Shopping in Rome - for a good cause-2

Here is our stand. Our day was very successful and we raised 504 Euro for Behbud.



Thank you Katie, Arlene, Jessica, Elizabeth and everyone else who came by and gave us support!

Merci Paris

Think high fashion and think Paris... thank you is not the most immediate word that will come to your mind. Parisians can be a bit snappy, and the people in the fashion industry are not necessarily known for their kindness (or maybe yes)...

Anyway, talking to a fashion insider during my last visit to Paris (yesterday), I was informed of a new concept store that opened just a few blocks away from the apartment. The store is located in an amazing space, some kind of a mix between a warehouse, a posh residence and loft.
What's so special about the shop? All the profits, after costs are deducted, will go to a children's charity in Madagascar.

Merci, a brainchild of Bonpoint creators Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, sells vintage clothing, pieces from last year's designer's collections (YSL, Chloe, ..) some clothing and accessories from this year's collection, baby clothes along with kitchenware and some interesting furniture.

Interesting aspects of the Concept store at the Annick Goutal lab, where candles and fragrances are sold at 40% of the original price and the bookstore, structured just like an old English home library (at least in my mind) and runs all along the walls of the cafe. All books (or at least all the ones I picked up) are used, and the titles range from Lolita to the Lord of the Ring, Papa Goriot and Plato's republic.

Merci
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
75003 Paris
tel 01 42 770033

Running again, and for a good cause

Yes!
I am really doing the things I had planned on doing..among other positive and constructive things I started running again. This time, I was inspired by two women: my friend Imogen who ran a half-marathon to raise money for the charity LAM Action (you can donate at http://www.justgiving.com/imogenaylen), and Ms. Malik who runs a non profit called Behbud
Behbud allows women in rural parts of Pakistan to have a job and earn an honest living.
Behbud's mission is to empower women by providing health, education, income-generation and vocational training regardless of color, cast or creed.

Last April, during a trip to Pakistan I had the opportunity to meet some of these women and I was so impressed by their high spirit and desire to work. It was a lesson.

So here I am, training for the Rome half marathon (March 1, 2009). Amina and I will be running for Behbud, and hopefully we'll be able to raise a good sum.
If you are interested, you can donate to both charities, LAM action and Behbud online.

The Rome Marathon is called Roma Ostia. Info here: Roma Ostia

Thanks Imo, Shukran Ms. Malik