Interviewing Mohamed El Maghraby was lots of fun and inspiration, because behind this calm and decent character lies lots of dreams and hopes of becoming one of the best artists not only in Egypt but in the middle east. He was one of the candidates competing in Star Academy, and even though he did not win the title, he won the love of so many of his fans which are supporting and loving him endlessly. And In order to know more about this young artist, that happens to sing, play the guitar, compose and write songs we interviewed him.

At the beginning, Why do you think you gained all this love and fame in such a shot period of time?

I believe that people’s love is a gift from GOD. My mom always prays for me that people love me, and this is exactly what happened.

What made you think of applying to Star Academy at the start?

Any young man trying to understand more about his talent, and looking for opportunities to highlight that talent goes through searching for different paths. I believed that if I got accepted in Star Academy, it will make things easier for me and decrease a lot of the necessary steps I may have needed with it. I believe that if I did not follow my dream, I am a passive person and that is why I used to fill in applications for any of those shows.

How do you evaluate your experience of around two months in this show?

My original personality did not change, yet a lot of other traits have been added. I benefited a great deal from interacting with people from different cultures, and speaking different languages. I have never traveled to any other country outside Egypt therefore this has given my independency and taught me a lot of patience. Also the teachers taught me a lot of new things.

How were you as a child?

I really do not remember, but I think I was always after making sure I do not cause my parents any trouble. I was a normal child who worries that his mother or father get upset from him.

Who had the greatest influence on you as a child?

My mother had the biggest impact on me as a child. She always searched for positive talents in me, and always worked on developing them. Her encouragement was a huge lift to me growing up. She even used to write for me to help me sing more, everything she did to me made me develop myself more and continue more in music.

When did you realize you had a musical talent, and what did you start doing?

I started out singing, I used to memorize the songs easily and always sang at home. My mum and family members, encouraged me to sing because they believed I had a nice voice. At that age I did not realize that, but then I continued singing and then researched what singing is. And it started out in high school when I joined the choir.

We know you sing, write and compose. What is the closest to you?

Singing is a major thing in my life, But sometimes you have feelings either of sadness or happiness that you want to transform into words. And this is when I write or compose, It is a nice feeling because when I hear those songs later I remember the situation that made me write this song.

Who did you listen to the most growing up?

I adore Angham so much, because she has the highest feelings while singing, beautiful ideas and words. From the old singers I love Mohamed Kandil, Mohamed Fawzy and Abdel Halim Hafez.

What did you do to nurture this talent?

Nobody taught me how to play the guitar, I took the basics from a friend and then I researched over the internet and watched online videos and this developed me. I did not get the opportunity to actually learn, but it was all based on personal researches.

What were your musical achievements before Star Academy?

I am part of a band, which consists of a group of friends who love music and play different instruments. The band is called 3ala Wara2 and it includes, Anas Mokhtar who plays base guitar, Mostafa Daif plays Electric Lead guitar, Mostafa Khamees (Ghost) plays electric lead guitar,Abdel razik plays drums,  Amir Ali plays classic guitar ,Hazem Ezzat plays the organ and piano and I am the singer. Our band is team work, since most of the people in the band write and compose.

We made three shows, In Jesuit and Abdel Menim Gaber. Our songs rotate around social problems, because this is how we wanted to portray our art to people. We stayed preparing for the band and the songs around 4 months, and then when we introduced them to the people they received us with great feedback and admiration due to the uniqueness of the subjects. The band was very successful until one of our friends entered the army, and finding an alternative at that time was difficult since we are one big family.

Now, that you are back and knowing it’s been such a short period. What shocked you the most from the feedback and reactions you got.

People welcoming me home in the airport was a great happy shocking situation. I was shocked to see the amount of loving people waiting for me in the airport. I am from their country, and they made me feel like a national hero. To the extent I really wished I could hug and kiss everyone who took the trouble to come for me.  One of the most touching situations that touched me personally was of a police major, who came to me and called me by my name and prayed for me. On this day I felt related to everyone and part of everyone’s family.

What are your ideas and plans for the coming period?

I do not like to talk about my coming plans in case they do not happen, I also do not want to rush something because I want to present the best I can to my great fans who I consider family. They have been very supportive and loving, so I want to offer them something that makes them happy and proudJ

How are you distinctive to other new stars reaching for their way in the market?

I believe that there are many people with lovely voices, but long ago people used to say this singer has great feelings and this is exactly why I love angham. And I perceive myself as trying hard to reach my audience through feeling the song and delivering its meanings.

Do you think you will act, especially that you have taken acting classes in the academy?

I do not mind the idea, since I discovered this side of me inside the academy. But I have to feel the role, and it has to be suitable to the stage I am at.

Mohamed this issue is about Addiction in its different forms, and since you are with us I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about that.

Why do you think is the reason behind the youth getting so addicted to shows such as Star Academy?

I really do not know the real reason, I ask myself the same question. But I believe people should be moderate. Such shows should not interfere with our lives, or our main priorities.

Mohamed what are your addictive hobbies other than the music?

I love sports very much and played all sorts of different games, such as football, Handball, basketball and I also like going to the gym. This helped me stay away from smoking and many dangerous or even bad habits.

So, you advise youth to practice sports in order to stay away from addiction?

If I were a father, the first thing I would do if I have a child is make sure he plays sports because this will help build his character in many aspects. It will also build his character and keep him away for any harmful habits. It will increase his number of good friends, and make him a sociable person as well.

Now we are at the end, what message would you like to tell your fans?

I never deal with my as fans, I deal with you as family. Since what you are saying is out of love and concern that could only happen from family members.

Who else would you like to deliver a message to?

Khaled Selim is someone I want to send lots of thanks for supporting me, and standing by me. I also want to thank Angham for talking about me it is a great honor. I want to thank my mum for her constant support and care, there is nothing to describe the amount of love and care she has given . I want to thank my friends who were there for me always. I also hope that I was a good representative of Egypt in this show.

A Journey of a Bride to Be

By Sara Abouzekry

With one month to my wedding, I can tell you that the situation was getting a little brighter considering my overwhelming wedding preparations that are getting to be settled so far!

Throughout my journey I was dazzled by tons of stuff that I was never into before. And I can tell you that it’s much easier to learn what not to do! Than learning what to do (I believe I wasted some time in misleading steps)

I think that the whole point is about

1^st setting your priorities

2^nd knowing which of the available options will suit you most or in other words tailor yourself to the most available offers. You shouldn’t be sticking to one opinion, Believe me it’s all about Compromises!

3^rd Start making a list with your responsibilities.

1^st Station: Choosing the place

1^ST: My Priority: Indoor wedding, need a large hall for about 250 guests, near place is preferable .Reasonable prices are preferable.

2^nd: My options were limited to different hotels..

My Mistake: wasting time and energy in looking in far places.

My Advice:

-Do not give yourself the chance to hesitate. It’s a dreadful feeling after all ‘nd nothing worth having negative feelings while preparing for your wedding. Instead you should enjoy every second.

-Pay attention to pricing and accessibility as these two factors are often decision makers for brides.

- Bear in mind that having an indoor wedding party help you avoid weather issues.

My Choice went to one of the hotels which was almost near to everybody. I generally liked the place. Yet, It took me a long time to make my final decision!

2^nd Station ecoration

Wedding theme:

It’s said that once you’ve chosen your wedding theme, it’s easier to coordinate your decorations, favors, flowers, dresses, menu and all the other items required when it revolves around a theme. Ex. for wedding themes: Classic Victorian wedding, with carriage rides, think pink wedding theme, disco wedding theme…etc.

Colours:

Bright colours like orange and turquoise are very popular this year, any way you can choose your favorite colour wether it is fashionable or not. It’s your day! Thereby, your colors! Remember that the colours should reflect your own personal taste and the way you perceive this event in the first place.

Ceiling decoration:

I believe that ceiling wedding decoration takes a wedding from ordinary to amazing. They will distract your guests and give your room a classy sophistication.

As for the things I’ve seen this year in fashion for ceiling décor, crystals and white flowers were among the most popular, definitely, looking awesome!

The point is, believe it or not, they are much more expensive when compared to lights decoration specially, flowers. Any way, concerning my wedding, I’ve went to the lights for sure, I like the fact that they look geart when they turn off lights every now and then during the wedding.

Other point that, you don’t have to decorate the whole ceiling. You can make your decision that decorating the dance floor ceiling is enough. In short, go with compromises.

Centerpieces:

For some reason I was never much concerned with centerpieces. I think that gussets do not usually notice their presence! To say the truth my priority went to the ceiling décor. Any way, I’ve seen wonderful pieces. I even loved those long ones with crystals hanging from them.

Shockingly, this year I’ve seen fish jars on wedding tables! It’s your choice in the end. As for me, I preferred a cute simple bunch of flowers with a candle ( As most of the budget went to the ceiling decoration!)

High tables:

One word…Cool! High tables and lounges are becoming on of the tops of -these days- fashion. If most of the guests are young people, they are gonna love them for sure.

Glass tables:

You should see them in a real wedding to have a better judgment! They look much better in reality than in photos. However you can add make enough of 2 or 4 glass tables just to include their modern look in your wedding if you really like them yet, are concerned about your budget.

My priority: Ceiling decoration!

My choice: I haven’t made my mind yet!! I know the items I want. However, still didn’t decide who is going to make my big day’s decoration. Hopefully, I will decide in a week or something!

3^rd Station: Wedding dress:

When it comes to choosing your wedding dress-the most exciting part in preparing for your wedding- , bear in mind that you should go for the style that suits your body type best.

Hourglass: Two-piece and corset dresses enhance the hourglass figure.  Anything that accentuates the bride’s waist is in.

Pear shaped. A-line princess dresses disguise fuller hips and the pear shaped body types best.

Petite: Clean, unbroken contours without too much fabric tend to elongate. Big Ball gowns and mermaid wedding dress shapes can overwhelm.

Tall: From ball gowns, princess line and A- line wedding dresses, straight bridal dresses and mermaid dresses; all are great for the tall bride who can carry almost any dress style.  Avoid empire line dresses that can look almost “tent like”. Avoid wedding flowers or bouquets that are too small or large

Fuller waisted: Princess-line and drop waist wedding dresses are most flattering. Draw the eye up with stunning bridal and wedding accessories.

A-line dress              Empire                   Mermaid               Ball Gown

My advice:

Without being a bridzella ..Allow for alterations:

-Make peace with alterations in both budgeting, time planning and for sure in your dress as well! (Especially if you have a dress designed especially for you)

-Have faith in your judgments; once you have decided which dress is the one, there is no need to continue looking at other dresses.

My choice:

-I went for the ball gown dress since it suits most body types- I think most brides go for it as well. In fact, Ball gown wedding dress is suitable for most body shapes. Generally make the bride’s waistline look slim while camouflaging larger lower body.

-My dress was designed only for me; other brides find the idea of choosing a dress for rent more feasible.

4^th: Make up

My advice: Practice makes perfect

Whether you are having your makeup done professionally or you are doing it yourself! , practice is the key to achieving your perfect look. Make sure you prepare for a session with your makeup artist before your wedding. You will need to make sure that both of you are on the same page.  You have all the right to be comfortable to the make up you’re wearing on your big day.

N.B: During my journey, I found out that many make up artists-especially famous ones- don’t allow for a trail session!! Any way, if you won’t have this chance, you sit with your artist and tell her/him your broad lines, give your trust and make sure that she/he arrives little earlier just in case that you add modifications in your big day’s make up.

Besides, do not panic if your make up artist is late and you are not done yet. Do not think of anything except showing up to everyone in the figure that you are most comfortable with.

My choice:

I was blessed with a talented make up artist in my family. Luckily, she was my sister. I had the chance for many trial sessions.

Any way, in my engagement party my sister hadn’t been on the professional route yet. So I had some experience with make up artists.

5th: Veil

My advice:

The first step to discovering your perfect wedding day hair or cover –if you are veiled-   is to look through wedding guides and hairstyle magazines; you can also check facebook groups for veil designers. This will give you an idea of what you like and what you don’t like, which you can take to your stylist when you go for your trial.

Two types of veils grabbed my attention:

The pouf veil has gathered material at the point where it connects to the headpiece, creating added volume. This style is perfect if you want to create a dramatic look with your veil. This style can also be used with many of the veil lengths and looks great as a double tier veil.

This long veil flows from your headpiece down to your ankles. The waltz veil is a good option if you want to wear a long veil.

My choice:

As for me, since I’m veiled I found a veil designer on facebook, I called her and set an appointment for a trial. She asked me to bring some materials and accessories. I think my trial with went successful so far.

I decided to choose the short veil. I wanted to add volume to my face, so I chose the pouf veil.

6^th: Photographer

My advice: Sit with your photographer before your wedding

-If you think it’s enough to see some work of your photographer, let me tell you that you are going into a huge risk!

Don’t be impressed by famous photographers unless you sit with him/her , start telling your ideas, you can even suggest positions, show him/her your favorite photos with your groom-may be from your engagement party- You can also tell him/her what you liked or disliked in previews photos.

At the end, I wish that my journey have been helpful for many brides to be. Memories of one’s wedding last for a life time. All what you want is to feel great once you go back to these memories. It’s not difficult. You have all the chance to make this happen. Just Go ahead.

Rushing into the parking spot, swiftly exiting the car, running into the building taking the stairs ( no time to wait for the elevator ), into the house and on the the living room sofa in a heartbeat……YES!…Perfect timing, referee has just blown the whistle to start the first half, didn’t miss a single bit..!

Once comfortably situated then starts realizing what’s going on around him away from the TV Screen, he sees his lady coming in holding the grocery shopping bags they had in their car and giving him one of those looks that say “Is it that Important??!”

Regardless of the importance of the match, it could simply be just another weekly match in the local league so it’s not the rush to catch the match from the beginning or further more to catch the commentaries before the match that resembles what I’m talking about. It’s the whole “Love of the Game”. You can have a hobby which you often do and your motives would be perfectly reasonable and never questionable, but when it comes to the love of football, I think all men have an issue in explaining this very intimate and magical relation to their partners.

We all get in the same situation and we have to explain why we love it…Well, I think it’s time to send a message saying “I think you should stop asking and just live with it!” Showing my pure intentions though, and maybe for one last time I will try to explain this mysterious bond between guys and football.

Football is one of those things in life for guys that either played or watched gives a mixture of very special kinds of sensations. It’s pleasurable, exciting, patriotic at times, addictive, fun, breathtaking, competitive and, believe me,  the list can go on for some time. For some guys it even goes way beyond this and can be an untouchable issue but let’s settle with the average guys which for them it gives a combo of feelings that will always remain incomparable.

Hints:

I’ll even help you more and slip in some assistance tips, so read them carefully, here it goes:

-          When its football time its football time, and that’s serious! During a match concentration can rarely divert to anything else so it’s advised that no real talk should go on, no questions asked and it’s definitely not the time for chit chat.

-           Anything said or done during these times should not be considered offensive; any unusual loss of interest should not be taken personally.

-          If it’s a match day then it’s not “let’s go out for dinner day” or “how about a movie day “, I mean it’s the kinda day that you should rotate everything around the match, full stop.

-          If it’s a win then its celebration time and actually it’s a hell of an opportunity to ask for anything, but if it’s a loose then “avoidance” is the secret word.

-          One last thing I’d like to say about football is that at times, football can really be a guy’s best friend, so let’s not try to ruin everlasting relationships.

Finally, I think that by now  I’ll hear voices saying “ Oh, not ALL guys are like that” and for these kinds of guys I only have two words……. “NOT MACHO”!

Busy Executive

If you work for a large company, you may rarely see the CEO or any of the board members. Even if it happened, it’s whether you just take a quick look or free a room for him/her to pass in the company corridors. As for such people, time is money and duty. Their real character, however, is clearly shown outdoors, in a dinner or trip or whatsoever. If you had the chance to talk to him or you found yourself face to face with him, don’t freak, introduce yourself and then make light, upbeat conversation. For example, you might say how much you’re enjoying this occasion but never ever mention work or make a complain or ask for promotion, you will definitely be seen as an opportunist.

 Chitty Chat

This person loves to talk, to the extent that you couldn’t utter a word in his presence. If this person is invited, you may need to take aspirin with you in case you can’t make a way out.  As usual, these people as in office or any where else, they will repeat their long stories about food allergies, favorite sitcoms, movies even type and size of their shoes which you have already memorized it; in addition to being nosy, spreading rumors and gossips about people. Your first step to find a gateway in a polite manner is to draw others into the discussion. If you see someone standing nearby who is not already engaged in conversation, try waving him over and making introductions. Once you have several people talking, the conversation is bound to be more interactive, at a certain point you can politely excuse yourself by letting the group know there are other guests to whom you’d like to say hello. By this you are safe from any rumors spread about you next day in office claiming how impolite you are.

Wallflower
During the occasion, you may notice someone you’ve never seen before moving around looking a bit uncomfortable or may be shy. Take a chance; introduce yourself and offer to show this person around the party. May be she/he is a new employee or client or your recommended boss, who doesn’t know anyone yet. This will show your kindness, good intentions and lays a ground for your acknowledgment.

Awkward Spouse

If dates are invited to this occasion, you’ll probably have to deal with awkward spouses. This person must have been dragged to the party by her/his significant other and would rather be anywhere else than being anonymous among strangers. Be ready to make small talk on topics unrelated to work, such as vacation plans or hobbies. Also, avoid office gossip as you don’t know the real intentions of the addressee. May be you are a good catch to reveal your boss or colleague behaviors and attitudes towards other sex in case of dealing with a jealous wife or husband. Put in mind that whatever you say could eventually get back to your co-workers or boss, and later on you might find yourself losing a promotion or even get fired.

Knowing how to interact with everyone can make the event much brighter and safer for you. The impressions and connections you make bare their fruits when the celebration is over and everyone is back in business mode.

Against or For Office Online Socializing?

Socialization and connections do not mean only business dinners and parties. They exist everyday in your office and on your monitor, through online networking and especially through Facebook. Here you should ask yourself whether your boss is to be or not to be your Facebook friend? 

It’s known that, Facebook is a clue to someone’s personality, but when befriending your boss which part exactly of your personality do you want to show and which part you want to keep hidden away?

It’s a tough choice, but simply, if you work for a forward-thinking company whose entire staff is on Facebook, then your online participation is the equivalent of lunching with co-workers or a cool chat. The advantage of connecting with your boss on Facebook is the opportunity you have to know more about his character vice versa. However, if you use Facebook to post wacky photos or vent about your job, you should obviously be cautious of letting your entire work groups on Facebook to view that, as someone could trap you.  

How to behave against a Rival Workmate?

Do you want a promotion, bonus or may be to be the ideal of the month, you have to work hard, be perfect, punctual and ready for severe rivalry . This isn’t rare between colleagues, isn’t it? Only as long as it’s harmless, it could be a healthy morale motive to fight in that crowd.  It gives you a push to have a fair competition with your workmate. But when a colleague stops fair playing and starts dirty games, the “competition” will no longer be exciting and might turn against you.

When your colleague starts sabotaging and backstabbing, to climb the corporate ladder faster than you or actually to get you out of competition. Don’t worry, neither give up, as confrontation will be your weapon. All you have to do is to wisely pick your battles as following:

- Confront the person face-to-face rather than conducting a discussion via e-mail.            E-mails can be used against you or may be misinterpreted.

- Don’t make the discussion personal. Keep it short and limited to real workplace 

   issues.

If confrontation doesn’t work and the dirty games are getting meaner, so that you are dealing with an idea-stealer or someone who takes credit for your hard work, think like a lawyer. Follow this advice:

1. Gather witnesses; make sure other people know what you’re working on as often as you can.  Make sure you copy everyone who is involved in the project in e-mails, voice-mails and memos so you have proof that you were the one doing the work.

2. Gather evidence. Keep a record of everything you’ve been working on. This practice is particularly a good idea because you never know when you’ll need HR to intervene if things get particularly worst.

At the end, never get down to your colleague miserable mean level. You should accept unfair behavior, but if you start playing dirty games too, or being engaged in any unprofessional manner, you will risk damaging your own reputation. And just remember every single detail will be denoted in your qualifications and resume, don’t risk the present if you want a successful future.  

I have been working for around eighteen months now, which is a pretty short period to learn any “truth” about the “working” world. I have been in and out of different fulltime jobs, and also did some freelance work and during my jobs, I was lucky enough to be put in a pretty good position, with direct connection with a lot of colleagues. I also earned the trust of my managers pretty quickly, which gave me the chance to really get a close look on how things are going. And two types of employees that you will always find in any work place are the “kiss-ass” and the “straight” employee; wherever I went to work they were always there.

The “Kiss-Ass”

What you THINK is the truth…

The Kiss-ass, is always smiling to everyone, and I mean ALWAYS smiling, you may even think that the guy never has personal problems or just a hectic weak and you start thinking that you are such a depressed person. He is usually pretty silent before giving any opinion, that would make you feel like he spends a lot of time thinking and that he’s the smartest since he always has the “best” opinion on table. He is always wearing the right dress code, which implies how professional he is. If it’s a task that people are competing in, he’s going to kick all the other employees’ asses, so you think he is simply the best. Acts like the boss’s “friend”, the secret keeper, the one who cares most about the workplace, that you may actually feel they have more power than their real position gives them.  Some info about other colleagues “slips” from him by mistake when sitting alone with the boss, and he always has a reason to be sitting alone with the boss, but again it’s for “the general benefit”. He is usually very nice with all his colleagues and works really hard on earning everyone’s trust, giving them credit when all meeting with the boss, yet keeps them feeling that there’s some difference in the “importance”, which would make you think that he is being humble and therefore trust him.
What the “TRUTH mirror” thinks

Well, this is ALL just a cover. The kiss-ass, is that guy who is kissing your boss’s ass while kicking yours by his feet. He is always smiling, because smiling in your boss’s language means you are loving the place, happy you woke up to go to your job and eager to work; not that he really feels this way. He is usually pretty silent because he is watching all the other employees give opinions, watch the boss’s reaction, see which way he prefers then exceeds the last thought given in that way and so he is the “smartest”. He is always wearing the right “dress-code”, because the right dress code is always the best cover-up for any skills deficiency. He is definitely the best when competing, but the truth is in his solo tasks, the kiss-ass usually exerts the minimal effort when doing a task on his own, only in case he did not manage to make someone finish it for him. Well he works to be that “friend” or “secret keeper” to gain more power, which means he doesn’t already have it, he is only PRETENDING.  “The General Benefit” takes place when you advice an employee on how to be better, when you help each other, not when bad words about others “slip” from your mouth. Kiss-asses are usually very nice, to know your weak point and have a weapon against you, or sometimes to keep themselves out of suspicions when accusation of snitches are being made.

The “straight” Employee

What you THINK is the truth

On the other hand there is the straight employee. He is always on time and willing to stay late, that you think he has no social life. He normally wears the right “dress-code” but sometimes he is just tired, so you might think he isn’t professional enough. He could tell anyone, even the bosses, that they are wrong straight in the face, and then you think he is just rude. He isn’t really “socializing” in the work area, he let things go as they are supposed to, so you think he is either unsociable, snob or hates you. On the other hand he would give you a huge cheer if you did something good, so at some point you don’t really get him. He doesn’t really like one to one talks with the boss, so you start building theories about why he hates your boss. He will definitely kick the ass of anyone who is being lazy or ruining his tasks, so you say they think they are better than you. He will never ever snitch or fight back when people are all accusing each other, so you may think they are week or scared.

What the “TRUTH-mirror” thinks

Well, again NOT TRUE. The straight employee is simply the one who is there to work. He is always on time and willing to stay late, not because he has no social life, probably his girlfriend is having huge fights because of that, but because he won’t be capable of having any fun till he finishes his tasks. He sometimes break the “dress-code” not because he isn’t professional, but because he is human and get bored, and because he thinks that getting his job done right and with enthusiasm is much more important that wearing the right colors to work. He tells that you are wrong not because they are rude, but to give you the chance of seeing the other side of it, for the real “general benefit” this time.  He isn’t socializing because his work is actually what says all about him, he doesn’t need words, he just needs to work right and so you will know all you need about him. He will give you a huge cheer because you deserve it, he isn’t trying to impress you, you just deserve it, he is being honest with you. He isn’t into one on one talk, because he doesn’t think they are important, again the work says it all. He will kick your ass because you are messing with his effort and this is just unacceptable, you are doing something wrong and so you need to be punished. He never snitches, not because he is week, scared or doesn’t have anything against you, but simply because he thinks you are not in kinder garden anymore, they do not need to report to the teacher.

Bottom line,

The kiss-ass, is the very beautiful looking cat, which would just bite you when they are hungry.

While the straight employee, is that cute astray dog in front of your house, who though you did not bring up, yet he protects the house from any strangers.

What the Boss thinks..

Usually the boss does know all that by the way, most bosses are not stupid, or else they would not have been bosses. They just act stupid to keep the information coming their way from the “kiss-ass” and keep the work going in its best under the leadership of the “straight” employee. And therefore the boss always makes sure that both kinds are never on a one on one battle.

Since the caveman era till today, men have been inventing tricks and developing strategies to attract women to their nests. However, there has always been a missing ingredient in the formula; types of women. Like countries, each woman has her own color and language. The list of types is endless, nevertheless, these types fall under some major categories shared by many women. Though each woman has within her bits and pieces of each category, some qualities are usually dominant over the rest. To approach a woman, man has to understand her type, so it’s time to teach the caveman some tricks on reading riddles!

The Angelic Innocent

She is that woman who reminds you of a child the first time you eyes lay on her: her smile is pure, her eyes are innocent and her face is angelic. She is a lot like a child in her actions, and she can be so fragile that you won’t have the guts to hurt her. This woman wants the all-knowing man; a teacher who can show her the world. She needs a man who knows all the dark sides of life, but still, protects her from the whole world including himself.

The Seductive

She is the woman of all women; the source of femininity and the root of passion. She hardly falls in love, because, she is used to playing the puppeteer. She can unveil man’s deepest sides in a glance. This woman loves the mysterious man who can evoke in her a sense of trust; open books are not her cup of tea! Don’t ignore her, but stay out of her reach, till she decides to get you at any cost. At this stage, see the human in her, rather than the female; treat the child in her and pamper it, rather than seek the woman’s passion. Recognize her with eyes that are different from other men’s. When she becomes the child in your arms, you both will know; this is love. Nonetheless, don’t try to mess with this woman; for you’ll be digging your won grave if you “dare to play forbidden games with a woman who (knows) the dark side of the moon.” *

The Sophisticated Philosopher

Glasses and a book, is not always how you discover her! She’s the one with those deep eyes of a rover; restless in soul and mind as she is watching, learning and searching for meanings and answers all the time. Treat her as a Barbie doll and you are on the right track to lose her, disrespect her mentality and you are doomed! She will love it if you praise her beauty, but she wants a man who sees beyond the looks. She needs an intellectual rival; one who acknowledges her opinions, ideas and mental abilities, but still disagrees with her from time to time. To attract her, find common interests; things that you both can discuss. Arouse her interest regarding issues about which she lacks knowledge to provoke her intellect, but be careful for this woman can tell if the man is a real man of knowledge or a cultural fraud!

The Practical Businesswoman

She is not necessarily a businesswoman; she is simply a woman who is greatly successful in her professional life and is usually very practical. This woman knows no such a word as failure, and has no place for losers on her map. She needs a man who understands how sacred her professional life is, and supports her to achieve her goals. If the man is not successful enough to cope with this dynamic woman, he better quits the match; for there will be no game, to start with!

The Dreamy Romantic

She is the fairy tale princess; a woman who longs for heroism, chivalry and idealism. She is quite the opposite of materialism; she is the dream! This woman loves without a calculator, so she doesn’t develop feelings for someone unless she has their seeds in her heart before the man approaches her to brag about his merits. She’s capable of platonic love, so she doesn’t need you around all the time; she needs a space to find you in her dreams; keep her in the sky! She believes in justice, freedom and, above all, she highly values honesty. She dreams of a man who can love her for who she is, regardless of any materialistic criteria. Cheesy romance is not her type; if you give her worn out love words and expressions, she won’t consider them worthy or genuine. Don’t drown her with feelings; she wants you to show your love, but not excessively, because, for her emotional excessiveness is feminine! She’s dreaming of a knight riding a horse and carrying his sword, so let her feel her weakness in your strength. She needs a man who fights for her, protects her and crowns her the queen of his heart. She prefers flowers to fancy presents, and a walk by the sea to dinner at the most expensive restaurants in town. For her, there is only one man, so she keeps herself away from the fuss of relationships till she finds him.

The Tomboy

If you meet a girl who is a big fan of soccer, and would greet you as “hey, what’s up dude!” she is the tomboy, for sure. She’s funny, outgoing, cheerful and quite explicit about her feelings. She’ll be your best friend; as she can understand you as a man, and share you all your interests as a man! What it takes to get this girl, is simply loving her just the way she is and being always straight with her.

Finally, the key to any woman’s heart is quite a simple thing; love!

* ” for he did not dare to play forbidden games with a woman who had proven too many times that she knew the dark side of the moon.” Gabriel Gracía Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera P. 358 © 1988 by Gabriel Gracía Márquez.

What is it about the male logic of macho that is disturbing? Is it the whole “It’s a man’s territory” thing? Is it the “We dominate, you follow” thing? Or would it be the entire “I’m the king of the world” bit?  I could actually do a whole book dedicated to macho characteristics. I could compile an elaborate catalog of different macho traits and the weirdest rituals of each. Oh, the places I could go with this subject! But, the fact is, these strange creatures are not worth that much time, sorry, all they get is a top 10 list. Here we go:

1. They already know everything there is to know. Anything they don’t understand is stupid or unintelligent. If the macho is a school or university dropout, graduates can’t be trusted and/or are brainless. If the macho is a banker, physicians might be limited instead. Machos are better, higher, more important, and more knowledgeable than anyone else. This is basically a strong fear of the unknown, combined with deep-set (and perfectly acceptable) doubt about their own self worth.
2. They tend to overdo things, like drinking to excess, get addicted to something like bodybuilding, and brag about their health-consciousness (never mind the steroids). They may overdo the gambling as well, the chasing of women, or their love to their motorcycles.
3. They are usually racist and fond of labeling any ‘other’ species. People from another religion are in general “atheists” or worse, and need to be erased from this world. People with dark-skin color are “weirdos” and never to be trusted. People from the south are “aliens” lazy and criminal. People from the Far East are “chinks” or “gooks” and are trying to sell us damaged goods or buy the country and put us all out of work.
4. They don’t like women, even though they spend vast amounts of time pursuing them. They either like Suzy Homemakers who stay at home and act like good, nice ladies and don’t expect much, or they like Barbie dolls who giggle and hang on their arms, and do not object to anything. Women who do not fit one of these roles are either useless, worthless and a waste of time. They use diminutive or insulting nicknames for women like “chicks” or “dames”, “dolls”, “skirts”. Really uncultured machos might use truly bad words…
5. They demonstrate a limited emotional range, which includes happy and angry. They may shed a mannish tear when their dog or mother dies, but otherwise, no, no. Being sad makes them angry. Being confused makes them angry. Sorrow, confusion, and other non-happy, non-angry emotions are not manly.
6. They care for violent and/or noisy sports, like NASCAR racing, boxing, “Ultimate Fighting” and pro wrestling (don’t even TRY to tell a macho that pro wrestling is make believe). Insulting a macho’s favorite sports team is as bad if not worse than insulting his mother. They will often put huge amounts of money on sporting events, making bets without the least understanding of the odds at hand.
7. They drive absurd vehicles, accompanied by the confidence that women find these vehicles irresistible. Any car or motorcycle must have a nitrous booster and an aftermarket exhaust system, custom suspension, bodywork, jungle themed upholstery and pell-mell paint.
8. They do not have any problems, they and everything connected with them are perfect. If there are problems, they are of someone else’s making. Problems are to be ignored until they disappear or are replaced by other types of problems.
9. Macho men pay great attention to their walk. They puff out the chest and parade with jutting shoulders, keep the strides long and hold the head up high. This provides the illusion of being bigger than they actually are, and shows the world that they are moving with a purpose.
10. As for their appearance, they stick to the basics of grooming: showering, shaving and keeping the fingernails clipped short. There is little need for more body care. Most macho men don’t spend a great deal of time hanging around salons. They keep the wardrobe simple. Vivid colors or pastels are not recommended.

Having listed some of many macho characteristic, I would like to conclude with this famous joke about a typical “macho man” who marries a typical good-looking lady and after the wedding, lays down the following rules:

“I’ll be home when I want, if I want and at what time I want and I don’t expect any hassle from you! I expect a great dinner to be on the table unless I tell you otherwise. I’ll go hunting, fishing, drinking and card-playing when I want with my buddies and don’t you give me a hard time about it! Those are my rules…any comments?”

His new bride matter of factly says, “No, that’s fine with me.

Just understand that there will be …

I will let you figure out the rest of the joke…

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Magic in a Bottle

Exquisite, exotic, intoxicating, sophisticated, strong, or subtle, there is everything more to a perfume than its fragrance.  Each bottle lying on the dresser holds secrets, wisdoms, and charms waiting for you to reveal, decipher, and impart.  A world of magic in a bottle yearning to be explored, that’s perfume.

Facts

Scientifically speaking, fragrances are generally composed of three layers, or “notes” of varying intensities to balance them in a lasting aroma.  These are:

1. Top notes (head)

The first impression that hits you, usually mixed with the alcohol ingredient.  They are fleeting.

1. Middle notes (heart)

They are the core of the blend and linger longer, for around 4 hours.

1. Base notes (drydown)

Known as fixatives, these provide lasting woody or animal notes that stabilize the entire blend.  They are the longest to last on your skin.

So, applying a perfume, the notes evolve until settling on the base note; it is a process worth tracing.

According to concentration of perfume oil, perfumes fall under five categories:[2]

1. Perfume extract has about 15-40% concentration of aromatic compounds; it is the most concentrated.
2. Eau de Parfum follows in concentration with around 10-20% of aromatic compounds.
3. Eau de Toilette has a range from 5-15% concentration.
4. Eau de Cologne has only 3-8% of aromatic compounds, hence being the least concentrated.
5. Splash and After Shave have a slight 1-3% of aromatic compounds.

Were your Perfume to Speak of You, What Would it Say?

There is a trick to perfumes; that is it is never the same from one person to another.  A perfume usually interacts with the body chemistry, hence gaining different qualities with the variation of users.  Amazingly, discovering the perfume that works best for you is more of personalizing it and adding an individual touch to your personality, rather a distinguishing scent.  Eventually, a perfume that you wear could be a reflection of your personality; whether you are a man or a woman.

To decipher the codes of personality based on choice of perfume, we need to first explore the families of fragrances.  A fragrance commonly belongs to a family of the following:

• Floral:  Think roses, jasmines, gardenia, ylang-ylang…etc.
• Fruity:  Think apples, peaches, cherries, pears, berries, melons, passion fruit…etc.
• Oriental:  Think vanilla, chocolate, and caramel (Gourmand oriental), spices, woods, amber and musks.
• Fougere:  Think fern-fresh lavender, patchouli, oakmoss, rosemary (aromatic herbs), geranium, mint and more.
• Chypre:  Think bergamot, citrus (lemon, mandarin, grapefruit), oakmoss, resins (labdanum, myrrh, frankincense…etc.)
• Aquatic or Oceanic (Fresh/Clean):  Think modern unisex perfumes, earthy and watery; sea breeze, ice, rain.

With the sophistication in perfume industry, the fragrances from the above family are mixed together in leveled notes and new subdivisions emerge; they are not a black-and-white thing.

Women/Men

• Floral is quintessentially romantic.  Floral perfumes are typical of women as they speak femininity, delicacy and affection.  For a man, a floral perfume would capture the romantic within; the myth of floral unbecoming for men is broken.
• Fruity is energetic, sweet, and casual; for the outgoing optimistic woman.  Active, youthful, and playful, this is what a person with fruity preference would be like.
• Oriental is alluring.  An oriental perfume represents the sophisticate who wants attention and fears not being in the spotlight.  Outgoing, mysterious, and sensual is what Orientalism in a bottle conveys.
• Fougere, the modern lifestyle perfume; it is the fragrance for the trendy, sporty, outdoorsy and adventurous.  Also, it relates to a man who is caring, warm and fun-loving.
• Chypre is emblematic of elegance.  The chypre woman is confident, poised, and refined; mature and free-spirited.  The chypre man is, in short, distinguished.
• Aquatic or oceanic, the latest of the families, speaks of a joyous, sporty, young, energetic person.

Inspiring, tantalizing, comforting, elating, a perfume possesses all charms and can cast any spell.  So, when picking up one of these enchanters, think at whom you would like to wave your magic wand to dazzle; simply think what the message you want delivered is or which of your corners you want on display.

[2] Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume#Concentration

The women dictionary of hints & signs

By Yasmine Taha

Guys, have you ever thought that you definitely need super powers to understand your partner’s hints and gestures?! If yes, then rest assured that you are just a typical, normal bloke. It’s kind of an agreement. Girls never give up sending signals and hints and guys never make it to decipher these signals – except of course for a very limited number of guys in the whole universe. To make you get my point, below are some of the most common signals sent by us gals and a brief definition brought to you from the dictionary of relationships.

Situation 1:

A girl turns to the silent mood during a fight or an argument

Definition:

The girl doesn’t think things are over as most guys imagine, she is just sending a sign that says “I’m done with this issue, just a nice word from you would make everything ok”

Recommended Reaction:

Here comes your role, cause in most cases a girl never think things over during a fight as they barley even thinks during a fight. Also she is not that angry cause if she was, most probably she’d leave.

Situation 2:

A girl shows you something she’s just bought and asks anxiously for your opinion

Definition:

She is really not sure about this item she bought and needs another opinion –I beyond doubt recommend a girl friend here

Recommended Reaction:

Here, she is not expecting a typical macho attitude of observing the item with the side of your eye so that you won’t have to turn your head away from your beloved TV then say this clichéd phrase “It looks great babe”.

Situation 3:

A girl asks for your opinion about something, from her point of view, is very serious; the color of the kitchen curtains for example

Definition:

Believe me she is not expecting an answer like “Any color you pick would be nice honey” because this would be translated as a symbol of your non-caring personality and how you will never be supportive in the future regarding all essential stuff  like the school of the kids, the financial planning, her career………..etc

Recommended Reaction:

Believe me this accusation list could be endless, so get yourself out of this and just pick a color for the curtains.

Situation 4:

A girl asks you to introduce her to your family

Definition:

It’s a very clear signal says that “We should really take this relationship to the next level”.

Situation 5:

A girl talks a lot about her male co-workers

Definition:

It’s a obvious indication that she lacks your care and wants to attract your attention by making you jealous.

Situation 6:

A girl gets dressed up for your dinner together and tries to look astonishingly cute

Definition:

She’s with no doubt trying to light this love spark again – especially if you’re married or been together for a long time –

Recommended reaction:

Please do not talk about your work or sports and definitely don’t mention that need to get up early for work the next day.

Those were only few of the very common signals sent by most girls and never been understood by most guys. With a bit of luck, my tips would act as a support for guys in future though I’m somehow positive that some things never change. They are just meant to be!!