Marrakech: and a tale of my jewelry

I was sitting in a Marrakech cafe having lunch.  As I walked across the patio a hand reached out to grab my arm.  It was a a French designer I knew.  He smiled and said, My friend asked who the woman was with the beautiful rings.  Apparently, that woman was me:-)

And so, I thought I'd show you some of my jewelry stash...

organized in sterling silver boxes....

and stored in a snake print jewelry case from Zara Home and in vintage Moroccan hammam bowls...

The sterling flower brooch is from Bouvier.

The gold & silver scarab ring is from the Azza Fahmy Nostalgia collection.

Bracelets by Liz Manyan & Stephanie Allman.

Necklaces from vintage Sudanese glass beads.

Old heavy Moroccan Berber bangles.

My collection of dangly sterling silver earrings from Bouvier.

Antique talismanic rings from Yemen and Tuareg agate rings from Mali.

Bronze Egyptian bird ring & labrodorite ring.

Leather wrap bracelet & tortoise cuff from Tory Burch.

Rings stored on hand etched mannequin hands, sold HERE .

 Would love to hear tales of your jewelry.  Do tell...

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Marrakech: and a tale of a J Crew shoot for Madewell at Peacock Pavilions

They arrived at Peacock Pavilions, 18 of them --a crew from the UK, from Japan, from Canada, from the US.... and, well, from J Crew.... (Can it be?  Pinch me!) 

With their cameras....

and with their huge screens set up in our olive grove...

They were at Peacock Pavilions to keep a watchful eye on their model, Alana...

And watch her they did....

There was hair....

And there was makeup...

And by the light of the moon, by the light of the stars...

Alana was transformed.....(but I can't show you those pictures.  You'll have to wait for the Madewell April lookbook....)

Suddenly Madewell gave a whole new meaning to what it is to be in  Marrakesh by design....

Special thanks to the adorable Tara Rehak from J Crew!

PS New stock of gorgeous Moroccan handiras (wedding blankets) and Beni Ouarain carpets in Red Thread Souk.  Check it out!

Cairo Kitchen: and a tale of where to eat in Cairo Egypt

I was born in Cairo to a mother who made food only from scratch. Nothing from boxes, nothing from cans, nothing with tiny print on industrial packaging.

just. good. food.

And so when I heard about Cairo Kitchen from friend and author Rawah Badrawi, I thought that perhaps it was the place for me.

I was right.

The restaurant itself is small but charming with a sea of tiling, a beautiful tin ceiling, a terraced seating area, and darling red stools.

But let's talk about the food.  The menu is simple and very reasonably priced.

Everything lovingly prepared in colorful, happy casseroles...

dished out by chefs who seem genuinely pleased to see you....

You can have a lemonade with a splash of rosewater or perhaps a hibiscus juice.

Can food taste cozy?  Apparently, yes....

No wonder some of the clients have a hard time controlling their enthusiasm....

Cairo Kitchen

118, 26th July Street, Entrance on Aziz Osman Street
Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt.

Phone: 0227354000

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Egypt: and tales of walking like an Egyptian

Oh the tales....the many tales I've told about Egypt.....

Yes, that's where I...

Considered a tattoo.

Contemplated faith 

Played with a naughty little boy.

Spent time with a polygamist.

Was bejeweled.

Got lost in the Khan el Khalili.

Was enlightened.

Witnessed intrigue

Drank coffee with Naguib Mahfouz.

Wore gold colored glasses.

Was crowned the Queen of Juice.

Had color therapy.

Skimmed the surface.

Tried to crack a secret code.

Shopped and shopped.

Couldn't get a girl out of my mind

Shared a love story. and...

Had visions of Paradise.

I'm in Egypt now, searching for another tale to tell.

Images from here and here.

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