"The Look" What Does An American Look Like? - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

"The Look" What Does An American Look Like? - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Not too long ago, I was having dinner in Istanbul with one of my favorite girlfriends, Julide. She’s a flight attendant and occasionally has to fly to the USA. She told me about the first time she went to America.
It was New York City. She was looking forward to seeing this infamous place. I asked her what she thought of the city and the people.

“Well, I remember when I was walking on the street, and looking at people I thought to myself: ‘Where are the American people?’" Not wanting to jump to the wrong conclusion, I asked her what she meant.

“Well, I looked around and I saw everything. I was surprised” There were people from India, from Asian countries, Latinos… but she wanted to see Americans. I giggled. And I understood.

So how would you answer the question: What does an American look like?

I told her that with the exception of the Native American Indian there's not really an American "look." Yes, the country has...

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I Used To Be A Bird & I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

I Used To Be A Bird & I Kicked Butt! A Belly Dancer's Memoir - Dilara's Diary - HipMix.Net

Today I learned about an attack on Elmo in Florida. Thank you CNN for opening up those unresolved wounds for me. Office Goddess Jenn (yes, that is her new title) told me the best way to work through painful memories is to tell the story. So, here we go:

When I went to college, for some fun-loving reason I decided I wanted to be the school’s mascot. A cardinal. I waited, tried out – and I got it. Never mind the fact that the only other competition I had was the current mascot, who was ineligible due to poor grades. I still was the mascot… and I got to go to Mascot Camp!

Yes, there really is a mascot camp. (See me? I'm the one with the pretty yellow legs)

While there, I met a number of other characters. Some well known, like TCU’s Horned Frog and K-State’s Wildcat. Some not so well known, like Austin College’s Kangaroo and some strange Purple Glob from someplace I never heard of.....

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Miss Piggy Raqs! Move Over Katy Perry, Let's Learn From This Diva

So, yeah - Katy Perry and Elmo had their 15 minutes.  All the attention’s on Katy... but as my Office Goddess Jenn (her new title BTW) pointed out:

ELMO’S NAKED!!!!! :S

So does Katy have boobies?  Yes.  *gasp*  But she’s not the first buxom broad on the show.  Climb the Muppet Family Tree and you’ll find one of my favorite ladies of all time: Miss Piggy

Mix 1 part Mae West      
with a shot of Marilyn
a pinch of sugar
add a splash of  SHIMMY!  

 

That’s right..... Miss Piggy has been seen doing lots of fabulous things, with her fabulous rack of ribs for years... including dabbling in the oriental dance world.

As Cleopatra

Donning Her Isis Wings

And finally - and most recently, a dance number with the Cheetah Girls during their Bollywood phase.  I really encourage......

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Affording A Belly Dance Addiction ~ Coupon Shopping Part 1

Ok... I'm here to share with those of you that wanna know -

"How the #3*% did Dilara spend only $15.08 for almost $200 in groceries?"

Yes, I clip coupons.
Yes, I watch the weekly ads
Yes, my store does double some & triple some coupons

In this quick installment, I will talk about sources to explore for getting those little pieces of paper money.

I get my coupons the way most others do: the Sunday Paper. I subscribe to my local hometown paper, but also have a subscription to the nearest large metro city. Here's why:
 

a. they are not always the same inserts
b. even if they are the same, sometimes the face values are different
c. having duplicates is good to have!

Yes, there are some sites on line that offer coupons, and there are even some sites that will (for a fee) organize for you what you need to buy each week based on the store's specials in your area.
Hello?? ---- If you are paying...

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Confessions of a Belly Dance Coupon Shopper

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Dilara Sultan, and I am a coupon shopper.  You have seen my kind before.  Perhaps you were in a hurry and got stuck behind one of us at the supermarket, slowing down the checkout process with stack of clippings reaching up to the sky.  Or perhaps you have been intrigued by us.  Our uncanny ability to save money with little more than a few paper cutouts from a Sunday paper, can dazzle.
 
Over the past 15 years I have cultivated myself into a lean-mean, margin-busting-shopping-machine.  Yes, I did get inspiration from my buddy George Foreman for that title.

For many of you who have followed me on Twitter & Facebook, you have seen my postings of delight.  “Headed for the market.... look out store manger - I’m going to bust your margins for the day”    or “I have super hero shopping skills.  got $310 in groceries, only paid $122.”  Yes, there are times I even impress myself.

Last year I was encouraged to recap my coupon strategies so that others may learn and save as well.  I did...Continue reading in Dilara's Diary on HipMix.net!