Hi guys!

I hope you're having a great summer and that you were able to take some time to yourselves to decompress, relax, and just take a deep breath.

We took a short trip to Puerto Rico last week before getting back to the grind - and it was more amazing than I had expected! We visited two different parts of the island - Fajardo and Bahia Beach, and took a day trip to Palomino Island which was out of this world. White sand and crystal-clear still water. I love that feeling of swimming in fresh salty water (and not having to worry about chlorine turning my hair green, haha).

The news from Egypt over the past few weeks has been sad and alarming. A friend and I took a trip to Cairo in the spring of 2008 to visit another friend who is living and working there as a journalist. We explored an exciting city, full of life and energy and amazing history. I share here with you photos from what was an unforgettable trip.

I'm so grateful I was able to see what a truly beautiful city it is and hope peace and stability return there very soon.

xoxo

Hello lovely readers!

Apologies for the lack of activity here over the past month. Some new developments have taken place (will share very soon!) but we're back now with more pics and tips for your viewing pleasure! 

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a weekend, there's nothing like NYC in the summer. That's where we spent this past weekend (which was also my birthday!) And if you're looking for a place to stay, a cute boutique hotel to check out is The Bentley in the Upper East Side. (I love exploring boutique hotels whenever we go somewhere - they're decorated so much more chic than your average digs, so they're a great place to see new furnishings and designs to get inspired.)

Here are some pics from our weekend - we got to see a little bit of MoMA, had dinner above Columbus Circle at Robert's in the Modern Art and Design Museum (which had a spectacular view!), and celebrated with dessert at one of our fave little cafes, Cafe Lalo in the Upper West Side.

Another great thing about NYC in the summer is all the free activities that go on throughout the city. We spent the day at the Bleecker Street Festival and walking (and eating lots!) around Greenwich Village, then lounging and people-watching at Washington Square. We tried for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, but were beat out by the 2-mile-long line in Central Park. However, a less-known and and not-so-bad consolation prize is the New York Classical Theater that also puts on free shows in the park at the same time. So if you're in the city and miss out on Shakespeare because tix are hard to come by, this is a great alternative!

Enjoy!

Art @MoMA

Views atop Columbus Circle

@ Cafe Lalo in the Upper West Side - a great date spot!

@ The Bentley Hotel in the Upper East Side

Nothing like relaxing on a bench watching people go by in Washington Square on a beautiful summer day

Don't forget, you can follow The Style Matrix on Instagram for more pics!

One of my favorite things about browsing through blogs (like most people) is peeking into someone else's life to see where they go and what they wear. Seeing the world through someone else's perspective - the small things they notice that you usually miss - is the most interesting part. And the best is when he or she can share it artfully, with photos that make you feel like you were there.

That's what I tried to do here - tried being the operative word. Our journey through the Old City of Lahore was an ambush of bright sights and sounds. Although somewhat chaotic (I don't know how many times I almost got hit by a car or motorcycle) it was exhilarating. I'm not sure if these pics really capture how claustrophobia-inducing some parts were (especially the old Spice Market), but those close spaces were really the Old City's greatest charm - along with the architecture of course, which I will share in my next post. To anyone who can visit, I would highly recommend it. There are fewer and fewer places that can stay authentic and not commercially dominated by globalization. For all its negative PR, many places in Pakistan remain raw and therefore truly an experience of a lifetime.

The famous Food Street in Lahore - quiet in the morning

I think this is where I almost got hit by a motorcycle

Three generations of women shopping - me, my mom, and grandmom. We are really good at it.

Traditional slippers for toddlers - kind of adorable

Dried fruit here was the best

Mmmm I'll have that one