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Murre blog: how I nearly died of frostbite.

December 27, 2018 — Leave a comment

Let me start this of by saying, I wish I was exaggerating.

We left for Murree by 8:30 which is pretty early and I’m glad I didn’t wake up at 6, as my dad said because I knew we would never, in a million years, leave at 6. It’s not a thing in my family to be punctual. Ever. For those of you who don’t know, Murree is a hill station that is completely magical. It has the most beautiful greenery and trees that are as old as, I don’t know, 300 years ago. It’s an hour and half drive from where I live, Islamabad.

Let me tell you a little story about Murree. When the British came to India, they used to love Murree. Many used to live there because they loved the mountains and the weather. The weather is extremely cold in the winters and heavenly warm and breezy in the summers. The summer weather in Murree is literally my favorite. You don’t sweat, and the warm sun on your face is just, heavenly, to say the least. So, it has some churches and it’s still a very loved tourist spot. And, of course I love it too.

We reached around 11, the sun was shining but the winds made the chill extremely known. If there were no winds, I’d say the daytime was ok. But, it was chilly and very very cold in the day too. We went to our rooms which unfortunately had no efficient heating system so I stood infront of a old used up electric heater. Which is meant to burn your legs after 2 minutes of standing infront of it. But nope, it was absolutely useless and five minutes in, I was already freezing. I bugged my dad to give me a spare sweater of his because I was freezing, that did.. well let’s say it didn’t suck all together.

We then went to Chinar Golf club for some food, which is ohmygod. The most beautiful place ever, like I have no words. It’s a golf course and it’s astonishing. Tall pine trees overlooking the mountains, which I believe are the Himalayas, I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure it’s not Kashmir. When the sun hits the trees from across the mountains, it almost looks gold. It’s like the unintentional live version of Stairway to Heaven, all that glitters should be gold. It’s all that comes into my mind when I see that. I feel like more and more people need to come and see Pakistan, because it’s absolutely beautiful. Yes, it definitely needs work in maintenance and basic somethings, but apart from that, it should be on your list.

Had some food and drank some coffee while taking in the view. Read the 3rd part in the Red Queen series, King’s Cage. Let me tell you this, I cried at the end because I was shook and I can’t even wait to read the final part. I already have it with me and I’m on chapter five as of now. I’ll write a review after I’m done, but I’m so excited ohmygod. The caramel latte I had was everything. We strolled and took loads of pictures because the place deserved a lot of love and I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to take pictures in such a heavenly place.

Then, we went to the Mall, it’s just a street that has a load of shops that sell local specialities and everything in between. I bought so many rings that I love and two boxes that look like small Tiffany boxes. I also, bought a ring that looks the crown on the cover of War Storm. Maybe, I’ll find my Cal too, hahah just kidding. I don’t need one now, but yes please for the future.

I aslo got these super cute Kashmiri earrings that I love! I haven’t worn earrings like this ever, so i’m very excited to wear them at the next wedding.

This gray cloudy ring reminds me of something Maven would give Mare, (strong Red Queen vibes), before he went loco. Also, it’s super unique. The other one is just a simple band, which i’m in love with. It’s very elegant and cute. The last one on my thumb is just a interwoven silver pattern.

I got this lion ring that I was absolutely blown by, it was so stunning and I just had to. Also, because i’m leo, is the main reason I bought this ring. I do have one that’s similar but it’s a panther and it’s in silver, but I was so attracted to this ring right here. And, Gucci makes the same ring in silver for around 700$! So, I got it for way cheaper. My zodiac’s leo, and it’s gold so it’s perfect— leos are considered the sunshine of the zodiac. Not to brag, but yeah. (It was really difficult geting a picture of this, so you bet when I had some bomb shots like this, I had to post all)

The ring on my ring finger looks so similar to the crown on War Storm’s cover and I knew I had to get it. It shines so beautiful in the sun, like all the gray-black gems shine every color of the rainbow, it’s so stunning. It’s unlike any ring that I have. The other ring was something that i wanted for so long but I literally could not find it anywhere. It’s a two piece that has a small mid ring up and it’s very unique. The last one is just a similar one to the one I have in silver, which is just in antique version of it. I seriously cannot wait to wear these! ❤️

We walked and walked and roamed all through the end. For dinner we ended up going to KFC, after a long debate on burgers vs pizza. Pizza for life, but I guess we were feeling crispy fried chicken on a insanely cold night. Food was good, we had more coffee, more shopping then around 11:30, we left for our hotel. We did roam around for 6+ hours. It was fun. Loads.

Now was the time where I nearly died. Well, ok not died but pretty damn close. I’m no fan of winter, I absolutely hate it. It hate being cold and shiver-y and my hands and feet get blue because of the cold. So that should tell you about my dependency on warmth. I’m a cold blood. Half of my palm and my fingers got blue. I had to shove my hands into the heater to get rid of it. It was all our shitty hotel, that sucked. The place was nice and all but the heating was a big no-no, it was pathetic. I even wore two sweaters to bed and took two blankets, but I was still wheezing and out of breath all night. Couldn’t sleep, it was a total disaster. It was -3 at night, what’d you expect? And also, ended up having the worst flu ever and a bit of a fever. Nothing severe, thank god. I survived!

I definitely had a lot of fun but getting cold and sick was not fun at all. But, I did enjoy, it does still count. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all of you celebrating! ❤

Thank you for reading!! ❤ xx

Worth reading: the sun and her flowers by Rupi Kaur

November 24, 2018 — Leave a comment

I picked up ‘the sun and her flowers’ by Rupi in late September. But, I got so busy I couldn’t give it the time it deserves. I remember so many people raving about, taking aesthetically pleasing pictures all over Instagram. It was everywhere.

I had bought this after I finished and loved milk and honey with every thing I have. Her words are so pure yet not so pure at the same time. There’s this thing in Rupi’s writing that makes you read it over and over again. It feels you feel evey emotion side my side.

Her poems are incredibly mesmerising. I couldn’t even put the book down. I actually forced myself to stop after I finished two parts in nearly 25 minutes. I wanted to enjoy it more.

I let the sun peek through my enormous window, laid down on the carpet and read the poems slowly. It was some experience. I had Zayn playing on my speakers and I read through poems about self love, building yourself and all the heartache.

I loved countless poems and I can’t pick a favourite. If you don’t read poetry, or haven’t started, or are thinking of reading— do it! Poetry is so unique and intoxicating that you can’t get enough of it. I’ll definitely try and read Rumi next whenever I get the chance.

I’d highly recommend giving this a read, i’m sure you’d be impressed. If you haven’t already, of course. If you’ve already read it, tell me how you like it.

PS: sorry if this is short, but what else can you talk about for a great poetry book? it speaks for itself.

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Thankyou for reading loves. X ❤

My one hour speed shopping & Friday’s music.

November 1, 2018 — Leave a comment

I actually had little to no intention of buying all the stuff that I bought. It’s completely unwarranted for and, what the hell am I going to do with this much stuff. Honestly, sometimes I think I shouldn’t buy this much, because it isn’t nice to do so. However, I’m all heart eyes when I see something I like. So, am I really to blame? It’s all impulses I tell you.

I dragged my Mom with me to the mall so I could check out Body Shop’s winter sale. I swear I couldn’t find anything, and trust me when I tell you this, I can find gems from a trash can. But I guess that’s what was left in that sale and I did go the last day so I can’t really be mad. We walked on over to Accessorize and I thought, ‘I won’t buy anything but there’s no harm in looking. Boy, was I wrong. There were a couple of things that caught my eye and I managed to buy two.

The rose gold necklace is a layered one and sort of reminds me of the one my aunt wears, in the best way possible. I was looking for something simple but which was still my style. I feel like like hoops are such a statement that you can’t actually go wrong with it. Its very mid 2000’s but are still very chic. These ones are kind of twisted and are silver.

We then roamed around a few more clothes shops, because I had to get my Halloween outfit. Sadly, there is no formal Halloween celebration in Pakistan, but I wish there was. SO this year, I decided to throw a Halloween party of my own. Me, my friends, cousins, it’s going to be a blast, I hope. But, I couldn’t find the shirt I wanted anywhere so I decided to get it made. I’m so exited for the party and dress up as someone I love, it’s also sort of sad because I’ll have to tell everywhere who I am, maybe some will know who knows. I hope someone knows.

My mom was tired and she wanted to go home but I was out of mascara so I took her to Hyperstar. Which, is the worst place you can go if you’re just window shopping. You can never leave empty handed out of that place. I ended up buying the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Exactic. I’ve heard so many great things and I was willing to give it a chance. So, hear me out, I was leaving the L’Oreal counter when this really pretty nude lipstick caught my eye, the packaging was red marble and it was ugh, so cute. It is, 630 Beige A Nu, which is I’m guessing french because it has ‘Cannes’ written over the tube. Both were for 1999RS / 17 US$.

Once again, I was leaving. But I decided to throw in the Garnier Hydra Bomb masks. Let me tell you, if you’re a budget queen like me, you’ll love these. I got one in the super hydrating and replenishing with pomegranate extract. I’ve tried this twice now and I can really see a difference. And, in my defense I needed skin care because my skin is super shitty these days. I also got the under eye Hydra Bomb, because of university, i’ve got a shit ton to do and that messes with my sleep sometimes. It’s has orange juice and hyaluronic acid which makes your skin plump and if I’m not wrong, defies ageing too.

Also, picked up the L’oreal Hydra fresh anti shine cream. Winters. It has an icy gel texture and it purifies and mattifies. I don’t need much mattifying because my skin is normal, but I do get oily at the end of the day. It is the deep clean source water, and it just sounds right up my skin care alley.

Then we just went to check out and called it a night. Trust me when I say it was late. I managed this all in an hour if I’m going to be precise, this is my one hour speed shopping.

I’m currently listening to Khalid’s new EP Suncity, for literally the thousandth time. It’s so good, it’s pure RnB except for a song or two. I mean, this EP is pure magic. Every song is soulful and filled with the utmost emotion. Khalid’s motion and vocals are so much more clear and filled compared to the American Teen album. This is truly the start of an era, and I truly wish it was a full length album, because it deserves all the love. My favourites were: Vertigo, Motion, and everything else. Give it a listen, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Khalid Suncity

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Thankyou so much for reading and supporting. ❤ X

How the Moon & the Stars plotted the Lovers’ Revenge.

October 25, 2018 — Leave a comment

“Forever?”

“Forever.”

He replied with his warm breath close to hers, tucking her golden waves behind her eyes. She didn’t know what lies the universe had fed the lovers. Laughing in contempt the mighty moon, with the help of mischievous glowing stars; they thought to themselves, “look how the mortals love.” Cried one in irony.

“It’s pitiful that they think they’ll last forever.” Stated the other while scoffing and awaiting the destruction to slither it’s way into their lives.

Many moons passed, but the lovers stayed strong. They proved their undying love for each other, in every obstacle they faced. Each stone in their journey was thoughtfully put— to test them, to see if they could endure it. The moon and the stars scoffed, while God playfully put them together, as He, is the puppeteer and they were His puppets.

While one gloomy full moon night; God stopped playing and moved to the other puppets, while the moon and the stars plotted the lovers’ revenge.

“How about they fell out of love?”

“What happens to the other if one dies?”

“Let’s make them hate eachother.” One after the other made rational decisions to destroy them, but the moon was eager on one thing alone.

There stood the love of his life, white dress with her father giving her away. He couldn’t control himself; it was if he was given an ecstasy pill. Tears of happiness in his eyes, the smile he was crazy for before he even knew her. The very person he’d seem in his dreams. She was now his. He was her’s to keep for all eternity.

“Now’s time, boss,”

He’d seen her in every aspect; happy, sad, terrified, angry— but he’d never seen her like this. It was as if his soul had been taken from him, there was no desire to breath nor any wish to be alive. As he held the love of his life in his arms, lifeless. “Darling,” he cried out; “my love”, but she didn’t respond to anything. Was it him? He couldn’t tell what had happened to her. And in that moment, he knew, that there was nothing left in the world for him.

Seven heavens above, God cried and cried that very night. The earth shattered and suffered lightening, thunder and hail. There seemed to be no remorse that could calm Him down. “I’ve let the Moon and the Stars take away the love from two people who loved each other more than their being..”

That night showed God’s fury and sadness to the earth as it joined in mourning.

“Forgive me for I have let two lovers slip.”

———

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Thankyou so much for reading. X

Playlist to my life.

October 20, 2018 — Leave a comment

Music is something that is so magical to me and the moment I heard the first tune of the first song I ever remember, I was in love. I firmly believe that if there’s something truly magical in this world, it’s music. Music is such a huge part of my life because my Dad is super into it, and I’ve always heard stuff playing, so it was pretty hard to miss. If my voice was nice, I’d definitely love to be a singer, but I guess life has other plans for me.

Paul Mariat Love Is Blue My dad is huge on classical music and is probably his favorite genre of all time. He says you feel the music, not pay attention to the details. It’s the first song that I remember hearing and I still love it to this day. My dad would be proud because he thinks I solely listen to shitty music. No dad, my music taste is freakin’ awesome. *shoulder shrug*

Hotel California Eagles Rock. One of my most favorite genres to listen to. I can honestly listen to anything, but man, rock has such a special place in my heart. I’ve heard Rock since like I was probably a toddler maybe. But I vividly remember me and my cousin listening to this song on repeat. We would bang our heads and soulfully close our eyes when Don Felder played his guitar. God, I can’t even put into words how 7 year old me would react to that. I still do everything I did whenever I listen to this song. It holds not only great memories for me, but also sparked my love for Guitar.

Beautiful Eminem I can’t even express the love I have for Eminem. From classical to rock, to a completely different genre: my love for Eminem will never fade away. The words are raw and extremely honest. It’s what someone wants to hear when there going through a shitty time in their life. Eminem raps about real life, struggles and problems and that’s what attracts me so much towards him. It pulled me out of a really shitty time in my life. The lyrics speak to me on a spiritual level, honestly.

What Goes Around Comes Around Justin Timberlake this song was the one where I absolutely fell in love with JT, his music was so soulful and beautiful I loved it. Nowadays it just feels like weird pop.. This was the song I heard when I was going through a rough time and I knew I didn’t do anything wrong, so nothing bad can happen to me after. Basically, karma.

Japanese Denim Daniel Ceaser Basically no exact reason why I love this, I’m absolutely obsessed with Daniel Ceaser, extremely underrated and definitely needs tons of recognition and love. He literally has the voice of an angel and the context of the song is beautiful. It talks about not caring of your needs when you’re so in love with the other person, all you care about is them. The idea is pretty sweet and I’m obsessed with it!

Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton I have no words to describe how beautiful this song actually is. I’ve seen my parents dance to this while getting ready and that’s the most beautiful memory I have relating to this song. Also, Clapton plays the guitar so exquisitely that it teleports you to another dimension.

Him & I G Eazy ft Halsey A friend of mine actually told me to listen to G Eazy and for that, thanks girl. The thing I love about G Eazy is that he draws inspiration from books and then makes parallels in his life and raps about it. I look for a meaning in every rap I hear, it just makes me feel strong in a way. This song makes me feel so in love with love, because they claim to have each other’s back no matter what. Like, that’s the kind of love people look for, difficult to find but when you do stick to it. Also, Halsey is amazing and again, extremely underrated.

In My Blood Shawn Mendes …also, the love of my life. Infinity heart eye emojis and LOTS of love to this angel. This song was released in March, but holyshit.. it’s hit me in so many places and helped me through so much shit. I remember listening to this on full blast while I badly bruised my knuckles. I remember failing in paper 2 of my law exam (school ones, not the final oh my god) and listening to this. It gets through all the emotions a person is feeling when there going through a panic attack or a rough time. I told myself that it’s not in my blood to give in and I can do it, I can have an A in my law exam and guess what.. I got an A*. I remember this song ringing in my head all the time while giving my exams. Also, the guitar is stunning. Great work Shawn and Zubin.

Stairway To Heaven Led Zeppelin I remember listening to this song for the first time and being like, ‘what is this satanic…(God forgive me) shit’ I SWEAR I DIDNT MEAN A WORD. I take my words and I eat them as I repent my sins. I was young and stupid. This is a piece of ART. The guitar played throughout is phenomenal and extremely euphoric. Jimmy Page is definitely one of my favorite guitarists of all time. I mean, the passion he has while playing the tune is insane. Robert Plant is talented beyond light years and I love his voice. The percussion is beautiful and the ugh, this is art. My dad told me that when you listen to Led Zeppelin you can’t listen to anything else, man, he has never been more right.

Lose Yourself Eminem I’m warning you there’s a lot of Em in my playlist, so, yeah. This is also one of those songs when someone feels there’s a lot to do, but you can’t get it done.. this is that song. It gives you all the motivation to do what you need to, pushes you to do it. I’ve always listened to it in exam season and also whenever I feel like it. There’s a line in either this song or in RapGod that he says that he bullies himself to do what he wants to and that’s why he’s the greatest. I guess it’s RapGod. I’ve literally bullied myself to study for hours and revising like a madman for hours and also pushes information in my brain, drinking a pint of black coffee.. yeah I did that. But like for one subject, so don’t get that twisted. I have the line “success is my only mother****ing option, failures not”, written on my mirror. Talk about inspiration, there’s no one greater than Em to give that.

Gravity John Mayer I love the country feeling mixed with RnB and a hint of blues. I love John’s music and this one in particular is my favorite. They change quite a bit, but this one really moves me. It tells you that no matter what, gravity will always pull you down, but what you can do for that is that you can always back up. Don’t let life pull you down because it always pulls people down, nbd.

In The End Linkin Park RIP Chester Bennington. I love their music and the reason that nearly every song from them is extensively thought out. ‘In the end it doesn’t even matter’, this is so true but also at the same time the idea is so difficult to grab onto. It’s a beautiful ode to what life’s about and that you don’t have to kill your self to be perfect. Because, it doesn’t matter. Also, Linkin Park is not the same after Chester, this is my opinion but obviously you don’t have to agree.

I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing Aerosmith The first time that I listened to this song was when I was 7 or 8. I’ve always had a thing for rock, because I’ve heard it from such a young again. I remember my dad having the Devil’s Got A New Disguise CD and the moment this song played, I fell in love. I loved the lyrics even when I was too young to understand them. Sitting in the back of our car I tell my dad to play this specific song over and over again. It’s so reminiscent of my childhood and I can’t even imagine not having this in my life’s playlist.

The Man Who Sold The World Nirvana I remember I was watching a Shane Dawson conspiracy theory while he talked about Kurt Cobain’s death. I remembered his name but I could associate anything with him. So I typed in his name and under some videos came this song. It’s originally a David Bowie song but he covered it for their MTV unplugged album. I feel like the MTV Unplugged albums are well thought out and extremely magical. There was something about Kurt’s sloppy guitar and grunge voice that I loved. And, by his sloppy guitar I mean no disrespect. I love him and still I’m so sad for his death, even though I wasn’t a rebellious kid in the 90’s but I still connect deeply with his music.

Spacebound Eminem Probably one of the first songs I heard from Eminem. I guess, but I can always listen to this and have a sudden mood shift, if I want to be sad that is. It’s an incredibly thought out and complex song about having trust issues with love and them breaking your trust. I feel like if that’s heartbreak, this is the worst kind there is to exist. “Promise you’ll think of me every time you look up in the sky and see a star,” is one of my favorite lyrics not just from Eminem, but all time. It’s a sad reminder for a brutal reality.

Manhattan Kings Of Leon Recently discovered the band, and obsessed with their album— Closer By The Night. I’ve listened to it countless times and it still never gets old nor do I get bored. It’s the type of song that just makes me feel happy, alive and makes me do crazy stuff. I’m so much more adventurous whenever I listen to this song. There’s something about the guitar and the soft yet harsh voice that makes it so unique. It definitely teleports me to Manhattan.

Heartless The Fray I found out about this band from the early Tumblr days, and remember listening to How To Save A Life and then, loving their songs. I’ve listened to a lot, but this one sort of sticks with me. It’s the saddest song ever (I’m probably wrong) but I love it still. I don’t remember exactly why I’m putting this here but it was something. The lyrics are deep.. don’t feel sad when you listen to this. But you will feel sad.

With Or Without You U2 This was the song I heard when I knew what rock was. I was old enough to understand and differentiate the different genres of music and love them equally. I remember having this fascination with U2, and urging my friend to listen to it while she goes like, “this is shit and it sucks so bad.” I remember feeling awful about playing my sort of music in front of her. Which, later on made me extremely conscious about the music I play in front of people.

Hey You Pink Floyd I don’t even think that this song needs any justification as to why it’s in my playlist. Without Pink Floyd, my life would not be complete. It’s a part of me and i love it more than any thing i have ever loved. The drums in this are absolutely insane and Nick did such a great job.

Echoes (Pompeii) Pink Floyd I doubt that this genius piece of musical art needs any explanation as to why I love it. Although this is something i tend to say about every Pink Floyd song. Every, single song.

That’s it, the 21 songs to the playlist of my life. I had a bunch more in my mind but I don’t know if anyone would be interested in more, so I had to cut it short. If you’ve got the same preferences as me or have a song or a couple of them on common; let me know! I’d love to know that. But, if you’re someone who can’t appreciate or respect someone’s music taste, I don’t have any words to say to you.

Thank you so much for reading my shit and supporting the hell out of it! Lots of love xo ❤

Instagram: @opaqueblues

Email: opaqueblue8@gmail.com

What I bought after shopping for 13 hours.

October 16, 2018 — 2 Comments

After a crazy weekend in Lahore, I’m finally home and after all the Monday drama, I’m free to write about my weekend fiasco. Before I start, Lahore, you were absolutely amazing and I love you so much.

So, I didn’t actually shop for 13 hours in a stretch, while that could be something I’d be eager to experience. I shopped for 3 hours on Friday and 10 ish hours on Saturday. For my shopping, I went to Packages Mall, which I had never been to. Because this dummy went to Lahore after two years. I have no idea how it has been that long but, yeah it has been. If you haven’t been to Packages as of yet, you need to go there ASAP.

So on Friday night, I went to Packages at like 9pm. I spent the day writing the previous blog, for that: thank you for reading. ❤ And mainly spent time lounging and relaxing in gymkhana. The first shop we rushed into was Miniso. I feel like it’s a new hip thing to do and whenever you go into shop you always have to buy something. It’s like an impulse, put that in, ooh I like that, that’s cute— sort of thing. I ended up spending 2500 RS / 23 US$.

I bought an Aloe Vera moisture toner, which aloe is great for your skin. If you’re skin is burnt due to, sunburn or excessive use of exfoliation— this is the thing for you. Being the dummy that I am, I used an exfoliated twice in a row and that resulted in me having the most worst skin time of my life. I’ve never had skin problems thank God. But, that shit truly gave me a heart attack. I couldn’t even wash my face without it stinging like hell. So I ordered the CoNatural Aloe Healing Gel, and let me tell you this, it is magic. It fixed my skin in like 3 days of consistent use. So, I wanted to give the Aloe toner a chance.

Olive Oil for Hyderation and Moisture. I don’t exactly know if you’re supposed to put it on your face but I put it on my face. My checks get very dry in winters but stays normal throughout the year. I use it for my hands and on my face. Also got cotton squares for these, they were also super inexpensive.

A hair drying towel and a satin shower cap. Because you don’t wash your hair everyday, that’s just wrong. If you do, please don’t, you’re slowly killing and damaging it. Hair care is extremely essential and it’s something so many people sleep on. I’ll definitely do a hair routine, because there is one I follow religiously.

Daisy moisturizing facial spray and a rose spray along with the Hydrolat Orange Blossom sheet masks. I’ve used the sheet masks before and I honestly love them! They work great and you get three for 250RS / 1.50US$. It’s a steal at that price.

Next shop I went to was Inglot. I actually forced my mom to go with me because I wanted to see the Jennifer Lopez collection. I’ve seen pictures from her shoot and, I’m just floored every time I see JLo. Like, how is she 48 and still flawless? Honestly, God I see what you do for other people. Is watched the highlighters and the red and the nude lipstick. I loved the highlight so much that I ended buying it, oops. I bought the J201 in Radiate. It was the one that went perfectly with my skin tone and it’s so glittery I love it so much. I somehow convinced my Mom to split the money with me for it and she agreed! So yeah, we ended up splitting the money and I got it for 2450 RS / 22.50 US$. Spoiler: it’s absolutely blinding. Also, wore it for 8hours+ on the next day.

Saturday.

Woke up at 12, slept at 2am. Good morning. The grind starts again, by that I mean more shopping, hahaha. Went to Emporium this time. I like the overall vibe but I definitely prefer Packages to it. I went to Nishat and liked a couple of shirts but didn’t end up buying it. I feel like Nishat used to be so good 3 years ago that I only used to buy clothes from there, but lately it’s like… meh. Trying to stay relevant. There are some nice pieces which I really like but, the majority isn’t the greatest. I hope they’d hire a new designer and shit.

Went to Khaadi and saw this absolutely gorgeous white linen shirt. The fabric was really one of a kind, the design was nice and of course, the stitching. It was only 2000 RS / 18 US$ and I was sold that very moment. I tried it on and it looked equally as nice so I got it. If you see this in stores, give it a try and buy it if you want to!

Also, got a blue night suit from Diner’s, which was eventually too stiff for and I ended up giving that to my mom. I really love my unimpressive night clothes. What can I say, comfort over style when you’re sleeping is my rule 101.

Rushed to Packages to go to Accessorize, I was so disappointed like…?? Why even bother? They had a 50% sale which was literally on like 2racks. The most weird looking bag packs and weird jewelry.. why? I rushed out just like I rushed in, in a blink of an eye. After dinner, we went to Hyperstar.

Mind you at this point, it’s already like 7 hours spent in malls, and we’re walking into another.

11:30— Got a red storage box for storing extra stuff or my extra makeup that doesn’t fit into my drawer.. I should hoard less… Also got a pack of three red facial towers because I love to take care of my skin. I’m negligent at most times but once a week, I really treat myself to it. Got a California Republic navy hoodie which I really like and it’s really warm too, also wearing it in the picture! All of this stuff was under 1500RS / 13 US$, maybe even less.

Sunday.

Got up at 8 had had like 7 pancakes drenched in pancake syrup. So like before you judge me, they were small sized and around the size of your palm probably. And, we’ve all been there before. Rushed to Readings at 10 because it’s tradition to go to Lahore and go buy books. I’ve been reading a lot of poetry lately and I want to get back to the stories. I was exited to go and as usual, spent a lot of time deciding what I want because I’m truly over the romance stuff, unless it’s real good ofcourse. So if you’ve got murder mystery suggestions or like other unique genres, tell me.

I got Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. It really caught my eye and I’ve started reading it, it’s quite different and a good mystery so far.

Shatter Me by Tahera Mafi, because my friend told me about it like three years ago and I could never find it in stores anywhere. I remember she used to speak so highly of it, so when I saw it, I immediately put it in.

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff, I was actually leaving for checkout but came across the history section. If you know me, you know I’m a history freak, I find that stuff extremely interesting and I really wish I was born in the 16th century. Hmm, if only.

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth. The story from the back seemed extremely interesting and I was very intrigued to buy it. Also she wrote Divergent, which was an absolute hit and I remember everyone reading that back in 2013.

That sums up my weekend in Lahore, and again thank you so much for reading I hope you all like the stuff I write about. And, of course if you want to critique me on something, or tell me what to blog about, I’d be more than happy to listen to it. Once again, thank you for reading and supporting me. ❤

Follow me on Instagram: @opaqueblues

Whats in my travel bag + My current travel playlist.

October 12, 2018 — Leave a comment

Traveling is arguably the most beautiful thing ever. You get to see new places, eat different sorts of food, meet new people— and the overall experience is magic. Whether you’re traveling international or in your domestic country, it never gets old. One of my favorite places to visit in Pakistan, is Lahore. There’s something about the air in Lahore that is so rich in culture and heritage that you can’t get away from it. It pulls you towards itself and makes you fall in love all over again. If you’re a Pakistani who still hasn’t seen Lahore, first of all, who are you? And second, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Lahore. I could go on and on about Lahore but let’s talk about what the blog is about.

Currently drinking my Schweppes tonic water, which is bitter in it’s aftertaste but like sparking water at first. I packed my small black Accessorize bag which my friend gave to me for my 17th birthday, and the size is perfect for traveling domestically or even internationally. I had my ‘the sun and her flowers’ book by Rupi Kaur.. I’ll just do a review on that later. Having a book when you travel is an essential of mine. I can get bored easily and I’m the type of person that always wants to do something even if I’m exhausted as hell. My blue glittery notebook from Accessorize which I got from Safa Gold a while back for 1700RS / 15US$. It doesn’t have lines which is pretty cool because I can draw some ideas or cross out things I’ve done.

Having a diary is also a must because, I feel like when I don’t have a diary on me, I’m losing my thoughts and I don’t want to lose them. There’s something about writing your thoughts with a pen that makes me feel safe and calm at the same time. However, this isn’t the diary that I write my secrets in, that one is my prized possession and no ones going to read it anytime soon.

Wallet, because you definitely can’t travel without it. It not only has your ID and other cards but also money. And, you need money, doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity or a normal person, you need money to survive. Also, there’s something about leather that I’ve always been attracted to, be it jackets or wallets; I absolutely love leather. The wallet it from Jafferjee’s and I got it from the Giga outlet. It has my initials “MAQ” on the front and it was an 18th birthday present from my Mom. It was for 2400RS / 22US$. Funny story, my best friend also gave me the same wallet as a birthday present this year, but I’ve saved it for when this one gets ruined. Which could take a while, but I’m glad I have a backup leather wallet.

I’m not high maintenance. Or, I guess I’m not. I tried the Rose water hydrating spray from Miniso and got it for 350RS / 2.50 US$. It’s actually really refreshing when used frequently and also rose water is good for your skin. The mist isn’t great, I’ll say that. But, if you want baby soft skin like you had when you didn’t hit puberty, get it this.

I feel like a lot of these things are presents but, hey, I like the things people give me. Also, when someone gives you something out of love, you got to use it. It’s a token of their love for you. My hands get extremely dry through out the year and I have to use lotions for my hands all year round. My go is Nivea body lotion, but it’s too big for traveling. The large bottle is for 575RS / 4.75US$, and are easily available in practically any drugstore. I don’t know if they make a travel size, if someone knows that, please tell! But I have the Bath and Body Works Mad For You mini lotion; which is perfect for traveling. It smells incredible and has shea butter and vitamin E in it. It definitely smooths out my crusty dusty hands. HAHAH, probably aren’t that bad.. or are they?

Sunglasses. These are a must even if you’re just going out of the house. They protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and stops the nasty aging spots and hence, no wrinkles. I mean, I definitely do not want that. Look at JLo, she has the biggest sunglasses ever, and is practically perfect. Take notes. The sunglasses are Police, and I don’t remember the price, there quite old.

A makeup bag by body shop that is actually my mom’s but, I stole it from her. Hahah, she knows so it’s not really stealing. It has all my makeup products that I love and I know that work. They’re limited and I love to travel light, because I always want to buy stuff from the place I visit. Whether it’s Lahore or London, this rule does not change.

My jewelry box which is the utmost precious thing that I own. Let me know if you’d like a post on my go to silver and gold toned jewelry. The box has two compartments and a small mirror which is actually pretty handy. I got the box from Islamabad’s Sunday bazaar. It was I don’t know, like 150RS / 1US$, which is like nothing. And it works pretty well, holds a lot of small stuff and is very small itself, so you can just throw it in your bag.

My iPad of course, so I can watch YouTube. Currently watching the Jake Paul series made my Shane Dawson, which is literally a roller coaster. If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend watching it. And, the charging cable if my phone or iPad are low on battery.

Headphones; because music is everything and I have to listen to it in the car. My current playlist is:

Without Me Halsey This is such a heartfelt song by Halsey and incredibly catchy.

Stairway To Heaven Led Zeppelin This is such a cult classic song and can never get old. Led Zeppelin is definitely the jewels of Rock and I’m utterly obsessed with them. Jimmy Page’s guitar skills blow me away every single time I listen to this piece of art. What a masterpiece. ❤

Under Pressure Shawn Mendes ft Teddy (Queen cover) This.. is probably one of the best Shawn songs to have released. If you’re a fan of Queen or old school Rock bands, you need to give it a listen. It’s a Queen cover for their new movie and will be featured in it. I’M SO EXITED! As I played the song, 2 seconds in and I was already obsessed. This is an incredibly difficult song to cover, and Shawn literally tried his best, the falsettos are beautiful and the flow is incredibly smooth. Seeing the vocal changes in his voice from the last two years, it’s so amazing to see that he’s only aiming for the top. I’m so proud of him. :’) Freddie Mercury would be proud, RIP.

Japanese Denim Daniel Ceaser If you’re still not listening to Daniel Ceaser… why? If you’re a RnB fan, you’ll love this. He truly has the voice of an angel.

Hotel California (Live) Eagles This is the song of my childhood, literally. Give it a listen, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Idontwannabeyouanymore Billie Eilish This has such a strong message, and it’s written by a 16 year old. What was I doing when I was 16? Probably moping around the house.

Bad Reputation MTV Unplugged Shawn Mendes This is the one of THE best Shawn Mendes songs. Literally top 10. Don’t even try to argue with me on this, because nothing can change my mind on this. Even my Dad likes it!

Kamikaze (Album) by Eminem. Can’t stop listening to it. Also, the people who think Revival sucked, you need half a brain to understand the meaning behind that album. But give it a listen if you haven’t already. If you have, can we be best friends? I listened to it the day it released, just clarifying before someone labels me as a ‘fake fan’, man I hate when people do that.

I’m pretty sure I’ll do a playlist to my life sort of blog. Where I’ll explain in detail what the song is, why I like it, and what memories I have linked to them. Those are my favorite to watch and I haven’t come across that in a written form, so I’d love to do that. Let me know!

PS: I slept halfway so… don’t blame me, I woke up at 6am for this.

Thank you so much for the love on the blogs, reading and just supporting me. Even if you’re hating on me, I guess, thanks? ❤

Follow my instagram: @opaqueblues