Kabul: and a tale of venturing and adventure

My husband's eyes looked tired when I told him; perhaps he secretly wished he had married the girl next door.  My 13 year old son said imperiously, No, sorry, you can't go, before adding, Can you bring me back a bullet proof vest?  My 11 year old daughter hopped on one foot and then the other and simply said, Mommy, you won't miss the school play will you?

I patted my husband on the arm and told him not to worry.  I informed my son in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't be bringing him back a bullet proof vest.  And I told my daughter that I wouldn't dream of missing her in the school play.  

And so it is that I am leaving for Afghanistan.  Tomorrow.  I'm waiting to write new tales.  And I am looking back on those I've already written, like:

A tale of shopping with the bodyguard.

A tale of when the taliban came to town.

A tale of Kabul and remembering.

I'll be tweeting what I'm seeing if you'd like to come along. 

PS So thrilled to learn that I'm a finalist for Best Writing on a Design Blog.  I'd love it if you'd vote for me here and spread the word. Thank you and shoukran:-)

Marrakesh & New York: a tale of Figue love

My friendship with Figue designer Stephanie von Watzdorf had started in Marrakesh with talk of genies and the evil eye -- talk that had never ended.  

So I swapped the Red City for the Big Apple and found myself in the Figue showroom. 

Oh! Gorgeous bohemian luxury.

With cool places to lounge.

And fascinating things from Stephanie's travels...

There were masses of candles...

And (yippee!) stacks of my book, Marrakesh by Design.

But more than all that, there were the clothes.

Because you see Stephanie's vision of nomadic luxury translated from paper....

to real life....

A flurry of gorgeous prints, leather fringed bags

and luscious puddled silks....

There was even an inkling of what was to come....

And most exciting.... there were rumors that the Figue Fall campaign would be shot in Marrakesh....

Not to be missed.....Figue.

 Shop online. Or visit by appointment for a far greater selection.  If you're lucky, you might even run into Stephanie and her little dog, Dash.

Figue
10 Crosby St., Fifth Floor
New York, New York
(212) 219-8954

Follow Figue on Pinterest, on Twitter, and on Facebook. 

Washington DC and NYC: and a tale of Marrakesh by Design near you

Dear friends,

I'm getting on a plane tomorrow for a quick get away to the US.  While there, I will be doing a few talks on Moroccan design and signing my book, Marrakesh by Design.  If you are in DC or NYC, I'd love it if you would come!  

On January 11 in Washington DC, incredible artist Maggie O'Neill of O'Neill Studios (and a former Peacock Painter) is hosting an event at Muleh from 5:30-7:30pm.  (Take a peek at the Muleh website for some serious swooning.)  Please RSVP to: rsvp@oneillstudios.com or on facebook here.

In New York, I'm doing a talk at the gorgeous Figue showroom on January 17 from 6-8pm.  I'm a huge fan of the nomad chic vision of friend and fashion designer Stephanie Von Watzdorf.  {Not to mention my super generous friends at Exotic Imports LLC are springing for the Moroccan wine. Yum!} Please RSVP to moroccanmaryam@yahoo.com

Really hope to see you there! Please say you'll come and say hello!

    xo

    Maryam in Marrakech.  

Marrakesh: and a tale of Peacock Pavilions & Moroccan recipes in Food & Wine Magazine

Dear Friends,

There's a 12 pages feature in the January 2013 issue of Food & Wine Magazine on a special Moroccan dinner party I hosted at Peacock Pavilions, with friend and chef Mourad Lahlou of Aziza fame (the first Moroccan restaurant to receive a Michelin Star).  (Pinch me!)

Recipes! Inspiration! Magic!  Oui.....

It was a night to remember.  The food was so very beautiful and so very delicious. And I was thrilled that it was styled with my collection of dishes and cutlery as well as patterns I stenciled from Royal Design Studio. 

Silky Eggplant Soup with Baby Peas and Radishes 

Toasted Farro and Scallions with Cauliflower and Egg

Braised Squid with Chermoula, Olives and Pine Nuts

Pick up a copy of the January Food & Wine Magazine on your newstands and throw your very own Moroccan dinner party!  It's a perfect way to take up that New Year's resolution, Spend more quality time with the friends and family you love (and if that's not your New Year's resolution, maybe it should be!).

Many, many thanks to the uber-talented team that helped put the story together: Writer Gisela Williams, Photographer Lisa Linder, Photography Assistant Rita Platt, Food Stylist Susie Theodorou, Assistant Food Stylist Camillia Baynham  and of course, Mourad Lahlou (You can also purchase Mourad's cookbook, Mourad: New Moroccan right here.)  

With love from an olive grove in Marrakech,

          Maryam

PS Also check out this story by the adorable and stylish Brittany Cobb about Peacock Pavilions and Moroccan Design in the Dallas Morning News.