Day 190: Palmy Skies

Sunday: August 31, 2014

I decided to go for a run today. I only managed two miles, because it was super hot and humid outside. According to Weather.com, it was 99F but felt like 105F! I was sweating from everywhere, including weird places like my forearms. I was beet red in the face by the end. The best part? I locked myself out of the house. Oops.

Day 189: Tan Tote

Saturday: August 30, 2014

So, I'm still a little jetlagged but I've gotten over it better than most times. It helps that I was super exhausted our first day back. I haven't done much today, so I decided to show you my favorite bag. I picked it up in Boston, and it's the best thing ever. It's a tote mixed with a satchel, and it's the perfect size and color. Plus, I really love tan accessories and it goes with all of my outfits. Dangling on the strap is my scarf which comes in handy sometimes.

Day 188: Familiar Photographs

Friday: August 29, 2014

Every few months, I like to get my Instagram photos printed [you might recognize a few!]. There's this company that does prints, called Social Print Studio. You link your Instagram account, and then you can pick which photos you want printed. I always get the 4 inch square size, and I typically go for the 24 count. They also make other products like posters, flip books, different sized photos, and so on. So far, I've been collecting the photographs for a future project. I might want to fill up a wall with all my photos. I also get doubles and triples printed so that I can give them to friends!

Day 187: Middle Eastern Suburbia

Thursday: August 28, 2014

I'm glad to be back in my own room. I like the view, too. I really like our location, and I often compare it to a Middle Eastern Suburbia. I'm excited to run around the neighborhood! A friend of mine has seen the panoramic photo I did, and said it reminded him of the houses in Jordan.

Day 186: In Transit

Wednesday: August 27, 2014

Technically, I think I'm backlogging this. I'm not really sure. It's not Wednesday anymore in Dubai, but it still is in the US. I hate losing hours because I get really confused. I feel like a time traveler. Anyway, I snapped this photo on one of the flights over here. I'm not even sure which one it was. I'm sorry it's so heavily edited, I tried to recreate the image I saw, because no photo did it justice.

Day 185: Dubai Bound

Tuesday:August 26, 2014

I took this solemn photo of a man as I was texting my friends and waiting to board the plane. I'm not ready to go back yet. Don't get me wrong, I love Dubai. I'm just not ready for the summer to end. I'm also not looking forward to traveling for twenty four hours and then dealing with jet lag. Oh well, there are worse problems to have.

Will my husband ever return from war?

Day 184: Procrastinating Packing

Monday: August 25, 2014

I leave tomorrow for Dubai. And yes, I did start packing today. I like to think that I'm good at determining what should stay and what should go. You have to understand that I'm not packing for vacation, I'm packing to move back to Dubai for the next few months. I used to plan days in advance, but that's a hassle when you constantly have to use things that are already packed. Plus, I just don't like packing. This is my suitcase. It's been good to me for the past seven years, but now the handle's stuck.

Day 183: Mehndi? More Like Friendie

Sunday: August 24, 2014

My best friend Daniela spent the night, because it's the last time we get to see each other before I leave. We went to church and were given blessed pencils for the new school year [we were blessed along with the pencils.] Then, we ate at California Pizza Kitchen and we did each others henna designs. My hand is the one on the left. I think we did really well, considering we were still talking and laughing throughout the application process.

Day 182: Surprises!!

Saturday: August 23, 2014

Today, my friend Daniela and I went on an adventure. Yesterday, my friend Ismael's mom contacted me, asking if I'd like to go with her to visit Ismael and drop some things off. I was already planning to spend the day with Daniela, and as it turns out, there was room for her too. So, Ismael's mom picked us up this morning to go to his university. On the way there, we stopped by her step-daughter-in-law's house to drop off baby things and visit her new baby. Then, we headed to the university. Ismael knew that his mom and little brother were coming, but didn't anticipate mine or Daniela's arrival. We surprised him further by acting as if we just happened to be standing by his mom's truck. It was hilarious gauging his reaction as he realized that his mom planned the whole thing [also, as it turns out, Day 178 was not the last day we saw each other.] After that, we spent a few hours helping set up his dorm. As we were heading out, we snapped these photos. Then, we went over to his family's house to have dinner [we met lots of their family today, haha.] They cooked amazing Arab food that really made me miss Dubai. By then, it was getting really late and Ismael's mom drove us home. It was a great day with great people.

This is my perspective!

And this is Ismael's perspective!

Day 181: Eight Thousand Miles

Friday: August 22, 2014

Today I had dinner with one of my good friends, Devon. I originally met her in Dubai, and we both still live there full time. However, she was in Texas at the same time I was, and she sent me a message asking if I'd like to eat with her during the day she was in San Antonio. It was only a few hours' notice, but of course I jumped at the opportunity. It was really weird seeing her outside of Dubai! We had dinner at a great Mexican place, and then we went to Trader Joe's so that she and her mom could pick up goodies to take back to Dubai. All in all, it was a great day, and such a lovely surprise to see her. Behind us, you might see a lovely lady in pink. That's Grandma Joyce [she is not related to either of us, but insists on being called "grandma"] and she is the sweetest person ever!

Day 180: San Juan de los Lagos

Thursday: August 21, 2014

We visited this church and it's one that I was taken to when I was a baby. It's really beautiful and the inside is reminiscent of a very Mexican church, with all sorts of vibrant colors. The outside was really pretty too, which is where I found this.

Day 179: Lit Candles

Wednesday: August 20, 2014

I don't know what it is about  these candles, but it made me really happy to see them lit. That's all.

Day 178: Lunch Time, Again

Tuesday: August 19, 2014

I had lunch again with a friend before he goes off to college this week. I leave Texas in a week, so it's kind of a good-bye thing. It was really lovely, but I totally forgot my notebook at the restaurant, and that made me a little sad. Either way, it was still fun to eat at The Cove with him.

Day 177: Tennis Court

Monday: August 18, 2014

I spent the night with my best friend Daniela, and we took photos in the wilderness. And by "wilderness" I mean we were fifteen feet away from her community tennis court. But still. We dragged her little sister along, too and she certainly has an eye for photography. She's also super photogenic, so that's fair. I love this picture because around a year ago, our hairstyles were reversed. I was the one with short hair, and she had the long mermaid-esque locks.

Day 176: Thirty Hour Fast

Sunday: August 17, 2014

Starting yesterday, myself and other teens from Holy Trinity embarked on a thirty hour fast. The whole point was to raise money and awareness about hunger around the world, as well as focus on our own spirituality. I'll admit, I expected to do okay because I've fasted before for Ramadan. And I was right, it really wasn't that bad for me. Still, it was humbling to pray when my stomach felt so empty. We did activities to keep our minds off of the hunger, and that included making and planting 875 wooden crosses. They represent the number of people who die each hour due to starvation. This is me with my "tribe."

Day 175: Feeling Tall

Saturday: August 16, 2014

My grandma's sister is visiting from Mexico. I'm on the left, my grandma's sister is in the middle, and my grandma is on the right. It should be noted that I am only five foot two, at best. I am by no means tall, but they seriously make me feel like a giant. I find it pretty funny because I can't imagine how they look compared to normal sized people!

Day 174: Crescent and Star

Friday: August 15, 2014

This is my new favorite necklace. I ordered it online from Anthropologie because I had a free-shipping coupon code. I've wanted a dainty, signature necklace for a long time now. However, I didn't expect it to be this dainty. Either way, I really like it. Additionally, I felt like the design was really familiar and I couldn't place why. It wasn't until I wore it that I realized where I recognized it from [basically, every single mosque I've ever seen.] But it's nice, it reminds me of Dubai.

Day 173: Monkey See, Monkey Do

Thursday: August 14, 2014

I'm currently coming down from a Boston-high. I've realized that Boston is one hundred times cooler than San Antonio is. On the bright side, I have this amazingly delicious monkey cupcake from my favorite place, Green Vegetarian. It's chocolate and banana flavored, and it's vegan! So delish.

Day 172: Going Home

Wednesday: August 13, 2014

[Note: this post is backlogged because I was in Boston from August 9 - 13. Also, I went into further details about the trip on my main blog, here.] Today we didn't get to do much in Boston, because we had a very early flight to catch. I took this as we were waiting on our connecting flight. I was reminded of how much I hate domestic flying, haha. Also, as a heads up, I will probably post more Boston photos on days where I don't get great pictures just because I love the photos so much.

Day 171: Soda Can Tabs

Tuesday: August 12, 2014

[Note: this post is backlogged because I was in Boston from August 9 - 13. Also, I went into further details about the trip on my main blog, here.] Today we visited Boston University. It was beyond beautiful, I really loved the campus. They had this little park with an interesting sculpture that reminds me of a soda can tab. Needless to say, I'm applying this fall.

Day 170: Metro Stub

Monday: August 11, 2014

[Note: this post is backlogged because I was in Boston from August 9 - 13. Also, I went into further details about the trip on my main blog, here.] While in Boston, we used their metro system to get places. It was pretty cool, because I love taking public transportation. Correction, I like taking the metro. It was much faster than going by car because there's obviously less traffic. It was also less expensive than taking a taxi. Win-win!

Day 169: Selfie Savior

Sunday: August 10, 2014

[Note: this post is backlogged because I was in Boston from August 9 - 13. Also, I went into further details about the trip on my main blog, here.] I didn't take this photo, but I like it because it has a funny story. I took my large camera for this trip, which is the Canon Eos Rebel T3i. It's a substantial camera with lots of lovely dials and buttons that I've finally mastered. Nobody else in my family really gets how to work it, [which is understandable, because it has an intimidating body] and that means I take lots of self portrait photos [yes, selfies.] I was walking and attempting to take a selfie with my arms outstretched when a nice older gentleman asked, "Would you like me to take your picture?" I laughed and accepted the offer, even though I was pretty embarrassed to have been caught mid-selfie. It turns out, he had a great eye and captured a really excellent photo. I'm even in focus! I know in Texas, people like to talk about southern hospitality with pride, but this man and many other people on the trip proved that there are nice people almost anywhere you go.

Day 168: Am I On the Right Plane?

Saturday: August 9, 2014

[Note: this post is backlogged because I was in Boston from August 9 - 13. Also, I went into further details about the trip on my main blog, here.] Today we flew to Boston, and of course there were no direct flights from San Antonio. So, while on my flight from Chicago to Boston, I asked for a Coke. The flight attendant handed me this. I had to check my ticket a few times to make sure I was on a flight to Boston and not to, oh, Japan.

Day 167: Locomotive Travels

Friday: August 8, 2014

Sometimes I like to go to the roof and just look out. I really like this view of Sunset Station and Alamodome. Plus, there's a train traveling through. The trains are usually a pain in the butt whenever you're trying to drive through the area. But from above, they're pretty to look at.

Day 166: Cloudy Skies and Reflection

Thursday: August 7, 2014

Sometimes I like to sit on the balcony and watch the sky. I don't do it very often, or for very long because it gets hot quickly. But I still like to do it when I can. I remember being five or six years old and looking up at the clouds and realizing that while history repeats itself, time doesn't. I knew that I'd never see another sky just like I did on that day, because the clouds would never be the same and I would never be the same. Then after that, I drank some Kool-Aid.

Day 165: Poolsided

Wednesday: August 6, 2014

Today I took my brother for a swim. I don't think I phrased that right. What I mean is, I took him to the pool and watched him swim. I haven't really gotten in the pool all summer. It's not my thing. Although as it turns out, "my thing" is now being mosquito food. I'm outside for like, fifteen minutes and I come back with five new mosquito bites.

Day 164: Lunch Time

Tuesday: August 5, 2014

Today I had a driving lesson in the morning and I went on the highway! I drove for an hour, and I even went 70 mph! It was exhilarating and calming at the same time. I learned that highway driving isn't so bad after all. Then, I had lunch with a friend at my favorite place, Green Vegetarian. It was really great eating and chit-chatting. I also got to give him his graduation gift which had been in my purse for like, two months. Inside the restaurant, they have this eggplant diagram similar to a butcher's cutting diagram, and I thought it was really cute. 

Day 163: Pinecones

Monday: August 4, 2014

We have this miniature Christmas tree that hangs around outside. It stays on the balcony, and it's pretty pathetic looking most of the time. It has built in lights and pinecones, and it worked last Christmas even though it had spent most of the year outside, gathering dust and bugs. I always thinks it looks awful until the decorations are put up. A little love goes a long way.

Day 162: Heisen-beverage

Sunday: August 3, 2014

I spotted this Breaking Bad themed glass inside an Urban Outfitters. I think it's amazing, and I would have liked to purchase it, except I really don't need more cups. Breaking Bad is definitely one of my all time favorite shows, and I was sad to see it end. However, I also appreciate the great writing and I'm glad it ended strongly [as opposed to Dexter, which fans have reported was drawn out for four seasons too long.]

I am the one who drinks.

Day 161: Wanna Date?

Saturday: August 2, 2014

I saw this recipe online a few days ago, and I've been itching to try it. Basically, it's a smoothie that combines ten dates, one banana, a half cup of milk [I use almond] and a cup of ice. That's it! The dates are ridiculously sweet, so no other sweeteners are needed. I'd recommend using a food processor if possible, because my blender couldn't chop up the dates well enough. I ended up with date sludge at the bottom. It sounds gross, it tasted delicious, but I still would have preferred to have it all thoroughly blended.

Day 160: Trader Joe's Wins at Everything

Friday: August 1, 2014

I'll be honest. The first time I went into Trader Joe's this summer, I was really disappointed. I'd somehow gotten the idea that it was a store that was good for vegans and people with allergies, because they have lots of "alternative" foods. As it turns out, the store is better for people who like to eat all-natural or organically. However, another trip proved that they do have a few hidden gems, like these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies which were amazing.