If you are within 100 miles of Memphis, TN– 17 Berkshire is a must-visit for the best coffee, high tea and a croissant commitment that would impress the French! I am honored that the Queen of 17B is gracing us with her presence and the Top Tens bringing a bit of joy to her life. Y’all, welcome Nuha Abduhair.

• Tatreez aka Palestinian Embroidery. I am a First Generation Palestinian American, with family back home in Gaza, Jerusalem, and beyond. These past 6 months have been a rollercoaster of emotions ranging from grief to disbelief, to fury. I needed a way to channel those emotions into something productive and apparently so did a few other friends. We formed a “Tatreez Club” where we meet once a month to work on our projects together, while sharing stories and catching up on life. Tatreez is a huge part of Palestinian culture. Designs are embroidered onto traditional every day dresses (called Thobes), tapestries, shawls, and more. My current design includes Palestinian Poppies bordering a phrase in Arabic that translates to “The soul of my soul.” It’s an homage to Khalid, the Palestinian grandfather, who was captured fixing his 6 year old grand daughters pig tails before she was lain to rest, after an Israeli airstrike killed her and her brother. Here’s a photo of a more modern version of a thobe that I wore to a friends Henna celebration.

• I am the owner of 17 Berkshire, a local patisserie in Memphis, TN. While I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, I somehow landed up in the land of bakery entrepreneurship. (Long story!). While I wish my days were spent sipping lattes, nibbling on croissants, and frosting cakes they’re usually spent washing dishes, wondering when that frosting landed in my hair, and putting out fires – ha! But! There are the golden days that I get to scroll the ‘gram and discover new-to-me bakeries from all over the world. The art of pastry has become such a unique world, and I am in constant awe of what other bakeries are creating. If you’ve been following along 17 Berkshire’s social media, you’ll know that I have spent the past 4+ years trying to master the art of the croissant. Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve finally figured out what my repeated error was, and I get to bake croissants and danishes pretty regularly. So, my *homework* as of late has been all things laminated doughs, and the possibilities are endless. Do we want a crookie? A zaatar and cheese danish?  Perhaps a labneh and shatta sesame croissant? The list goes on! So this begs the question – what are YOUR favorite bakeries and favorite spots to grab a croissant? What is your go-to order when you visit a dessert shop/ cafe/ patisserie? If you’re ever in 17 Berkshire, please say hello in person! My most favorite bakery in the world is Dominique Ansel in Soho. Everything I have gotten from there was delicious, including the egg sandwich!

• Perfume Oils— I’ve been obsessed with making my own signature fragrances for a while now. The smell of oils lasts longer than traditional perfumes, and for a fraction of the cost. I love heading into Maggie’s Pharm in Midtown and creating signature scents. I recently found a way to get my favorite Jo Malone “Orange Blossom” perfume in oil form. It’s literally just “Neroli” that I bought off of Amazon. Pour your favorite oil into a spray bottle for the easiest way to wear. You can also use it as a room and linen spray in lieu of candles! Another brand I love is Abdul Samad Al Qurashi. Their oils are so unique with a texture that is a little thicker than oil.  A small bottle lasts forever.
• Lash lift— I don’t know why IG decided to target me with these ads, but I fell for them. I bought an at-home lash lift kit that gives you that curled + mascara look without actually wearing any product. I’m trying to streamline my beauty routine to make it less maintenance every morning. My first attempt was a lot of figuring it out, but the second attempt went great. I think this will be perfect for summertime when I can swim and play without worrying about my mascara running!
• Between chasing after 3 kids and standing on my feet at the bakery all day, my everyday uniform has gotten significantly less exciting. I am so happy that tennis shoes and sneakers are “in” with dresses, because dresses and skirts are my jam. Especially with summer coming up, I would rather not be wearing jeans and feeling like a sausage that’s about to explode from its case. Sorry, if that’s TMI! Please tell me I’m not alone in this! I live for lightweight flowy dresses and skirts, knit tops and linen once the warmer weather hits.  
• My go-to jewelry is a turquoise + gold necklace and some gold hoops. I live for some gold hoops!  Maybe it’s growing up in the late 90’s/early 2000’s and watching everyone from JLO to Aaliyah wear them, but listen, I cannot give them up. My go-to pair is from Target, but I would love an investment piece. I want them thin, not too large, and not detailed. Like the most basic of basic. If you know where I can find some– let me know!
• I’ve always loved a beautiful English cottage garden, but this year I am determined to spend more time creating one in my backyard. Nothing compares to a David Austen Rose— the smell of them is absolutely delicious. I want to focus on planting perennials, so it’s less work in the long run. Zinnias, ranunculus, gardenias, and cosmos are at the top of my list. I’d also love to incorporate fruits and veggies for the kids to be able to snack on. I snagged some grape vines earlier this year from Costco and I’m looking forward to plucking the leaves and making Palestinian warak’ diwali – stuffed grape leaves.  

• The playlist “90s Love Songs” on Spotify. IYKYK.
• Reading! I’ve always struggled with anxiety, so it comes as no surprise that social media has a huge effect on overall mental health. In an attempt to be more aware of what I’m consuming and how it makes me feel, I’ve gotten a new library card and thus, fallen back into love with reading. I fell into the Sarah J. Maas world, er cult, er universe? It’s been a welcome escape and I love that it always feels like there’s another good book lined up. Other books I’ve absolutely loved as of late are Every Rising Sun by Jamila Ahmed (an Arabian Nights spin off, but told from the viewpoint of Shaherazade– such a beautiful book!), The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (took me a minute to get into, but wow!) and The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (a beautiful story about the realities of life, marriage, and entrepreneurship).
• My husband and I celebrated our 15-year anniversary last December and planned for a spring trip to London. I feel like I’ve been bookmarking things to do, but haven’t actually made the moves to make this trip happen! Do we spend 10 days in London, hopping to the countryside for a few days? Do we try and squeeze in a trip to Paris or Barcelona? If you’ve been, I’d love to know your must-sees and how you spent your days! Obviously, Afternoon Tea is a must, as is the Harry Potter studio tour, and fingers crossed we get to visit during a Chelsea game (my husband is obsessed!). I’ve also got a long list of bakeries to visit…for research purposes, obviously! 

Thank you for letting me gush about my favorite things, and I hope you’ll flood the comments with your thoughts and recommendations! 

To my dear Amelia, I am so very grateful to the day that a brainstorming meeting introduced me to the most fabulously, confident girl sporting a faux fur vest and flares.  I knew then that you would always be someone I admired. Xx, Nuha