New Year’s Eve … Stuck again in one of those family gatherings? Six ways to push it up a notch ;)

It’s like if you don’t go crazy that night, teb2a sana zero! “La ya 3am, I’m stuck with a family gathering tonight, bas 7a7awel afok badry.” The problem is that New Year is at midnight, ya3ny you’re either at one place or the other. Two plans won’t work.

So starting mid December the gang would start planning for that night. Getting concert tickets, party invitations, and settling on all the details. Then when my folks come up with, “where’s the gathering gonna be this year?” My excuse would be that I already have plans. Ya3ny I already paid money, so I can’t just cancel everything. See how it’s really simple. You just have to plan ahead of everyone for a pretty understandable alibi ;) After all, it’s just another moth-eaten night! Or, so I thought.

I was missing along something extremely important; vital. I was missing family photos! My grandma’s walls were drenched with family frames, and I wasn’t in a single one of them. The weird thing is that the photos weren’t just stereotyped family clips. They were completely lunatic!

So if you’re freaking out from the idea of counting down with your folks, there are a million ways to perk it up and make it an unforgettable experience.

Don’t Let Decency Screw It

Not anyone above 50 is a bum. If my Mom is all over Facebook, what are the chances she’d object a costume party :P The problem is mainly in the few “decent” people who think you’re gonna drag their kid lel daya3 :D Screw them! Just arrange, and no husky “back off from my kid” deserves to split up with a cousin.

Make Peace
You know the sort of friends who know their way around your house more than you do!! You go bring them into the deal and everyone’s happy. Bas ba2a if you have other intentions, then save yourself the effort and go party fe 7etta tanya. Ya3ny men el akher, you’re there to enjoy and let your family enjoy, so don’t just go looking for anyone to ruin the night!! Stick to those almost-family guys.

7alawetha fel Lamma
Mate3rafsh meneen, every New Year’s Eve there are new comers from the family. Mom’s cousins, their kids, their kids’ cousins, and so on!! Just discovering new friends from your family is worth attending such a gathering. It’s just bizarre how you’ll naturally get along. You should, manto you have the same blood!

A Party has to Rock!
It’s no party without a little rhythm. The challenging part though is the choice. You want to rock everyone, starting teens and all the way to Granny. Difficult as it may seem, it’s the most traditional way to pull anyone in to the party mood. It deserves a little search for the most suitable stuff.

Watch the Wacky Mood!
Those folks, all they need is a trigger and they just lose control! Planning the night ahead gives you time to think of some good stuff to do like spending the night on a private yacht. You can also start off a couple of crazy games or bring in a new movie to watch all together. Whatever you decide to do, your folks are definitely going to catch up and get ahead kaman.

Clips to Frame the Night
This is my favorite part, photos! By the end of the night, everyone would have really gotten into the mood ;) So no matter how old or young one is, they’ll be at the top of their enjoyment curve. Watch then everyone pile up to fit in a single shot, or staying in the same position for ages until everyone’s camera has snapped. Trust me, it makes a lot of difference to look back in Grandma’s albums and find yourself there.

MarwaYehia

A Contagious Fashion Disease

It’s like all of a sudden there’s this contagious fashion disease in the country. Once a color trend or some style is out, tela2eeh yedrab zay el influenza!

When pointed-toe shoes came out six years ago, it was a disaster. Everyone was wearing it. Ya3ny no matter what a girl would be wearing, jeans, skirt, formal, casual, athletic, you look at her feet and there’s pointed low heel shoes. Fel seef pointed sandals we fel sheta pointed boots. To me it was like a total disaster. They didn’t suit me nor felt comfortable in the first place. And there was no way but to wear them, mesh 3ashan moda, but because there was nothing else in the shops but that!! It wasn’t until last summer that you could find rounded edge shoes; still a very rare occurring :S

Obviously we need to redefine the word fashion. Most of us still go with it being a trend or a dominant style, like the more people wearing it the more it’s the hottest. But if everyone seems to criticize this manner, yeb2a akeed feeh 7aga 3’alat!

This last summer I could swear that there’s a secret organization with an undisclosed green in yellow dress code! Everywhere I went I ran into not less than a dozen girls dressed in green and yellow. A green shirt with a yellow tank, a yellow scarf with a green bandana and probably green shoes with yellow socks. Mix and match ba2a all sorts of combinations; with the same makeup shades tab3an. El moseeba when it moved on from gals to guys. Yeb2a tool be 3ard we 3adalat and he’s dressed in a green shirt with a yellow collar and edge trim. So after it was out to that extent, almost everyone I met was mocking it. Tab if everyone I know is making fun of it, why is it still out there!

In the same manner came out the green and purple combination and the yellow and purple combination, dreadful attempts to be creative and obviously sprouting from the original green and yellow combo.

I admit that I’m completely fel daya3 when it comes to fashion, but I know one thing for sure. Fashion is wearing something different from the norm and feeling damn comfortable in it. Ya3ny when you go shopping you look for stuff that no one has worn before. If you’re good you may build your own combination according to the season even if somehow related to the trend. Ya3ny if you insist on green and yellow, yeb2a a green shirt with a necklace of green and yellow beads; and that would be it! No green scarf or yellow shoes.

You wanna get more stylish, think of fashion as a dress of the future which should in no way be worn after it’s out. That’s why people pick up fashion trends from shows or magazines and not from the street. It’s very similar to trading in stock market. You can only make profit when you buy shares before anyone else. Buy it after the news spread, and you lose!

Going pro ba2a is to become an inspiration yourself. In other words, you set a trend. Just like drawing a painting. You bring together all the elements from your imagination, the dress style, colors and accessories worn according to your own design.

I just say that if you want to play a game, play it good. So this is how it goes, you’ve got to be feeling damn comfortable, definitely working on camouflaging body flaws, then to walk around without having to meet a couple of people dressed exactly like you!! That’s how the fashion game works.

MarwaYehia

Help! I’m a Cairo New Comer! Your Transition Survival Guide

So you had a couple of dazzling months … we 7’alas 3ala keda! Now you’ll either wish you went back home, or you actually feel that you’re home. It all depends on how well you know where you’re going.

El Qabeela!
I can’t imagine how you’ll ever mingle with all what’s new if you insist sticking to people with your exact background! Group el IG, group Dubai, etc. It would make more sense if you hang out with people of your same interest. That’s what clubs are for after all!

Let Cupid Wait
Rushing into a love relationship that soon won’t help at all. In fact, it won’t spare you any time to get to know all the cool stuff around. On the contrary, you shouldn’t just forbid falling in love, cupid won’t wait forever ;)

Blood Never Fails
Family members, no matter how close, are your key to the new world. Whether you’re close or not they’ll definitely be there to help you. You’ll be surprised of how much stuff you’ll have in common kaman. It’s a blood thing, mesh bemazagkom!

That “Stranger” Outfit
You’ll never survive if you continue to wear that I’m-a-stranger outfit. Let go of it and get free. Find out all the fun places and go there. If you have a car, drive up and down. If you don’t, forget about taxis and get into the subway or a micro bus. Once your college days are over, you’ll regret you didn’t do that.

Viva La Vida
You have more than a million reasons to scream, “Shit! I’m out of here!” Life in Cairo is crowded, noisy, and full of unplanned events! Pretty fast for a new comer I’m sure; but it simply is life! Look at it as spontaneous and vivacious. Trust me, you get addicted to that after a while :D

Looking Behind
It’s okay to keep looking back and remembering your old life. Keeping in touch with your old school friends will help you step across that cultural-shock stage. And you really shouldn’t worry if they don’t get along your new gang. There’s always plenty of time for everyone.

The first year is usually the most challenging. You either watch everything from the outside, or you’re right in the middle of the action. It’s all up to you.

MarwaYehia

Maleesh Fel Career Da!! Ten Signs that Indicate You Must Have a Career Makeover

Bas amoot wa3raf meen elly za2enny! Well, no matter why you ended up in the wrong career, you can always consider it a slip :D It's never too late to start over.

So there are ten signs that indicate you gotta get a career makeover.

I- XO Prevails!
You always end up playing XO, listening to your MP3 player, or hanging around campus when there’s no attendance taken! Ya3ny it’s only a matter of months until you can clearly tell this place is not for you cuz simply there’s not one class you enjoy attending. Clearly it’s time for rearrangements.

II- Always Flunkin’
So whether it’s a quiz, midterm, or final exam, your results are always known beforehand. You’re always flunking no matter how difficult or easy the subject is. Time you make it easy for yourself and shift to a game you can master.

III- I Don’t Get It?!
What’s worse is that you don’t even realize you’re that bad until you’ve flunked; and you don’t get it! Ya3ny from study phase, to review, to sitting for the exam, and you come out all satisfied. Trust me it’s not the professor’s grading that’s tough, enta elly fel balala :D

IV- You Haven’t Got the Guts
Deep inside you, you know you need to shift your career. You’re only hesitant because you’re feeling sorry for the time you wasted, the score you got, or worried about your folks’ reaction. Ya3ny wala 7aga related to your CAREER! A year or two or even three years out of your life are a perfectly worthwhile sacrifice for the whole future of your career.

V- Firing in the Wrong Direction
You’re putting so much effort into a part time or voluntary job, and it’s just eating up all your time. You’re not studying or attending, and you’re not even concerned a little bit. It’s like “shooting at the wrong target”. You gotta have one target to chase and one road to walk.

VI- You Totally Suck
So you can’t seem to grasp the secrets of the profession. No matter how much you try, you’re still behind everyone else in your age or position. On the other hand you’re super duper in something else 7atta without an academic background. Without the reassurance of success, you’re sure to quit, but if you’re good at something, you’ll find your way through.

VII- Your Plan is to keep Running!
Your CV isn’t expanding and you have no clue about how you want it to be in ten years. You can’t imagine yourself in the future in this career. This is a pretty serious sign; that you’ll continue to run without a target and thus never get anywhere. You gotta be at least taking teeny weenie steps towards a distinct aim. If not, yeb2a you’re moving backwards, and it’s time to switch to a fresh lane.

VIII- There’s no Spark
You just work to get your work done. Thinking of new ideas or suggestions for your tasks is just not in your head. You make absolutely no additions to your department, not even once a while. And when it comes to brain storming for placing development plans, you’re always the silent participant. You’re only there to watch. There’s no one without a spark, but it just doesn’t light for you in this career!

IX- It’s Your Life or Your Career
If your career totally contradicts your lifestyle, it’s a tough decision. I have to admit, it’s not easy to quit a career you love just because it doesn’t suit your lifestyle. Like you have to travel a lot but you have commitments at home, or your job includes something like alcohols but you can’t accept that. Before you switch to a new career, try to find a way out; like another place or some negotiations. As I said, you gotta have that spark if you love your work.

X- You Can Say That Again!
It’s like every time someone says your work sucks, you agree!! El tabee3y you should be defending, telling stories, talking about pros and cons of your career, but to just hate it as much as any outsider, that’s a sign! How would you be advising people to think twice before they join this career and urge them to stay away from it, and then continue to be enthusiastic about it ba3d kol da??Face yourself, and don’t continue one more day unless you’re totally passionate about what you do, or else you’ll never do it right.

Not every makeover means you start a totally new profession. There’s always a chance that all you need is a slight twist, ya3ny badal full time teb2a freelancer. And if you like two careers at the same time you don’t have to choose either; you can always do both. Ya3ny if you’re into marketing and have a passion for writing, copy writing ads is a possibility!!

Nothing is too late or too difficult when it comes to a career. It’s only a brave decision, a daring step, and then the rest comes running.

MarwaYehia

Quittin’ the Gossip Habit - Three Shut-Your-Mouth Schemes and Three Shut-Blabber-Mouth Steps

Have you ever thought, “Am I their topic of entertainment while I’m gone??” Quite a habit, huh?! You feel quite bad whether you’re doing the talking or just hanging around to listen.

Gossip sure hurts!
So before you go like, “Oh these are just friendly chitchats, catchin’ up with the news and all” you gotta tell between harmless talk and gossip. Ya3ny you could say something like, “Ghada is getting married next week. I wonder who the dork is!” Just spilling out the news about her marriage is nothing bad, but that extra commentary is clearly unnecessary at all.

So if you wanna quit the gossip habit, think of how it’ll be when you’re in either shoes, if you’re doing the talking and if you’re just a listener. Let me tell you in both ways you’re an active participant, and you’re equally doing as much gossip. So your mission is to shut up your own mouth, or any other blabber mouth inviting you to gossip.

Zip your own mouth shut!
You’ve got three schemes where you’ll have gossip at the tip of your tongue.

Scheme 1: You hate that guy or gal and making them look bad will make you feel better. Bitter feelings are usually all over one’s face and there’s a great probability you’ll soon be called a jealous grudge-bucket. Having that in mind, try the smarter way. If the gal really sucks, it’s more than enough announcing she’s getting married. You’ll be surprised someone else might just pop up that comment in your head :D If the gal doesn’t suck wala 7aga, then most probably by now everyone is calling you a jealous grudge bucket :D … so shut up already!

Scheme 2: It’s really boring and you need something fun to do. Yep, it’s thrilling to remember how Mr. stuck-up lost his swimming suit in the pool that other day :D but telling the story and repeating it would do more harm than pleasure!! So every time you need to tell the story, take a minute to remember what had happened, and smile silently. Then think of something interesting that you can talk about not related to people in any way.

Scheme 3: You’re all unnoticed and need to get a little more attention. But you never really know if the gang around will appreciate some genuine gossip. Not everyone is the same. Try showing off some other skill like telling a joke, doing some trick, or starting a cute conversation with a little kid. If you’re really stuck and need to talk about any one, talk about yourself. It’s never bad to tell your own news or make fun of something you did. Just don’t exaggerate on the funny stuff or you’ll end up Bozo of the year :S

Zip up blabber’s mouth :/
Yeah, that’s certainly gossip bardo, cuz that snitch mouth there would just shut up if you weren’t nodding! But now I would call this awkward :S How’d you tell someone that you’re not interested to hear their gossip : Preaching is definitely not the way! There are 3 steps to shutting up a tattle teller.

Step 1: Show doubts about their source of info. Right when they start talking, give them that sarcastic eyebrow lift “8 pretend like you mean it and ask, “Where’d you hear that from?” So, if the unnecessary addition is just their sole creation (usually it is) they’ll just get embarrassed and shut up! If it wasn’t a creation and really did happen, you’ll have to move on to step two.

Step 2: Give them a silly smile and make a silly joke. Go like, “So what do you say about me when I’m gone?” :D In one way you’ll deliver the message that there’s nothing interesting about their talk, you’re not even responding to the info they just presented to you. In another way you’ll be making a point of how rude it seems to the listener. Then every time that guy or gal would start gossiping in front of someone, they’ll be scared the same question might pop up.

So they’re still senseless and continue that uncalled gossip gathering. Move on to step 3.

Step 3: Give them the nerdy look B-) and threaten them to tell! “So, why don’t we wait and ask Ghada who the dork she’s marrying is!!” Yep, evil, evil, evil! But I assure you that evil ways are sometimes the only ways that work with evil rumor-bags like those!

MarwaYehia

A Guys’ Guide to “What Girls Shouldn’t Do at Parties!”

Out of all the tips you must have heard about what you should and shouldn’t do at a party, you’ll be shocked of what guys think. Some of the famous girl tactics for parties just gotta be eliminated; crossed out of existence!!

I figured out that almost all of the girls’ 7arakat are totally obvious we makshoofa. 3ashan keda, without 7arakat remains the cutest and the most mysterious :D Guys will have nothing to interpret and a mystery personality to figure out ;)

So I asked Ali Ashraf and Karim Lala, my two party pals about the silliest things some girls do at parties. This is what they had for me.

What to Wear When
“Mesh mohem teb2a labsa super, bas teb2a labsa tabee3y!!” Ya3ny if it’s a Fridays party during the day time you can’t be wearing a designer dress and heels, and act like this is your regular outfit :P You can’t wear your new sunglasses at night, not even on your head. “Sa3at ashoof wa7da ma3aha 2 sunglasses. When I ask her why, she says the funky one is for her head, and the regular one is for her face :D el moseeba ennaha a3da we 7assa ennaha akher 7aga” :D

Eah da, enta meen?
“Ana 2a3ed fe 7aly, we gayaly wa7da te2olly, enta meen? :) De betestahbel!” Guys are not stupid. They can tell when you’re acting like you don’t know them. It’s all over your face. So making a guy feel unpopular is eventually inverted and he’ll feel he’s a star. And this is what people call a serious CRUSH ;) A simple “Hi, I remember you” would seem much more confident.

Nooo Touchy!
Guys naturally like to take the lead, so dragging a guy from his hand for any reason is in guy language offensive! A verbal invitation, “ta3ala a3arafak 3ala so7aby” should do the job. And if you know the least about guys, you’ll know a goofy trip-over in front of the girls is a killer! So no dragging!!

The Name Jam
“Fag2a I’m being introduced to 30 or more names!! We kol esm yet2al marra wa7da.” A guy will end up remembering names of the babes, and a couple or more guys out of the bunch :D So offer to introduce a guy to 3 or 4 people. If they don’t get along, introduce them to more.

The Desperate Wave
Waving your hand every single minute looks like you’re desperate for the guy. Ali says, “Wa7da, kol ma 3eny tegy 3aleeha tebtesem we te3mel byebye.” She’s obvious! Besides, most guys feel awkward waving their hand across a party room. Law talba awy, a smile or some random signal is more than enough.

The Real Charm
If you feel charming, you don’t have to act so. “Wa7da shaklaha lazeez, bas wakhda fe nafsaha alam we mesh bet3abar 7ad. 7atta lamma to2oom tor2os, betet7arak like a mummy!!” That’s one degree less not more. Charming and spontaneous is the real knockout :)

“El-Taw2am El-Moltaseq”
An exaggerated relationship between 2 girls looks exactly like 2 guys slow dancing :S “Etneen, be nafs el lebs ma3 e7’telaf el alwan, nafs tare2et el kalam, we beyor2oso ma3 ba3d!! Menna we Nahla :S “

Totally Silent Gals
If you’re all silent and you find difficulty putting sentences together, it’s a good idea to smile, comment, agree to others, keda ya3ny; sort of filling in :D “Fe wa7da tela2eeha mebalema keda we mestaghraba mesh 3aref leah”. Usually the first impression of a girl like that is either she’s arrogant or habla :oP

Deliberate Sexy Laughs
All girls have party tactics, but sometimes things get out of control. Ya3ny a girl would be talking then gets louder, and louder, then eventually, ha haaaaaa! “Eshtaaa, el bet de 3ayza tetzabat!!” ;) Guys look at a loud girl as if she’s carrying a “I’m Sexy” sign. But if you’re a girl friend or a fiancé, they’ll definitely ask you to keep it low!

The Freaking Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
One of Karim’s shocking tips was, “The silliest of all is the super-exaggerated “hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii” girls do when they meet :S I mean, they probably hadn’t met for a week or less, but still show that crazy emotional stuff when they meet.” The conversation that follows is usually junk, mesh 3ala mostawa el meeting at all :P

Conversation Interruptions
According to guys “It gets really frustrating when girls keep taking timeouts out of a conversation to say something to a friend of theirs” :S So pausing your chat with a guy every 5 minutes is totally annoying and kills the chat.

If you’re not a pro, you’re an amateur, ya3ny every tactic of yours will be see through :D So whenever you hang out in a party either act like a pro, or stick to the natural and spontaneous look ;)

MarwaYehia

Caution, Wet Floor!! The Sweethearts’ Mind-Set of “After-The-Wedding”

We were friends for 6 years and knew each other’s best and ugliest traits. Bas lamma fakarna netgawez, we both panicked!! We were approaching the big day with so much caution and a long list of rules. Stuff that only built a defense wall 2odamna e7na el etneen.

So here’s the thing. There’s a mind-set for the transformation of fairytale love stories after the big day :S Sweethearts, couples madly in love, continue to imagine of that day. The day they’ll never have to “go home” and split. They visualize how their “after-the-wedding” would be, and whether they’ll confirm and increase their love, or if it’s gonna be crap! Mahy aslaha mesh battee7’a ya3ny! If you’ve known each other for that long, and spent loads of time together, you should be able to imagine and prospect how your life as husband and wife will be. So seriously, can you think why some marriages end up as a wreck, especially through the first couple of years?

A Married Gal Says it All
Personally, I think there’s no need for flips or transformations. The way you live your life as sweethearts should continue while you’re married. A little bit of marriage IQ, from the real world, will give you more guts and avoid the buildup of that defense wall in between.

So if you’re thinking that after marriage you’ll become one, think again, which one? A big mistake :/ Seeing marriage as an agreement zone is one HUGE transformation reason. To never disagree is just like sweeping the dust under the rug and to keep the bonding between you, remember you’re two different people caring enough to bargain.

If you’ve been sweethearts for quite long you’d probably see through each other. Knowing there’s a bigger picture shouldn’t be freaking, it’s how you build more compatibility. You’ll master your guy or gal and your marriage will rock!

Just a Little Crazy!
El moseeba ba2a fel schizophrenia! Before marriage, a gal would just looove the way her guy takes control of situations b sha7’seyya qaweyya and all. One year after the wedding, he’s damn controlling and manipulative! Keda psycho rasmy and you’ll need a specialist :D

Neegy ba2a le 2elet el adab, “public places” are the perfect place. Serious arguments are magically solved in public places, just like dating couples normally do. You’ll just continue to talk without a scene. No slamming doors or walking away. And whenever you do get wild, keep in mind that three things will just mess up your relationship, rage bursts, contempt judgments and selfish demands.

High tone arguments are nothing you can avoid any way. Shammar komamak wed7’ol be 2alb gamed. Taking individual decisions 3ala 2ad mahy not accepted when dating, it’s a disaster in marriage. Continue with your deal that neither of you would take a decision unless the other agrees to it, willingly.

The greatest fear is usually responsibility. Tell me about it! Honestly, it’s tough. But that’s the sweetest thing about being married; you have endless ways to express your feelings and show love. I mean, even replacing a light bulb would mean you care :D

Mawdoo3 el flowers wel cards ba2a is completely connected to that. The slip is that gals think it’s the only way to be romantic. Guys on the other hand see romance from another angle, like getting those sunglasses she’s wanted forever.

The Sweetest Stuff :)
Out of all the dating stuff, sweet talks and spill outs come on the top of my list. I don’t even remember who my online chat friends were before I knew my hubby. Friendship is the strongest bond between two. Ya3ny what’s more cool than having your best friend move in to your house?

So what’s then the best thing about marriage? Commitment. And FYI, it’s loyalty and devotion, and not obligation. You don’t need a reason to love each other, but you do need motives to show you do. Relaxing by assuming it’s unconditioned love might imply you’re not concerned. You’d end up cold!

Those fantasies you think of day and night, should just massively multiply. Instead of just dreaming of a crazy wedding and a charming house, you’ll have infinite details to plan and foresee together. Every time one stage is over, you go into a new one. Refreshments mel a7’er to keep resetting your anticipation!

One common target I would just call adorable is a little one gurgling in your living room. With a bit of each of you, kids are a perfect symbol of compatibility. You’ll naturally agree you want them to smile. As much as you would enjoy play time, peaceful “alone” moments will be extremely appreciated ;)

So whenever you decide to get ready for the big day, just remember this. Your favorite stuff as sweethearts are the exact things that’ll sweeten up your life when you’re officially committed as husband and wife.

Things to do While Waiting for a Mawkeb ... Asl Seyadto Me3addy!!

So you’re riding a Carrera or an incredible Hurricane Beemer … right in the middle of one of those mawkeb traffic blocks!! Can get extremely frustrating! There are so many techniques to make such hours seem shorter, other than a giant bazooka :D

So that’s what I usually do lamma yekoon seyadto me3addy. I stare like a geek into other people’s windows. I’m not nosey or anything, but because the cars are literally jammed together, showayya showayya neb2a 3eshret 3omr! I’ve seen people do lots of things. Break your frustration by doing some of those things during the hopeless wait :D

Just like I’d do, find some people having a domestic argument, watch them until they’re finished, then tell them how enjoyable watching them was.

Keep inching forward with the others until you’re all squished and there’s no more space. Then inch back and forth :D

Turn on the music and sing along. Sometimes you won’t need that. Sing along your neighbor’s music!

If no one has the cassette on, then they’re usually the cursing honking type. Join the mob and honk along. If too noisy, 2alleb noor every 2 secs. At your peak ba2a, roll the windows up and curse everyone around.

If you’re a peaceful guy, just glare at everyone who looks into your car as if they were the ones in the mawkeb! Hit the steering wheel, kick the door and freak out totally. Or just scold your passenger, he’ll understand :S

Cell phones akeed were created for those days. You can always make that phone call you’ve been postponing. Or you can master Sudoku.

Or turn on your Bluetooth, search for any others who are turned on then message them about the cram :P

If you don’t find any active Bluetooth, pick one of those numbers written on the back of cars “lelbee3” and call them.

El3ab fe mana7’eerak. Mawkeb blocks are the perfect place where people examine the contents of their own nose! 7aga keda 3ala mostawa el mawqef.

Put back your seat in a horizontal position and do sit ups. Ba3d showayya leave it the way it is and snooze ;)

You can finally discover some of those dash buttons. Make sure you’re back speakers are really broken, and that it’s not the speaker balance.

Squirt water onto your windscreen until it runs out then wipe it off.

Under all circumstances you should not drink. With the windscreen washer thing it can get real messy :P

Remember that the best way to handle a mawkeb block is to enjoy it. Ana 3an nafsy I enjoy it big time, looking out of my front balcony!!

The Coolest Car Gadgets and Styling Trends

Do you sometimes run into a weird looking car that’s that close to being safeenet fada2 out of a 70s movie? Those are just everywhere, with gadgets from the inside and all sorts of accessories from the outside! I can’t resist to call out “ya kapten, enta 3amel fara7 fe 3arabeetak?”
Fashion and style just run into every consumable we know of, but with cars, styling is all about turning the ordinary into cool. Every extra touch should make a clear statement. Here are some of the latest car-styling trends according to latest auto shows around the world.

Glow in the Dark
Grey and beige have been dominating for years, but finally hot flashy colors are taking over. Silver is getting replaced by shades of blue and violet. Gold and green are rising in popularity while neutral colors take hold. The real boom is the emergence of glow-in-the-dark painted cars in recent auto shows. Bold colors reflect a daring personality, and there’s no need to worry about looking odd after a short time, cuz when it comes to cars, color fashion lasts for years.

Out of the Ordinary
Sticking to the factory looks isn’t any more the greatest. Find one of those car makeover workshops that can modify any car without giving it a cheap fake look. Replace the boring factory rear lights with black lights surrounded by chrome. If you’ve already made an engine conversion or upgrade, show it off by de-badging your car and spraying on the new engine modifications. Body modifications are in style now. For the hood, a popular modification is to add a hinge in the middle allowing a smaller opening view. As for the doors, they can be converted to scissors that can be lifted to open vertically at 90 degrees. Those ones look extremely cool!

A Theme for the Inside
If you’re spending hours staring at your dashboard, then it’s worth investing a little to upgrade the look. Mabda2eyyan choose your favorite colors and create a theme. If you like the color red for example, then use white and red leather for the seats. Re-trim your dash in white leather and red plastics with some white dials. A matching red steering wheel and gear knob will complete the look. Although you’ll get tons of criticism about this but on the contrary your car will be the most appealing. Most important is that this color theme would perfectly suit the exterior of the car. Motorsport from the inside will not match luxury from the outside wel 3aks sa7ee7.

Boost Your Drive
Wouldn’t you wanna have a more comfy relaxing ride? Yeah, that’s real luxury in this country!! Two things I truly think are fab ideas especially fe masr. One’s getting real popular these days

and that’s filling up your tires in Nitrogen. Eah ya ged3an? Air is 78% Nitrogen!! Ya3ny homma 7abbet Nitro zeyada ye3melo eah? Lots! Out of experience mesh kalam. Anyone who rides with you will feel how the ride’s not so jerky and bumpy as usual. Da 3’eer that your tires will remain well inflated for at least a year!! It costs kalam fady and will a lot of difference. Although I still think it’s totally bizarre but formula 1 guys do it; and akeed they know better!

Second is the real crazy “active cruise control” equipment that is perfectly suitable for our highway nappers. Elly homma beynamo 3ala taree2 el 3alameen we keda :D Ya3ny if you snooze fel saree3 keda and your car drifts sideways or too close to the car ahead, that cruise control initiates buzzing and flashing. Hopefully you’ll wake up then :P

Dramatically Funny Gadgets!
Car gadgets can be endless, some of which are too practical and too funny!

What do you do when you desperately need to go 3ala kobry 6 October? Well the Japanese invented the “Kurumarukun” aw materkensh. Probably especially invented for us. It’s a Toilet-On-the-Go! Small enough to fit inside a suitcase and I don’t know has absorbent we ma3rafsh eah :S Well, it is one hell of an invention, but as for me … I’d twist and wriggle in my seat and turn blue but NEVER go in the car whatsoever!!

Another killer idea is the Car Laptop Mount :P Badal mat7ott your laptop on your knee we keda “while in your car” you can just place it on that stand right beside the driver’s seat :D It is in a funny way practical especially when you’re stuck in a terrible traffic jam! Sounds crazy, but since we do talk on the phone, eat, sing and even hand on stuff through the windows, all while driving, checking our email on-the-go might as well get popular too.

The Vegetarian Philosophy ... To eat or not to eat, meat!

I grew up to think I was the weirdo in my family. Barbecuing on weekends was just not my type of fun. I couldn’t see meat chunks other than icky stuff that’s all sticky and gooey :P Whenever my parents insisted to top my plate with a grilled rib, I’d wait until they left then toss it back into the serving dish secretly. I had absolutely no reason and not the least idea why I felt that way. Yes, I do admit – it’s nothing moral but simply a matter of appetite. I mean, I do eat meat in minced form and find it okay. But my natural impulses reject certain other forms of meat. So if I’m born like that, and it’s okay … Why then do we think that vegetarians are different? Is it cuz of all the philosophy they’ve added to that different instinct they’ve got?

No More Chicken Legs for Me!
On my first year at college for the first time I got into an anatomy lab … or in other words the morgue. From that day on, I visualized chicken legs as femur bones. The scene was horrendous. Mesh bas the look of dead bodies lying around all torn and shredded, but more the disrespectful beings doing their spotting with one hand stuck in the guts and the other senselessly holding a burger!

Respect for the Living … and for the Dead
This incident struck me... eah el 2araf da! Tab3an keda vegans have got a very good point. We do treat animals with cruelty. Even with a human corpse we can be so disrespectful. Frankly speaking, I just don’t see plant eating any better than animal eating, since they’re both living. Some people actually look down upon lawn mowing. Why should we kill grass for a better front view? That’s so true. I always knew flowers were better off on their stems than in our vase.

Meat Eating …
I can still remember when I was a little kid. Like a lot of people, I was taught the concept that God created animals for us to consume and that we should eat whatever we’ve got on our plate. All our holidays and occasions were linked to feasts and dinner gatherings. I can’t imagine what my folks would’ve done if I had a vegetarian wedding :D Mafeesh kalam en chicken broth and livestock are much tastier than vegetable stock. And after all, we are carnivores (with the actual dental proof for that!) That’s when it gets real complicated. How would you respond to a three year old who’s decided that she’s not so into meat? How can you teach such a kid to care for a pet, feed it and all … then one day kill it and eat it for dinner!

Like I said, vegans do have a different natural instinct. And since we’re always looking for ways to make a difference, we also keep adding philosophy to things that have been done for so many years. But how would not-eating-meat be a positive thing and make a difference?

No Meat Eating …
In search for a trace of light I had a chat with Chadi, our vegan friend and Convo’s creative director. He’s been on a strict vegetarian diet for six years! He says, “While it was a humane thing at the beginning, it's no longer like that. It's a matter of right and wrong, religion aside. People in countries come into this life and are exposed to eating cockroaches, some frogs’ legs, some dogs, some camel. It's a matter of cultural exposure. We came knowing chicken and cattle are created to be food for us. I don't see it this way and find it mesh feyte b rassi eno we kill them for food. That's all there is to it.”

It’s all so true. I ran into meat eaters who considered rabbits to be domestic pets, like cats and hamsters. I also met those who ate grasshoppers in the movies instead of popcorn :S Ya3ny kol wa7ed we dameero :-S

Mostly Flexitarians
Why go extreme then if it’s just a matter of choice? Ya3ny meat eating people are okay. Vegans who break their vegetable routine once in a while – felxitarians – are also okay. Trying to interfere with other people’s freedom … is NOT okay. Six years ago a couple got jailed after starving their baby to death. They ruthlessly denied breast milk and formula and gave her only nuts, fruits and vegetable. Poor baby got severe malnutrition and died. Well it wouldn’t really happen here but is an example extremist situation. I mean what’s so humane about that? Aside from the killing, they were taking away the baby’s right to have all options ahead, and then make the choice. That’s a basic human right!It’s clearly a natural thing. Witnessing a living being in a disrespectful sight, especially if it’s for the sake of one’s enjoyment is more than enough to do the job. The least you would do then is get nauseated with any sight of meat.

When Instincts Go Wild ... Are YOU Mentally Ill?

Awkward as it may sound, nature bites. Astonishing how we underestimate the powers of nature and deny there’s a real tough challenge although when nature calls, we respond. Our inner urges take control while we stand helpless not knowing what to do.

So … Are you mentally ill? Don’t get me wrong, but yes, I bet you are! You’re smart and probably living well. But admit it. Somewhere inside you there’s a weak spot that continuously triggers some loony action. Waking up to find out you have some psychic problem might not seem like excellent news. But trust me it is. Once you let go of all your anxiety problems and hidden obsessions, you’ll discover the pleasure of treating your troubles and being in command of yourself. Find out some simple truths about the growing Egyptian obsessions and discover if you’re in the red zone.

A Second Longer Toe!
Some of those obsessive impulses might seem harmless. But the question is why should you stand helpless? Especially if you’re the type who’s always thinking there’s something wrong with your appearance. I can’t believe the amount of gals that have got the second-longer-toe nightmare (although it does help pick stuff off the floor :P) Even more crazy is how photo snaps stimulate different compulsions with different people. Some will look up to hide a bold spot on their heads and some will look down to hide their “wide” nostrils :D Hilarious but provoking. These are just features mesh defohat and getting persistent impulses to look into the mirror and camouflage a part of your body is a red light. You’ve gotta treat yourself with love.

The Art of “Getting Away With It”
But what if your desires can cause damage? That’s what I’d call mental illness. The art of “getting away with it” is like the guys’ real deal now. I mean, they practice … they improve! Yeah, one day you’re breaking the traffic lights although you’re not in a rush, then you’re mezawa3’ cinema tickets cuz you’re cool. Tabee3y you’ll end up as a kleptomaniac doing shoplifting for the fun of it. Might sound real grim but naturally, it’s so true. I mean, we’re born with the love of breaking rules. It’s harsh, it’s difficult, but knowing you’re on the border line will give you the alert to turn around. The real challenge is to know you’ll get away with it, and still not do it.

Almost a Kleptomaniac
Between harmful and harmless, financial loss is out of discussion. When shopping is like paradise you need serious and immediate help :D Money does run out! Every time you see the word sale or free gift in a shop, resist that urge to pick it up and place it in your cart. Most probably you don’t need what you’re buying; you just need a good reason to buy it.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Moving on from mental illness to CRAZY and WILD … violent outbursts of rage can get so dominant. Frankly I personally think this one’s tough. Seems like someone else overrides and does all the weird stuff! Although there’s no real cure for this, but there is treatment. You learn to escape such moments and it becomes your lifestyle. Just like losing weight, the effort is forever.

Feeding Your Urges
Talking about losing weight, diet loss clinics are becoming a massive destruction weapon. Eahh dah?? It’s insane. I step into one of those clinics, and half of the gals are skeletal! And NO they’re not there to gain weight :S Whoever decided that it’s best to keep your tummy tucked in all the time is probably obsessed too. Just stop wasting your happy moments while you feed those silly inner urges (and excuse me for using the term feed).

Signals ;)
Back from insane to self annoying, some people 3aysheen a 24 hour cat walk. They’ve a continuous interpretation of other people’s talks or looks as “signals” ;) Every time you deliberately hold your smile in response to a mysterious signal, get loose and give yourself a break.

A Mother’s Instinct
Out of all the anxiety problems that I’ve come along, motherly ones got me real confused. I wonder if every mother can see that fine line between love and obsession! Personally, I keep hearing my baby call at night when she hasn’t. Most of the time it’s my natural instinct, and I proudly find my baby awake, sitting up and waiting for me :)) But I have to admit, sometimes she’s all fast asleep :/ That’s when I know a mother’s instinct can go wild too. Yeah, I’m on the helpless side of the world and should step right back. I too should control my wild urges and immediately reach in to get in touch with my actual impulses. Otherwise my motherly hunches are gonna be over, and I’m left all alone with anxiety attacks … just no good, distressing obsessions.