Masquerade Balls and Red Lipstick

Does anyone have Halloween plans? Because I do, and I really want to share them with you! I can’t remember the last time I did anything for Halloween. Every time I lived in a major city during that time of the year, I was too “young” to go out and obviously too old to trick or treat, though it was suggested. This year my boyfriend and I are going out with his sister and brother-in-law for a masquerade ball at an old haunted inn in San Antonio!

What am I wearing? A floor length, black, mermaid style gown and of course, a masque. The masque I bought is actually from Pier 1 Imports. Supposedly it’s made in Venice (I have my doubts) and it only cost me $30. Not bad for something so beautiful and delicate. I like that it’s simple with only a lace pattern and a few rhinestones on it. There were so many to choose from but quite a few of them made me look like a bird, which I didn’t want.

Since I’m wearing all black, I wanted to add some color to my face so I don’t appear washed out. I’ll be wearing Nars “Cruella” on my lips. This is the best lip pencil/stick. The color stays on for several hours and is really vibrant! I’ll also be doing my nails in a red color with a gold accent on my ring finger.

To add some glam to my dress, I’m adding this Ann Taylor belt to it. The belt is stretchy and snaps in the back for comfort. Can you believe that I found it for $5? Neither can I, but I honestly did. I won’t be showing you the dress until we’ve taken some decent pictures of it, but it’s beautiful! Let me know what your Halloween plans are in a comment below!

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Exploring Culture: Going Persian!

More Than Expensive Rugs and Cats!

Since I started dating my boyfriend last year I’ve had my little world opened to a whole new world and culture. The only thing I knew about Persians before meeting him was that they made incredible rugs and bread the cutest kitties. Needless to say learning about where he’s from was an eye opening experience for me.

Before launching into the little things I’ve learned about Iran, there are a few things I have to clarify. First Iranians are not Arabs, they are Persians. I confused that in the beginning and many other people in western cultures tend to do the same thing. Second, my boyfriend does live in the United States but was born and raised in his home country. We are in a long distance relationship but not cross-continental long distance! Finally, he’s bilingual and I’m not. But I’m trying to pick up some of the Persian/Farsi language.

One of the most fun experiences I had when I started dating Amir is trying new food! In the picture is chicken kabob and saffron rice with grilled tomatoes. I absolutely love this dish because the chicken is marinated in a yogurt sauce with tons of seasoning so its bursting with flavor. So yummy! We usually order/make with this tahdig, which is basically the browned part of the rice on the bottom of the pot. Its really crispy and tasty to eat!

Another fun cultural thing I got to experience is the yearly Nowruz celebration. It symbolizes the beginning of the New Year for Persians. It is celebrated at the beginning of spring because it is the beginning of new life after winter.

I went to a gala for this event in Daytona Beach with my boyfriend and our two other friends, Shayan and Christina. Christina and I were two of the few Americans there to partake in this annual celebration and learned a lot throughout the evening. Granted most things were said in Farsi, she and I could get the general idea.

Finally, I’ve really enjoyed trying to pick up the language. There have been quite a few laughs that have resulted in me trying to pronounce certain words and phrases. So far I’ve learned a few things. ‘Salam‘ means ‘hello’ and ‘che toori‘ means ‘how are you.’ Another cute little thing I’ve picked up is the word ‘azizam’ meaning ‘sweetheart’ or ‘dear friend.’ Depending on the person you are speaking to will determine the meaning of the word. I’ve learned other words and phrases but none of which I can accurately spell for you!

What cultures have you immersed yourself in? Comment and share! 

~Liz