Marrakesh: and a tale of exciting news & fun updates

Dear friends,

Just back from Spain and thought I’d fill you in on some news & updates in my world.

A story I did on contemporary designers (interiors, fashion, and jewelry) in Marrakech is out in the August/September issue of American Craft magazine.  What a fun story to write! A big thank you to editor Andrew Zoellner.

Apartment Therapy featured this blog in a piece on how to prepare for a trip overseas.  Are you planning a trip sometime soon?  Then check it out here.  Thank you Dabney Frake for including me and hope you enjoyed your time in Morocco!

Just completed 6 days of training at New You BootCamp  outside Malaga – it was grueling but I am so glad to have done it.  According to my scale, I lost 3 pounds and according to my tape measure, I lost a total of 3 inches off of my waist, hips and bust.   But more importantly, I feel fitter and better. Many thanks to the New You staff, especially the amazing Physical Trainers, Evans, Chris, and Todd! 

{Check out these impressive tattoos from trainer Chris. He's the sweetest brute you'll ever meet!}

So excited to be in the Summer issue of Cake and Whiskey magazine! Cake and Whiskey is a new women’s business magazine (print and online), sponsored by the likes of Cartier and Citi. If you are a business woman or would like to be, it’s very well worth subscribing  to.  You can get 25% off your subscription with the code MM25.  I’m flattered to be part of their Coterie --a band of six who will provides succinct advice/thoughts in every issue this year. 

 

Our Peacock, Maurice, and our Peahen, Persephone, are the proud parents of two new baby peachicks!  Adorable! We're taking suggestions for names and favoring those of the classic French and British variety.  What do you have for us?

        With love,

        Maryam in (very hot) Marrakesh

PS Some gorgeous new stock of Moroccan wedding blankets or handira in Red Thread Souk.  Take a peek here.

Marrakesh: and a tale of fitness extremes

You'll never make it, he said.  I'm sorry, Mom, but you'll never make it, he repeated, with the kind of swagger and assurance of a 13 year old.  You might as well quit while you're ahead, he added.

That sounds awfully hard, Mommy, my 11 year old daughter said.  Are you sure you want to do that?  Maybe you could go somewhere else and do something fun instead?  she said, helpfully.

What? exclaimed the IT guy.  And then he looked over his shoulder and said, Josh, listen to what this lady is doing for her vacation.

My husband took another approach.  Sure, he said.  I can help you get  waterproof pants and a reflective vest.  We have a headlamp somewhere but I'll pick up a new one for you.  

My husband left a bag for me.  In addition to the hiking socks I needed, he had bought me a hot pink workout shirt - just because. 

I'm leaving today for Spain and New You BootCamp.  New You BootCamp is a fitness bootcamp where you do 10 hours of exercise a day, every day for a week. 

Right.

So, see you back here in a week, hopefully a few pounds lighter and a lot fitter.  In the mean time follow my fitness travails via Twitter and Facebook.  {And please, send encouragement for my aching bones.} 

 

PS My son is sure that the headlamp is for military maneuvers at night.  Oh my. 

Everywhere: and a tale of internal fireworks

I gave it up some years ago: linear thinking and the pursuit of perfection. 

I swapped it for this:  free association and the pursuit of just good. 

I think it’s too easy, too easy to get stuck.  Stuck in the same place.  Stuck doing the same thing. Caught up in a routine of the same job, the same people, the same place, the same experience.  Caught up in a loop that goes round and round....

People ask me how I do all the things that I do.  All the different jobs.  Building houses, decorating rooms, writing a blog, running Peacock Pavilions, sourcing for Red Thread Souk, throwing dinner parties, writing books, taking pictures, starting a non-profit, doing humanitarian aid, and traveling the world.  And yes, with a family and yes, with a base in Marrakesh. 

How do I do it?  Well, first of all, I have help.  And second of all, I accept that  things are going to be far from perfect.  But I am not afraid of failure -- I am afraid of not trying.

You see, I hold tightly to a wish….a wish that my life be like a fire cracker:  sparkling, sparkling in every direction, lighting up the night sky.   I want a life that’s ever changing.  I want a life that's no, no, never the same.  

PS I took these photos with my new iphone.  So excited to get on Instagram.  I'll do that as soon as I figure out how:-)

New York: and a tale of a Figue photoshoot

No, I havn't been in Marrakesh, or in Fez, or in Cairo or in Kabul.  

I've been in New York.....in the Hamptons.............with talented friend, client and designer of Figue, Stephanie Von Watzdorf.

You see, there was a Figue photo shoot and I went along.  

There were the loveliest jewels that Stephanie has collected one by one over her travels.

And the prettiest Figue pom pom shoes....

And ravishing loot that had no name but that Stephanie had procured or designed.....

Beaded Figue clutches, lined up one after another....

Including this hand sequined bag that I bought for myself!  

And of course, there were the amazing handmade Figue clothes.....{The vintage, embellished military jackets were my favorite}

Model Sonya was set to arrive.....{She had a heart and an exclamation point near her beautiful face.....}

There was hair....

And there was make up.....

And styling in earnest.....

And really Sonya was gorgeous in a way that was frankly bewildering....

The cameramen had their equipment and were ready......

And finally the shoot began......

So beautiful.....so so beautiful.....but you'll have to wait to see for yourself.  In the meantime, check out Figue's gorgeous goodies right here.

****************

PS I took these photos with my new iphone!  So fun.  Pls give me any tips you may have....I am learning.