercise are two of the only ways to increase the flow of the lymphatic system, your body's garbage collector.
• Maintain optimal levels of beneficial intestinal flora. The best ways to accomplish this are by incorporating fermented foodsinto your diet." 
  DR MERCOLA

These treatments are basic steps for any form of detox! Not that you have to run off and do this because of the BPA but if you would like to step it up these steps could be incorporated in your daily routine.  When are we not being exposed to toxins? We face it on a daily basis so why not start implementing a few of these ... our bodies deserve that much!

What I did :

So obviously my first reaction was to get rid of all my plastic containers and flasks that didnt have BPA free labels on them and my next was trying to find some that did!  I even went out and purchased glass containers of different sizes with lids.  You are better off storing your food in glass than plastic but we do need a lighter choice when we are on the run so ...

The start of school meant lunch boxes, water flasks and packed food!! So I had to hurry quick and
after doing much surfing on the internet, here are the products that I found to replace my old ones.
All of them I found on amazon.com

products are: KLEEN KANTEEN and Sigg 

images belong to Electric Firefly

p.s
when i said I got rid of my old  ones .. instead of throwing them away I'm using them to store all my scrapbooking little bits and bobs! How great is that!! Found a "green" way of saving my plastic containers and getting organized at the same time!! Wooohooo to me :)

p.p.s
Obviously this post is to bring awareness to everyone.. but more importantly to the people of the GCC.  I find that the west are always on top of things and if something out there is not good for you immediately they are informed and options are available. Unfortunately not only is there little to non info on the topic in our region but also there almost nill products out there that have labels BPA free to assure you (other than the AVENT FEEDING BOTTLES)
If you know of products that are BPA free in a shop near you, please share so  that we don't have to constantly revert to shopping online.



xoxo

Do NOT keep silent!

I was checking my facebook page and a particular note caught my attention that a friend posted.  This is such a difficult topic to even swallow. It is soo wrong in every way or form! There is no justifying racial profiling!

You always hope it doesn't happen to you or to someone you know. You hear the stories and even the horrific ones where the victims die as a result!

There is something that you can do! Please be apart of this movement. Visit these links www.restorefairness.org
http://www.rightsworkinggroup.org



This is the link and the note that I received on facebook from Yassin Alsalman aka The Narcicyst":

http://vimeo.com/15232640

"A sister by the name of Nadine Wahab sent this to me and Offendum and we stand behind this 100%. Please take the time to watch the video below and visit this website to see how you can get involved. To all those who have ever been racially profiled.

Face the Truth: Racial Profiling Across America from Breakthrough on Vimeo.

"Every Beautiful face has an ugly side to it"

"Face the Truth: Racial Profiling Across America” is a powerful documentary produced by Breakthrough and the Rights Working Group featuring stories of individuals affected by racial profiling and educational interviews with notable law enforcement and civil society leaders. The video released alongside the Rights Working Group report “Faces of Racial Profiling: A Report from Communities Across America” underscores the need to stop racial profiling by federal, state and local law enforcement.

Racial and religious profiling is a pervasive problem that affects many communities across the country. Not only is racial and religious profiling humiliating and degrading for the people subjected to it, it is unconstitutional and violates fundamental human rights, it is an ineffective law enforcement practice, and it damages community safety.  "

*images belong to google images 

ECO BAGS

I try to be as "green" as I can.  I recycle my paper, plastic and cans.  I take my own reusable grocery bags to the supermarket.  I must post a pic of my little cotton bags that I made to put the veg and fruits in :).  If I am out and about shopping and forgot my bags I would then just pile all my shopping into one bag that the shop provided.

At home we have almost completely cut out all cleaning (chemical) products and literally use basic home made recipes for cleaning.  

(will be posting the my eco home cleaning tips in another blog)

These are a few simple things to remember which make a huge difference. 

1. When you walk out of the room switch the lights off, no need to leave them on when no one is using the room.  

2. While brushing your teeth don't keep the water running.

3. Use cotton napkins at the dinner table instead of paper or tissue boxes.

Now if you're looking for a green alternative to plastic and paper bags that are functional and look great! 

Here is a website I came across that provide just that!

www.getmyeco.com

It consists of four bags that come in a great carrier to store them in! No more bulky shopping bags.. These are durable, lightweight and compact when tucked away!

These are definitely on my shopping list

xoxo

*images from getmyeco

Running for US all!!

                                       left to right: Cory, Claire and Kate (little Magnus is MIA)

This post I am dedicating to my family in Canada!!

Cory is running a marathon in NEW YORK in November for the LIVESTRONG team!!  The run is in honor of those whose lives have been taken by this disease and very dear to his heart his mum Judy Glugosh who lost her battle in June 2009.

They have been organizing different fundraising events such as: car wash, barbeques, bake sales and a lot more!

Please check out his website to see his up to date blog, his inspiration, bio and a lot more but more importantly please donate no matter how small. Every little counts ..

Let's all help Cory run down cancer..

Let him run for us all !!


www.runningdowncancer.com 




GOOD LUCK in November Cory!!! 


xxx

I RUN FOR LIFE

 October is breast cancer awareness month!

Here is an inspiring video I would like to share with you all...






Here are the lyrics to the song:

(Melissa Etheridge)

It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To waken when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

[Chorus]

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more



*thanks to bewellvideo on youtube

Street ART

I love art ! I love museums and one of my obsessions is Graffiti ART or some like to call it street art!

I’m not talking about the rubbish kids spray to destroy properties.. although some may come under that category..

Where ever I travel to I try to capture as many images as I can of the graffiti art that I like, that makes me stop and think, that is inspiring .. they look like coded msgs and maybe that is what intrigues me the most…

Here are my images that I captured in ITALY, Florence.

(I must add though; I wish there was a dedicated place where the “art” could flourish because unfortunately it was literally everywhere in Florence hence why I said it may fall under that category. )

*images belong to electric firefly

Just Fabulous!

With just 3 simple steps you can have your very own personal shopper !
Check out this new website www.justfab.com


Here is what the experts at whowhatwear have to say who are also the "style experts for Just Fabulous"!!!

"Everyone knows that celebrities enjoy an enviable existence, but of all the many perks of fame, there's only one with universal appeal—their accessories, which are hand-selected by top stylists. Think about it: how amazing would it be to have someone personally pick the best bags and shoes for you? Well, dear readers, now you can enjoy a similar experience, courtesy of the amazing new website JustFabulous! 


The JustFabulous concept is brilliant, to say the very least. Essentially, it's a like a really chic shoe and handbag of the month club. Enrollment is free: all you have to do is take a short fashion personality quiz when you first sign up! Once you've answered a few questions about your fashion preferences, the site's style gurus will handpick a selection of shoes and bags for you to choose from every month. Simply decide what you want to buy—maybe it's a pair of shoes or a handbag, or you can mix and match with one of each—and pay $39.95 for each piece. Yes, you read that correctly: $39.95! It's a steal to say the least! Plus, if you don't want to buy anything, it's no problem. You can just skip that month and JustFabulous will send you new options next month. And, if that wasn't enough, shipping is free and returns and exchanges are easy—talk about savvy shopping! "

Pleasantly surprised

I was a skeptic I must admit! I mean give up my mac makeup?? My Revlon foundation that has full coverage ??? and all my lovely drawer filled of beauty goodies?? Nothing natural could possibly give me coverage let alone last on my skin the whole day!!

(Well I haven’t totally given up all my makeup but have left them for special or rare occasions or if I need a color that I don’t have with my new product! )

Whats this product that could dare me to go on the other side!

BAREMINERALS makeup!!

I’ve been umming about it for a while… shall I?, should I get the starter kit?, am sure it's a waste of time.. were the thoughts that kept coming up!

This summer in London I was at Harvey Nichols and thought to myself “ohhhhh I might as well rule it out .. ill either love it or hate it! “

The next morning I woke up ever soo eager to get my “face” on! I balanced my laptop by the sink (do not try this at home-accident waiting to happen!!) plonked in the dvd and watched step by step. As  I started I was completely convinced this was going to be waste of time… once I was finally done I could not believe the coverage!! It wasn’t pore clogging like some thick coverage foundations make your skin look. And I couldn’t  how get over how light it felt on my skin! The first person to see me was my husband and he said and the first thing he said was.. "you look fresh" ;) (didn’t let him on what my secret was )…

So yes as you can see I am in love with bareminerals and they claim that you can even sleep in it.

The primer is like vitamins for your skin and the makeup actually works with your skin (improved skin after using it ) as opposed to against it!

Have a look at what their website say- 

http://www.baremineralsmakeup.net/

http://www.baremineralsmakeup.net/

Definitely worth a try!

*Image 1 google images
*Image 2 & 3 belong to bareminerals 

Which toothpaste do you use?

So for the past year and half my husband and I have switched from regular toothpaste to a really cool product!

Let me introduce you to toothsoap! YES!! I said tooth soap!

This product is made with “Made with pure and wholesome ingredients “. 

These ingredients are “Specially formulated for your mouth and made from saponified organic extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, distilled water, Original Himalayan Crystal Salt®, coral calcium and essential oils.”

“Research proves that using pure soap is the best thing a person can do to improve dental health. Tooth Soap^® cleans teeth and gums perfectly, removing unhealthy oils and other contaminants from the teeth so your teeth can re-mineralize for better dental health!” toothsoap

“Did you know? A toxic mouth is even more prone to 
cavities, gum problems and other physical ailments!!!”

You can purchase it here on www.toothsoap.com

My kids use aloe dent (also fluoride free) toothpaste.. but toothsoap keep coming up with greater versions of the toothsoap .. so I’m looking to add the toothsoap gel for my kids!!

Whats sooo toxic about fluoride it soon.. Well …. That would be a whole other blog post which I will post soon.

*image 1 belongs to kutlu photography

*image 2 belongs to toothsoap.com

New to this..

I have a few posts coming up .. but I just wanted to mention again that I am a newbie to blogging.  Ideally would love my background to represent me.. and organize it with all the category listings etc...
So, if any of you can help me figure this out I would much appreciate it :)

Up until then I'm going to try to keep the posts rolling ..

sooooo  here I go ...


xoxo

RAW DIVAS

I’m soo excited, I have soo much that I love and am passionate about to share with you all .. and whoever knows me knows my interest in health ..

There are great moms out there who inspire each other to achieve optimum health! Whether you’re a raw foodist, vegan, vegetarian or just a plain foodie.. You’ll enjoy the wisdom these women have to offer! They have juice fasts, seminars and much much more going on!! They are definitely worth subscribing to and their wisdom nuggets are worth their weight in gold...

Sign up for their new “raw mom cooked dad calls”!!

www.rawmom.com

leave me some feedback .. and share any wisdom nuggets you may have:)

*images belong to rawmom.com

Mara's Hairbands

Here I am featured in one of my favorite blogs earlier this year! I'm constantly making things and coming up with ideas.. Here is one of them and I hope you like it!  For more info on the hairbands just drop me a line :) would love feedback!
available in Dubai and Bahrain

xoxo


http://fashiongossip10.blogspot.com/2010/01/maras-headbands-hot-new-twist.html

knock knock!! anyone there ...

To blog or not to blog is the question that I have been asking myself for a few years now.  I have decided to take the plunge which at this point feels like I’m swimming with the sharks as writer’s block seeps into every pore of my body!

What do I want this blog to be about?

Everything of course!

I have soo many interests that I figured I needed an outlet to get them out there…and hopefully touch those with similar mindsets and passions.

I was born in April prematurely, which landed me under the Taurus star! I sometimes wonder whether I was born in the wrong era.. but then again don’t we all feel a little lost sometimes? I was born to an English mother and a father from the UAE, which gives me the best of both worlds. I am the eldest of four and the only girl! Growing up with three brothers meant I had to learn to stick up for myself and be tough like the boys! Which lead me down a long road of tomboy-hood..those were the happiest days, climbing trees and collecting junk from the junkyard to make stuff.  My mother is my role model and everyday I am in awe of how she manages her family and her company. I hope and like to believe I have a tiny bit of her skills which contribute to me being a “momprenuer”.

I am married to a beautiful man who is the ideal male figure I am proud that my daughter has! He is a loving husband and a great father to our children! We have two little rugrats…Mohammed who is almost 7 (wow hard to even believe really) and Leiya who has just turned 3! They are the love of my life and my family mean everything to me.

When I said I have soo many interests I wasn’t kidding. In this blog I hope to share thoughts on life, empowerment, books, travel, art, health, vintage finds (<3), passions, fashion, photography and lots more!

First things first though.. being new to blogging must figure out how this works and design my blog space rather than stick to the template.. baby steps…

Ok .. here we go ..be gentle with me and your’re welcome to enter my world .. 

xoxox