Ready for christmas break? What's better than to spend time reading by the fireplace,  drinking a hot drink while it rains or snows outside? These are my holiday reading list, all christmas themed.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances 

Novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson. 

A huge snow storm hits the town during Christmas season, and 3 teenagers experience it throughout their different lives. I really loved this novel and it definitely gets me into the festive mood.

The LittleBookshop on the Seine

Novel by Rebecca Raisin

Sarah have been offered to exchange bookshops with her friend's at the Seine. It can't get better: Christmas in Paris, beside the Seine in an old bookshop. 

The Gift

Novel by Cecelia Ahern

I haven't read this one yet, but I know everything Cecelia writes is amazing. 

Beautiful Crafts Magazine(Christmas)

A crafs magazine, with a lot of ideas about Christmas DIYs. Really perfect for making cute decorations and gifts this holiday, especially if you have kids they will have a lot of fun creating DIYs together.

Happy reading, Xo, Ghinwa 

*Pictures taken by me on a Nikon D5300 camera, lens Nikkor 85mm f1.8

Today I will show you 14 gift ideas that I really think everyone will like. Plus they're really affordable and can work as stocking fillers. Some of these gifts are things I bought for my friends (I hope they wouldn't see them). So grab a cup of hot chocolate and let's get festive.

Christmas Mug/treats:

Everyone loves a cute mug, especially in the time when hot drinks are so appreciated. Add a cute festive treats and you have the perfect gift.

Cute Hand Sanitizers:

Very affordable and very cute. Bath and Body Works is my favorite place to buy these gifts. A big range of scents and beautiful packaging. You can't go wrong with this one, because everyone uses hand sanitizer. 

Bins filled with goodies:

I've found these really cute christmas bins that I've been storing sugar sachets in. You can fill them with the person's best candies and they will reuse it for storing random things

Notebooks and stickers: 

This for someone who loves writing in a diary. They can decorate the pages with stickers. Plus they can use them as a normal everyday notebook for  writing notes.

Victoria's Secret PINK Body Care:

Victoria Secret is having a sale (15000LL) on there body mists and Body Care. So it's a perfect opportunity to stock up on some gifts. This gift is for someone who loves pampering products and enjoy using body care.

Cute Hair Brush:

I know everyone owns a hair brush. But do they own a cute one?

Backpack Keychain (literally!):

This isn't any keychain, it's a backpack keychain. Very helpful to hold money, So when you're on your way, you only grab your keys and your money is in there too!

Accessories:

If you know someone loves accessories and watches. You can find inexpensive cure ones on Accessorize, plus Aliexpress have the best inexpensive cute watches.

Fuzzy Socks:

It's okay if you gifted socks, everyone loves a cute fuzzy sock. Add something else that goes with the comfy theme.

Tea Bin:

I think many people have tea packets laying randomly around their drawers. So this christmas bins can organise all the tea or Nescafe packets. I have use it for storing tea and it's really cute.

Weekly Planner:

A weekly planner will motivate the recipient to be more organised and time managed. Especially with the new year, new you motto.

Megan Hess books:

The Fashion lover will adore you for this gift. Full of beautiful fashion illustrations and information. Megan Hess' books are delightful for everyone. And can be a really nice addition as a coffee table book. 

The Fashion Book:

Another beautiful coffee table book. This one however, is more for people who are really interested in fashion culture and would like to go deeper into the field. 

Ted Baker Evening Bag:

This is the most expensive gift out of them all, mainly to someone close. I think this bag is so useful for this time of year, going to a Christmas dinner or a New year party.  Perfect for all ages and a really classic piece.

Happy Holidays, xo Ghinwa 

If there's something I'm guilty of, is seeing other's achievements and forgetting mine. It is good to be motivated by others,  however sometimes it leaves us with a feeling of being non-achievers. Especially now living in the world of speed,  social media, where everyone seems to be perfect, we can't help but feel a little off.

Most of us are guilty of seeing other people and wishing we would achieve their looks, or wishing we have our own successful projects, our own influencial platforms.. And the problem lies in seeing all these things and forgetting to appreciate what we are and what we have. And even the people we look up to , they too has someone they look up to, and even you have people that look up at you and appreciate your traits and persona. So it is really normal and this thought humanize the whole thing.

What we sometimes forget is that social media is meant to show a person's best qualities only, it highlights it. Which is not bad, but how about reality?
However, the solution doesn't lie in saying, it is only "Instagram,  YouTube.." because these people work hard and we don't want to deny that. You don't want to look at people's flaws in order to be superior and feel better.  On the contrary, the key lies in raising your own spirit and remembering that you too have worked hard, you too came a long way. And no one can take away that. We are an evolved product of yesterday's events.

Now if there's one thing I'm sure of is that we are all proud of something we achieved, we all came a long way from our older selves, we evolved. And we are all different and unique in what we do. Everyone is good at something and would excel in it more than anyone.  In all areas of life, I'm sure we would stand out,  and we should never forget that.

Work hard for tomorrow but don't forget to appreciate today and yesterday.  Don't be stuck with where you are, but do appreciate where you are. And remember to keep going up and while you're at it, give yourself a pat on the back and look down and see that while you were rising up you became higher than where you were.

I'm sure all of our messages inbox are filled with the Black Friday sales. But this year seemed to bring many retailers to do their  sales . This year everything is on sale! So I figured it can be overwhelming with all the fuss to pick up the best deals. Today I will list the brands on sale and my favorite picks.
Whenever I come across really good deals, I will keep updating you through updating this blog post.

Zara up to 40% off  Selected items:

Friday 23rd Only! It is new for Zara to do generous mid season sales. They are known for 2 major sales at the end of each season.  However blending in with other retailers, they launched 40% off selected items which is great because you still can pick up and wear pieces that are still on season but with a discount on the price tag.

My favorite picks:

     Shop Here                                                      Shop Here

Two really classic styles, a leather jacket and black trousers, a really nice way to add Rock and Roll to your look. Edgy yet elegant.

Mango 30% off Everything:

All the weekend. Actually a great deal, because it is on every single item, even New Collections. Perfect opportunity to buy your basic pieces (like a coat, an elegant suit..) and to buy items that are trendy for the season. 

* Prices on photos are the original prices, so you have to reduce them by 30%.

             Shop Here                                                                               Shop Here

           The black boots and the Saffiano effect bag are two beautiful basic pieces that are yet very stylish.                               

                               
             Shop Here                                                                        Shop Here

You are not late on the Snake print trend. These 2 bags are a subtle way to add the AW19 trend. The bag on the right is a very similar design for the Chloe Drew Bag.

             

These sandals are really useful and a must-have piece. Really classic, will never go out of style and you can't go wrong with these.

    Shop Here 

Bershka up to 50% off selected items:

Bershka always does sales, so it's not a surprise to be part of the Black Friday deli-ma. But what a better way to buy the pieces you have been wanting this season.

Ted Baker up to 30% off Everything: 

The discount is applicable online and may vary in store, lasting all weekend.If the store near you doesn't carry the sale, you can always order online and they deliver within 2 working days.
What a dream, I love this store, and it is a good opportunity if you have been lusting over their beautiful pieces. And if someone wants to give you a generous Christmas gift, it is a perfect time.

                                    

Really amazing pieces by Ted Baker

. 

Parfois 30% off Everything 

Parfois have really cute affordable bags and this weekend they went down by 30%.So here are my favorites.

Other stores:

Tally-weijl up to 50% off 

CenterPoint up to 50% off

Max up to 50% off

Khoury Home up to 70% across all Lebanon

Desigual up to 40% off

Vero Mode 30% off Everything 

Happy Shopping everyone  and remember to shop smart! 

Ready for a new Favorites post?This past two months I have discovered new products that I'm loving and will be sharing with you today.

Ocean Salt Scrub by Lush:

I really like Lush, their products are eco-friendly and cruelty free plus it's made of  natural ingredients. The Ocean Salt Scrub is one of their famous products and my favorite. I have never used something so effective and instant, it takes of all the unnecessary layel and waste on the skin and leaves with a really soft clear face (or body). 

Accessories by Accessorize  :

So I went to Accessorize store recently and I really liked their stuff. They are more durable than other affordable accessories . I picked up some of their  bracelets and have been wearing them every day, very chic and elegant, especially the rose gold hair clip I found , I mean how pretty!

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara:

This is really good for not clumping your eyelashes.  I like how natural it looks and it feels light on your eyes. Very handy for daily usage.

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara:

So when the lady at the store try it on me, it looked absolutely amazing,  it lifted my lashes while separating them. Anyway at home, it is being clumsy somehow. I don't know if I am applying it the wrong way or because it is new it has excess product in the brush. Anyway it is worth the try.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser(Anti-pollution ):

I ran out of the Moisture Surge one, so I decided to try this one. It say that it protects the skin from pollution which I think is very needed. But what I actually like is that it absorbs fast into the skin and doesn't cause any oily face issue.

NYX HD Foundation:

If you have dry patches on your face or a dull complexion , this will be very good for you.  So it gives a fair amount of coverage, but it keeps a subtle glow in the face. Plus it really sinks in to the skin and feels really light on.

XO, Ghinwa 

I've been thinking lately of creating more posts about fashion, not a typical outfit-ideas-type of posts, more like information about the culture, business and academic of the industry. So I am publishing this post first to give you an idea of how this fashion world twirls.

Fashion Levels:

1. The highest level of fashion is Haute Couture. It is the most advanced form of clothing, where every piece takes a lot of craftsmanship and many hours(sometimes 6000hrs) of work. It is definitely the most expensive(100,00$ and up) and the most scarce. Haute Couture focuses mainly on reflecting the artistic and innovative side of each brand.

        There is certain rules Haute Couture houses have to follow. Some of the Haute Couture brands are Elie Saab, Chanel, Christian Dior, Maison Margiela, Ralph and Russo..

                                        Zuhair Murad Fall Couture 2018

     2. Second level comes as Pret-a-porter, or Ready-to-wear(RTW). It is a more wearable and available to people. It is still considered luxury. Pret-a-porter is the most profitable for a brand, because it is more selling and less costable. 

     Pret-a-porter brands are much more than haute couture ones ex: Saint Laurent,  Isabel Marant, Off-White... Some Haute Couture brands produces RTW also like Chanel, Elie Saab,  Versace , Christian Dior.

 

Elie Saab Ready-to-wear  Spring Summer 2019

     3. High end high street/Premium  and Diffusion Brands. Diffusion Brands for example Marc by Marc Jacobs,  Mosccino Cheap and Chic are developed by luxury brands but are cheaper for people to buy. High end high street (Coast, Ted Baker, Reiss... ) have a defined style and a more premium quality. Affordable but of a higher price than high street.

 








Ted Baker

Reiss

       4. High-street and mass market , this is the most affordable level. With brands like Zara, H&M, Top shop, ASOS... These brands in general focuses on producing as much as possible to as many people as possible. Pieces are produced in factories usually by machines. Quality is sometimes sacrificed due to more affordable price tags. 

Fashion Calendar:

Haute Couture brands showcase their pieces in January and July of each year in Paris which is why it's called Paris Fashion Week (PFW).

   July is when they show the following Fall/winter collection, and January is when they show the following Spring/Summer collection.

Pret-a-porter brands showcase their Fall/Winter collection in March and their Spring/Summer collection in the end of September. RTW fashion shows happens in New York, London, Milan, Paris.

So if you love fashion and want to stay up to date with the shows, look up for these 4 months.

From the runway to your closet:

The Fashion shows are usually the hub where designers set trends for upcoming seasons. High street brand sends their people "Fashion Buyers" to identify trends so that they can create something similar or inspired by the runway and display in stores.

For example, animal print was seen multiple times in Ready-to-wear  F/W 2018 shows,

Victoria Beckham F/W 2018

 
Dolce and Gabanna F/W 2018

If you go now(Fall 2018) to stores like Mango, Zara, H&M, Bershka... You will spot many pieces that are animal print and it is not a coincidence.

  Zara Fall 2018

Bloggers and fashion magazines always state the trends for each season and translate them into affordable options.

So there you have it, a small insight into the giant world of today's fashion.

(Photo sources:InstahauteCouture/ Vogue.com /Zara.com)