Mine Not To Keep

When that hand is no longer yours to hold

When you cry so much your tears run dry

When you see me but look straight through me

When the pain becomes a permanent resident

When the flame has turned into fumes

When yesterday and today blur tomorrow

When you want to but you can’t

When you sleep you are awake, when awake just dormant

When you are living but not alive

When the flowers stand pretty but have no fragrance

When you are walking but your shadow is lost

When you are dead but not buried

When my pen bleeds and I can’t heal the wound

When I found you I had to lose you

But in all this what remains unchanged…

My sun will rise with you in it and it will set with you in it.

If I keep you I cage our love

Letting you go means our love is free

Alfaazon ki Barsaat (Rain of Words)

It’s an odd thing what we do with words. From a very young age we are injected with vocabulary to help us communicate better or put into writing what we want to say. Is it so that only words are the way to get your message across? I believe there are moments in life where a phrasal combination is insufficient to send out your exact sentiment. Either way a loud scream or a bitter silence always contains a word or even a world of words.

Some of us choose to not speak at all. Silence is golden apparently. I speak too much, so I’m told. Perhaps it is true that silence is golden, because if I didn’t talk then the words I am not using would have more value and be significantly tattooed in someone’s mind if I used them like flakes of saffron and not spread them like butter.

Then you have those that get positively turned on by a person who has the most extensive vocabulary, even if the words they use deliver no meaning or essence to the listener. How so do words take on such a large role in our existence? If I could go a day without speaking, would I survive?

Say it, before it’s too late? Three words have the power to construct your relationship or destroy it. That’s a lot of pressure on poor words don’t you think?

And then there are moments when I am bleeding for inspiration but the words behave like a diva, she refuses to make it to show time. You do not understand me and I cannot explain. I call these moments of anesthetic stupefaction. It’s almost like my head is having a stubborn argument with my soul and I even need permission for my heart to beat at the right pace.

Unfinished sentences can be so sexy in my opinion.  I once read that each word if used with the perfect timing is like being undressed layer by layer. I want to do with you…” I have a husband who is a master at this and we have come to a point where I tend to finish his phrases. Perhaps this is what he wants or his game is to undress me slowly with his carefully chosen use of words. 

Words on paper and words from your mouth, we read and hear them differently don’t we? I often read a text message and fall into a tunnel of darkness and wondering. Why did they say that and how did I automatically apply a specific tone to the sentence? Am I creating my own trap of uncertainties?

It’s again a master and slave situation. Words can make us slaves to their meaning and it is us who choose to read what we want to read. A no and a yes can have solid weight I agree, but you know what has the most weight? Hmmm

I have to admit I am having a love affair with words and it will be forever, eternal and infinite. The best thing about words is they are upfront and honest. The ambiguity we choose to dress them with is just like making a cupcake look pretty and powerful by giving it personality and sex appeal. In the end the cupcake is successful only if the cake is moist and spongy.

Words are like fresh oxygen or deadly carbon monoxide, they have the jurisdiction to sentence our thoughts in one way or another. 

Pink Delinquent

Delicately messy hair

A strand here and there

Clip loosely grips a tress

A beautiful mess

Denim pants

Ink stain on left

Sticky glitter cheeks

Fearlessly she speaks

Sellotape and scissors

Be careful with your fingers!

What’s in your hand?

Strands of blonde locks

Barbie no longer looks orthodox

Can’t jump on the bed

No you can’t

The more I’m telling

The more I’m yelling

My heads going to burst

From the swelling

She's sick with fever

Nonetheless a diva

Open sandals?

It’s cold outside

Open sandals?

It’s cold outside

Waterworks released

Pantomime unleashed

Crumbs on her face

A war zone for bedroom space

Penciled wall

Proudly artistic she stands tall

She’s special

Brings me fulfillment

Completely incoherent

Oh my!

Pink Delinquent

Green for Chic - Where nature and beauty meet

Around three weeks ago I was visiting my folks back home in Madrid and amongst other things I was catching up on sleep, eating good food, reading more and trying to recuperate some positive energy back into myself. All this was my solution after a stressful month that I had experienced.

On Friday morning I decided to head out for some shopping with my mum and we wanted to just spend some girly time together. It was not the best day to be doing this, as it was cold and rainy. Nevertheless, we decided to make the most of it.  I had heard of a pop up store in town where various designers were showing their collections and convinced her to take me there.

This was my purely accidental discovery for Green for Chic. I entered their store, located at Federica & Co. (Calle Hermosilla 26, Madrid) and simply felt pulled by the holistic feel it gave me. The warm woods and recycled materials which had been used to compliment the interiors added a fresh and natural feel to their eco friendly cosmetics which were on display. I felt I was inside a beautiful garden where I was breathing pure aromas that allured me to stay and try them all day. I normally don’t blog about places or brands, and least of all about stores. I did feel quite compelled to do it this time though, and the reason being the philosophy these two ladies believed in.

Carole and Beatriz showcase various natural cosmetic brands from around Europe and other parts of the world. They believe that beauty products which traditionally belong in herbalist stores have now arrived in an elegant glamorous world, where not only does one purchase a high quality product but is assured that the lipstick or nail polish they acquire has not been tested on animals, is not harming the planet and is free from toxic chemicals that could otherwise harm you, the end user.

My entire weekend was driven by this idea, on how we make such an effort to eat the right food, exercise, surround ourselves around positive people and try to be good human beings. However, it had not struck me so deeply on how using the right beauty products plays a fundamental part of my internal and external self care regime too.  As these lovely ladies said to me “Nature is a luxury”. It is indeed and we are part of this nature, so therefore must luxuriously take care of ourselves and pamper our face and body with only the right products.

Effectively I was introduced to a larger world of what until now had been limited to The Body Shop and perhaps a few products I consumed from my chemist. Green for Chic adds an additional frill to your beauty experience because you actually get personalised assistance for your needs. I was not particularly looking to pick up anything specific as much as I was simply browsing the charming displays, awed almost entirely by their nail polish display. I am a big fan of nail colours and I was invited to try their infinitely delicious pantones. The warm attention these ladies gave me was a clear sign of how much they believed in their product. I usually fear how quickly nail colour chips off, though they assured me Uslu Airlines, a charming brand which names all its shades by airport or heliport codes wouldn’t disappoint me and as a bonus it was free from many of the injurious chemicals that cause harm to the nail and often encourage an unattractive yellow tint to the nail after removing the lacquer. I applied the colour the very same evening and it lasted me for a whole week, with a lovely shine included. I must say I was impressed with my Heliport JCO. Shellac and the likes could be forgotten for a while!

There was a myriad of products available for men, women and even children. I was particularly excited by a strategy they had adopted, which was to benchmark up and coming brands at their store for a trial period. This is so fresh and encouraging, given the current economic climate we live in.

I liked their commitment to nature, their customers and above all their sound choice of brands. All the brands Green for Chic distributes are driven by their own philosophy to benefit the environment and an example of this is Erborian - a Korean brand of cosmetics that bases all its products on the Korean medical science pharmacopoeia. Their products are made with ingredients such as ginseng, liquorice and ginger. The star product in this case was the BB cream, which moisturizes and softens your skin, giving it a velvety touch, a perfect pre foundation base. Green for Chic literally spoke of the cream as if it was their baby. I had actually seen the cream at other cosmetic retailers, but I was moved by the passion with which these women lauded their brands. I could see the conviction in their decisions to grandstand every brand, because it was worth the celebration.

Green for Chic is a store which for me stood out firstly for the type of product they had chosen to share with the consumer and bring under one roof a wonderful selection of brands that all believed in the longevity of nature, and this includes you and me. They also stood out for the approach they gave to retailing; a tailor made package to pamper your every need. Lastly I want to thank them for the opportunity I was given to blog about them and share my experience with my readers. For those who don’t live in Madrid, Green for Chic has a website www.greenforchic.com and here you can read and buy their carefully selected products.

A weekend that exemplified my belief that I must take care of myself. I took away a beautiful message with me that nature is luxury and our resources are finite. We are part of this nature, therefore must treat ourselves luxuriously and feed the body happiness and plenitude to remain beautiful.

Summer Calling

A mundane Monday like all others

Yet this one was special

Ripe and red

“Beautiful colour” she said

Cherries were here

It was so clear

Spring was at an end

Summer was round the bend

A tiresome Tuesday like all others

A watch mark I suddenly noticed

From cream to olive

My first tan

Calling sun and sand

In my head it was all planned

A weak Wednesday like all others

Spotted; Mr Softie van parked across the road

A sudden feeling of unload

Cone in my hand

Strawberries and cream

Oh the classic summer dream

A terrible Thursday like all others

Radio plays Will’s Summertime

A singular tune

So apt for this particular time

Not jiving to it

Would be the ultimate crime

A fantastic Friday like all others

Glorious summer time hours

Eight to three

And then we are free

Off to a garden party

Barbeque, whole and hearty

A sexy Saturday

Out all day

Summer dresses

In the mood for girly tresses

Chilled white

A longer day and shorter night

Beautiful sunlight

A Sunday to be sluggish

Endless conversations about rubbish

Laid on the grass

Fill up another glass

Game, set, and match