Men might get Breast Cancer too!

October is Breast Cancer awareness month (Did anyone not know this?)

And though I wouldn’t like to turn my blog page into a copy of every article about subjects you can simply google (yes, google is an official verb now) around, I still found it critical and important to highlight the subject in a brief manner for those who do not like to research and read long articles!

- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in their lifetime (if it’s not you, then it will be one of your family members or friends – Sorry!)

- When caught early, Breast Cancer has a survival rate of over 95%! (thus the big “fuss” about #PinkOctober)

- Breast Cancer does not run in the family!

- Exercising and healthy dieting reduce the risk of Breast Cancer (One extra point for exercising!)

- Women can still have children after Breast Cancer treatment.

Last but not least:

- Men can have Breast Cancer too! Though they don’t have breasts, men do have the breast tissue and this is where Breast Cancer grows and develops!

How to get checked?

I couldn’t find a better, more innovative and more supportive video than the one shared earlier this month by Jebran Atallah! I came across it by pure chance and took the approval from Jebran to share it with you all:

Watch it here!

Yes, I am a sapiosexual.

“What do you like about me?”, he asked.

“Your brains”, I replied.

Yes, I am what modern dictionaries define as a sapiosexual. I find someone else’s mind being their most attractive attribute. 

This mainly applies to my relationships with men in general; I can deal with girlfriends who are not brainy and intellectuals (though I can only count two or three of those in my entourage), but when it comes to men, being a brainy is a total turn on (not that the physical doesn’t matter equally!).

Being blonde (mistashe’ra to be more specific), being always on the run to take care of what I look like (hair, nails, outfit), having my full focus on creating healthier life and eating habits as well as a steady exercising routine, people often mistake me to what society defines as a “blonde girl”. Men, women, family, colleagues, friends and acquaintances tend to think I am silly, shallow and superficial… well until they catch me in the middle of a debate, reading a book or simply interested in thought-provoking and stimulating happenings.

My perfect date? Take me to an Art Gallery or a Museum followed by a dinner and you got half of my attention and all of my interest to think a step further into getting to know you!

When I was younger, my friends were always interested in the hot guy who would go partying all night long. I was an still am interested in the fairly looking guy who knows how to enjoy a party and a chill-out evening every now and then (a boring brainy wouldn’t win with me neither). I always wanted someone like me -not that I am perfect in any way- but I wanted someone who would combine everything: someone who would enjoy fast food, partying till dawn, a day out chilling and doing nothing, a beach day, a silly activity, karting, bungee jumping, silly movies, sitcoms, etc. BUT someone who would also enjoy good food, reading (an actual book – magazines and online articles don’t really count!), hiking and nature discovery, traveling, art galleries, museums, someone I could spend an afternoon at the library with, etc…

I always wanted someone who would be mentally challenging for me. Someone “better” in order to turn me into a better version of myself. Some would say I am far from being a womanizer by admitting this but what can I do? I am only driven by men with brains, men who would challenge me in their conversations, men who would push me to go home and research about a certain subject, men who keep a book next to bed, men who know the proper use of vocabulary and who -above all- know their spelling (their, there and they're are not the same!), men with confidence, men with education (damn it, it’s sexy!)…

Summer Blues.....

After a long summer break it’s kind of time to come back to blogging.

Hello you all, you’ve been missed!

And while I am extremely happy to go back to writing and pick back my ignored modest skills  that went missing between tanning sessions, weddings and sunset drinks, I must admit I almost got tears in my eyes reading all those “Hello September” posts.  What’s so special about September after all?

While I must admit nature’s colors look oh-so-lovely with the beginning of autumn (well at least on the professional pictures everyone shares on my various timelines), I see nothing similar to that flaming orange and wonderful red in reality. In fact, summer is coming to an end, there is nothing fun in that.  The weather is more unpredictable than a woman on her PMS period! The wind blows every 10 minutes ruining those last tanning days. The water is cold (bye bye swimming!). The nights are breezy  and chill ruining those last rooftop nights and crazy parties. Viruses hit the block. Everyone got allergies, flues and all type of sickness one can imagine. And yet I still see those Hello September posts popping around as if it was the trend of the season… when you got nothing to post online, you post what everyone else is posting right?

Soon it will be winter time again and those long gloomy mornings where I (and many of you) would be dreaming back of the next summer break and counting down the days to it.

Until then, there is one good thing going on, at least for me: dear readers, my summer break is over and I’m back to blogging!

I don't need a Prince Charming, I need a man...

As I was running through Facebook applications and quizzes, I thought it was amusing to take the “Who is your Disney Prince" test... And this is how I got to know the personality of MY Prince Charming:

“Your Prince knows what he wants and will go to any lengths for those he loves. He is definitely the romantic and will never fail to sweep you off your feet."

So it hit me...

The blurry thoughts disappeared, everything became clearer in my head and there I was: smiling, happy and ready to accomplish "mission impossible" and find that prince!

Oh… how I would like us to meet at a shopping mall where I would be window shopping for jewelry when he will approach me, hold my hand, drag me into the store and choose a fine diamond necklace that he fixes around my neck before asking me to join him for dinner… “But I’m in jeans” would I say… And this is when…

**REALITY SLAP**

CUT CUT CUT

My neighbor, just broke up with her husband of 10 years; she said all the jewelry, the trips, vacations, parties, etc… were amazing but she missed the shoulder she needed when she had a thought to share, a suggestion to make.

My childhood friend, has been engaged for 3 years now and even though she’s about to get married next August, she is very concerned about her husband’s family. “They are extremely nice but his mother asked me in front of his uncle last Sunday if I wear thongs or briefs, and he blushed instead of telling her how inappropriate her question was… What’s next? She’ll ask for my virginity proof and discuss with me sex with her son while sipping morning coffee?”.

And then comes another friend who is dating a much younger guy who cannot afford getting married now; she’s constantly smiling and patiently waits for him to get established.

And another friend who is dating the guy who used to be the ugliest between the guys at our high school, while she was crowned school queen for 3 consecutive years… With an everlasting smile on her face she explains: “The respect he shows me is one in a million, I never thought I would easily find a guy who would look across my physical beauty… right into my soul”.

One of my closest girl friends just informed me she is getting engaged. “I’m scared, he is lovely, charming, I have fun with him, we share so much, he’s honest, he lets me take all the decisions and do whatever I want… (and then it comes, the dreadful word) BUT I don’t know … I feel when we argue, it gets too intense! I’m happy he loves me this much!”
Few days later, we meet again for coffee....
“You know what? It’s not worth it… I’m not spending my life with a guy I cannot talk to… With time I’ll get old, he’ll get old… We’ll be too tired and sick to go out, we won’t be interested in trips no more, we’ll be alone, just the two of us... I need a man to talk to, a man to understand me, my needs... a man that will encourage me not to cry yet will hold me tight if a do; a man that will protect and honor me, not only look at ways to have fun with me and tour the world; I need a man...”

There it was; reality really slapped this time...

I won't be idealistic and say I won't like receiving gifts or going on a world tour;

I won't be stupid and say I would rather live alone with no friends if my husband was next to me;

BUT

I don't need gifts from a "Prince Charming" who cannot look at me in the eyes and say he cares;

I don't need trips from a "Prince Charming" who cannot stand up for me in front of the whole world and defend my pride and dignity;

I don’t need a “Prince Charming” who doesn’t know how to say no without hurting me;

I don’t need a “Prince Charming” who will let me take all the decisions…

I don't need a "Prince Charming" who will sweep me off my feet JUST because he's handsome, rich and caring...

I don't need a "Prince Charming"... I need a man.

(This post was originally published as a Facebook Note on July 28, 2009)

How to get more Instagram hearts.... (the begginer's way)

Who doesn’t want more followers, likes and comments?

Who doesn’t fall for those cute little red hearts that pop-out every time they post a new picture, quote or video?

But to get those, there are many tricks and tips to follow… read below for some!

-          Like “famous” accounts of interesting people, not just random people who have many likers: this reflects on your “Instagram image” and gives potential followers a push to follow you as you are an interesting person. So focus on people who have your taste in sports, fashion, politics, or others.

-          Like “normal/active” accounts: It is very important to like the accounts of “normal” people. Those are your likers. Keep in mind famous people, big bloggers or people who stock on followers and “buy” followers and likes will not follow you back or like any of your pictures!

Side tip: when you like a new account, like a couple of random pictures (old and new, not all in a row). This will make the owner of the account notice you, notice you went through the whole page not only new pictures, and this will add your chances of getting him to follow you and/or like your pictures!

-          Post pictures regularly and often: create your own pace at the beginning: once a day, once every 2 days, once a week, etc… later when you reach your Instagram goal you can start going by what you want or feel like

-          Use hashtags properly: the proper use of hashtags can make you “collect” followers randomly (place the hashtags in the comment box after you post the picture). Here is a list of hashtags you can use (use the ones that fit each picture you post):

#Monday #Tuesday #Wednesday #Thursday #Friday #Saturday #Sunday #Sundayfunday #funday #friends #family #creatingmemories #weekend #week_end #guy #lebaneseguy #girl #lebanesegirl #selfie #nofilter #beirut #lebanon

-          Make your account interesting and post different things: selfies, group pictures, family pictures, food, activities, etc.  kids pictures usually get the most compassion and likes and you can stock followers. Kids are cute!

-          Follow all your followers and all your friends from Facebook and twitter: your friends on Facebook and twitter are the most likely to follow you back and like your pictures. You will need time to create a “fan base” and get likes from random people

-          Unfollow inactive accounts and non-descent ones: YES! Sometimes you need to unfollow. You’re a guy, you will get most likes from girls. But girls will not follow-you and like your pictures if you only follow models and stars. Liking a picture on Instagram is a give and take. Most people will follow and invest in people who will like their posts back!

-          Do not post ugly and/or average pictures: Use all the filters you want to use, who cares! Instagram is all about using filters and creating perfect effects.

-          Like posts, regularly: once or twice a day go online and like pictures. As many pictures as you can especially those of your active friends. Don’t like ugly pictures, after all you are not desperate for attention. But do like nice pictures. If I see an amazing picture of a friend who never likes my pictures, most of the time I skip it. Many are like that. So like people’s pictures in order to get likes in return.

To your Instagram accounts! 1,2,3 go!

Let's talk about money...

I do not discuss finances.

Whether when I was a school girl, a university student or a housewife, I never discussed my finances with anyone.

I simply grew-up that way. My father never told me how much he made. None of my friends discussed their salaries and incomes with me, just like I never did with them. Discussing finances became such a taboo subject over the years!

Being the “rebel” that I was, I researched the subject and its psychological analysis and read articles all over the net about how important it is to discuss your finances with your parents, your spouse, your bf, your colleagues and your friends!

When it comes to money, it’s still “too complicated” and people tend to withdraw and close the subject. Apparently, it is harder to talk about money than it is to talk about sex!!! However, here is why it is important to open up to the subject and spill the beans:

1- It helps you manage your outings

No matter how big or small your salary is, how much money you make or how much you want to spend, everyone can afford a time out with friends and family. Talking about money helps you manage who to invite, when and where! You can now go for sushi with a friend who is a big spender and save the coffee breaks and the movie night for that other friend who just bought a new car!

2- It reduces disappointment… somehow

When my friend got a scarf for her birthday from one of her best friends, she was really upset because she had gifted her a watch for her birthday. Little did she know about her best friend’s financial situation and little did she know that this scarf was even more than what her friend could afford at that time! Gifting is relevant not only to your income, but also to your monthly fixed and important payments (such as car, housing, loans, etc…).

3- It helps you appreciate your entourage

Remember that friend you called thrifty for inviting you for a $5 coffee instead of the $12 Frappuccino? That same friend had only $8 in his purse and wanted to pay the bill himself. He offered you coffee and had water to be able to pay the bill himself. Now that you know the income of each, you can start appreciating the little things people offer you instead of judging them for the things they do not offer!

4- It helps you “evaluate” your friends

No one wants a cheap friend around after all… let’s be realistic! But you can’t really decide if X-person or Y-person is thrifty just by looking at what they wear, where they work or how much they make. You need to judge based on the ratio of what they have and how, where and when they spend it. So when your friend who has $12,000 set aside judges a $8 Latté as expensive, this person is cheap! While when your other friend who has $100 to get through 10 more days of the month does the same, this person is just managing his finances.

5- It will help you “evaluate” your own financial status

Are you making enough money? Are you spending it the right way? Why does your friend, who makes as much as you do, own a brand new car while you are suffering with the mechanics of a 20 years old model? Why didn’t your boyfriend take you out to the newest “posh” place in town this month? All those questions and more can be answered once the financial discussion stops being a “taboo” subject… you’ll even discover if you are underpaid or not without twirling on your own office chair wondering if your salary was fair!

Men, Women - The ultimate guide to understanding your lady!

Oh yes, you read it right! While many think it is (almost) impossible to understand us women and decode what we (women) say, and while the famous book of understanding women is not out yet, here is a very simple guide to understanding us!

1- No means No. Yes means Yes.

Drop the complication and what you read online. When a woman says No, she means it, there is nothing hidden behind her negative answer. The same applies when she says Yes.

2- “We need to talk” is not scary!

Women like to talk. A LOT! So when your woman tells you she needs to talk, talk to her! It’s not always about arguments and sometimes a two minutes talk will satisfy her for a full day!

3- Do what we ask… and we will not nag.

It is known that women nag, a lot… but most of the times, the nagging can be solved as easy as 1,2,3… For example, refereeing back to number 2, if your woman wants to talk, she will keep “nagging” until you talk or until you fight over her nagging. Spare yourself the nag and the relationship the argument. Talk when she asks you to do so and everything will be done in 2 minutes! Imagine… you just saved yourself from a full day of nagging in just 2 minutes!

4- It doesn’t matter how you feel if you don’t voice it loud enough!

We know you like us. We know you’re happy. We know you enjoy every second around us. We know you would have walked away if all that was not true. But knowing it is not enough, we need to hear it. And as stupid as this might sound to you, just please live with it!

5- Women DO compartmentalize

Unlike you think, if a woman comes home after a long and stressful day at work, she will not have her mood affected (when a woman is angry at home, she’s angry with you. Stop blaming it on outsider reasons / events!). In general, men are the ones who do not compartmentalize and let any argument at work affect their relationships in general, their social events and outings… I’m just saying!

6- Learn the “art” of understanding a woman’s anger…

What you read repeatedly online is so true. Now learn the following and consider it as important as your work guideline:

- When a woman looks sad and says nothing is wrong, please know that something is definitely wrong. Either refer to number 2 above or buy her flowers and chocolate.

- When a woman is sad and tells you not to as why she is sad, do not ignore her. Either refer to number 2 above or buy her flowers and chocolate.

- When a woman tell you she gained weight, pour her a glass of wine!

7- Not everything should make sense to you….

Just memorize the basics: it takes us 10 seconds to like/hate someone, 30 seconds to judge your family, 30 minutes to pick an outfit, 1 hour to pick a nail color and 6 months to change a hair-color/hair-cut. It will never make sense to you. It does not even make sense to us. But that’s just it!

8- Women are always late! (obviously because of number 7)

Stop getting upset with us every time we miss a deadline, a movie opening or make you wait in the car for a date out. Look at it this way: When a woman says she will be ready in 5 minutes, go, have a nap, and set your alarm clock to ring 50 minutes later!

9- Build yourself a circle of female friends

Between your sisters, cousins, female friends and her female friends… you’ll have a whole list of opinion options to “shop” from. Her closest female friends ususally can help best!

Last but not least….

10- As the old saying goes: Women are made to be loved and spoiled, not understood.

So when you don’t know what to do anymore, hug us, kiss us, and everything will be just fine!