Through photographing people levitating ,Junanto Herdiawan hopes to give the viewer a look into what looks like a free-

standing subject with a beautiful backdrop

@JUNANTOHERDIAWAN

Humans of New York is from the famous Facebook page that turned into a book that chronicles encounters and unique

stories of the residents and visitors of New York City

@HUMANSOFNY

This photographer based in California photographs subjects and scenery both in his home state and away on his travels

@JIMMYMARBLE

Jared Chambers presents photographs of scenes that are a mix of mystery and approachability

@JAREDCHAMBERS

Charity Water is an organization that works to bring drinking water to villages in developing countries .Through their

Instagram account, Charity Water hopes to increase awareness and inspire others to give

@CHARITYWATER

Manhattan Beach based photographer captures landscape and elegant photos from both within and outside of the

Golden state

@PETEHALVORSEN

Through simplicity, this Instagram account hopes to inspire individuals to look outside of the box in the way they look

at things and, in return, get the bigger picture

@WITANDDELIGHT_

This Instagram account shows individuals the best in scenery and daily life that Southern California has to offer

@COULDIHAVETHAT

A new year, a clean slate? Not in the real world, much as we might wish for it. Just a whole bundle of good times, some low days, with plenty of challenges and triumphs to whirl us through what should be an easier ride than in the past 12 months. Importantly, several major planets are going retrograde again, indicating a slowdown in issues ruled by the planet in question. This may give a sense of déjà vu, a need to re-visit concerns of 2015. The outer planets tend to have a larger impact on global circumstances and events, unless of course they form a connection with one of your personal planets. Then it means you need to go over past issues to look for work not yet finished.

Our Birthday Sign

Capricorn

22 December –20 January

This is your month, so let your hair down a little and party! If your birthday falls around the 23rd to 25th of December you could be busy at the beginning of the second week of January. There are still issues that you are not willing to confront, or bring into public view, the time may not seem right. If these are of a romantic nature, the last week of the month could present a good opportunity to open up. Try to cover as much ground as possible on the 14th and 15th.

Aries

21 March –20 April

Feisty Mars enters Scorpio as January kicks off, putting emphasis on shared finances and money owed. Heaven help anyone who hasn’t settled their dues, you will be on the warpath. At least the 13th through 16th should see you in a sweeter mood, you may feel more in the driver’s seat again. The days around the 22nd see you focusing on career progress, subtlety may not always be your strong suit, but it will come in handy here. News arrives on the 31st.

Taurus

21 April –21 May

Luckily you don’t tend to lose your cool too often, but when you do it is a sight to behold. Expect a few confrontations as the month gets under way. Mars enters your 7th house of close relationships,  partnerships and conversely, people who oppose you in a direct way. Choose your battles wisely, draw on good aspects from the Sun, Mercury, and Pluto in fellow earth sign Capricorn this month, with lovely support from Jupiter in Virgo. They represent good advice and moral support from a knowledgeable and well-informed source, and also travel opportunities. When Venus enters Capricorn on the 23rd things can only improve.

Gemini

 22 May –21 June

Mars stirs up 6th house energy, meaning there could be additional stress relating to work and responsibilities. This could rebound on your health, so if you feel peaky, load up on vitamins and get more rest. If you are short on ready cash you could use these days to explore your credit options, or even opening up  business with a friend to supplement your income. The 8th and 9th seem key dates for addressing important matters, but don’t count your chickens before they are hatched, Jupiter turns retrograde on the 8th, meaning you need to rely on solid planning as much as luck.

Cancer

22 June –22 July

Relationships dominate your life this month. With a lot of energy working in your 7th house it is an auspicious time to discuss partnerships, either business or of a more personal type. The planets are supportive, and even Mars is helping you from water sign Scorpio. This brings an extra bit of spice to romance, and lets you find ways to let off steam in sport and creative activities. Capricorns may play a strong role in your life this month, spend time in their company to get an extra mood boost.

Leo

23 July –22 August

Where did that workload appear from so suddenly? Or was it quietly piling up while you were looking the other way? Inside those challenges are excellent opportunities to share ideas and develop closer bonds with colleagues and those you mix with on a daily basis. The positive vibe around the workplace doesn’t seem to extend to the home front. Things could be more hectic than you need, with the 5th being a day that might try your patience. Best days? The 13th, 14th and 15th should be great.

Virgo

23 August –23 September

Fortunately this month’s planetary placements suit your practical nature down to the ground. Sensible Capricorn and wise Scorpio are in harmony with your energy, so with Jupiter still placed in your birth sign you should muster your confidence and sail forward for a good start to the year. Child-related matters and creative projects are highlighted, and you should be in the mood to speak up and air your views with passion. If romance is on your agenda you have all the planetary support you could wish for this January. The month winds up on a generally positive note for you.

Libra

24 September – 23 October

Home is where the heart is. Or so they say. Lovely Libra, it seems to be the case for you this January. The planets are focusing their energies on your domestic scene, family, neighbors and close relatives. It seems that you need to create some extra funds to cover added expenditures, just don’t stress about it!  Communication and short trips may seem a bit of a burden, but nonetheless unavoidable. Your best days could be the 11th to 13th, so long as you don’t tackle too much.

Scorpio

22 December –20 January

Action stations! Mars zooms into your birth sign, pumping up your energy levels. The key theme for you this January is movement, and communication. Expect to spend more time on the road, and meetings. It’s not a bad thing, it seems that it will open up opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. It could all be a bit of a drain on your wallet, so try to stick to some sort of a budget this month. Your best days are possibly around the 18th, share them with someone special.

Sagittarius

23 November –21 December

Money makes your world go around this month. Maybe you get a raise, or an end of year bonus, one way or another your pockets seem well lined. Your career profile looks good, so efforts you have been putting in must have been recognised. There could be a bit of jealousy and back-biting to contend with, but your best course of action will be to ignore it. Whatever you have benefited from is well-deserved, so there is no need to apologise. Saturn’s presence in your sign in past months seems to have taught you valuable lessons.

Aquarius

21 January –19 February

You may be under public scrutiny this January, so don’t give too much free rein to your quirkier side, unless you can handle some flak.  Work matters may involve a battle of sorts to protect your corner, with whatever is going on behind the scenes being more important than what people pay lip service to. Secretly you may be happier knuckling down to work rather than doing the party circuit anyway. It just doesn’t seem to enthrall you this year.

Pisces

20 February –20 March

Friends will mean more than ever this January. Concerns about someone at a distance may see you a bit stressed out, but by sharing your angst with your buddies you should feel a lot better. Even though it’s officially an extended party season for many, you may have had to focus on your career more than usual. Try and take a breather and spend some quality time with people you care about, then work will seem less of a burden.

Since October 2011, Dr. Hala H. El Said has been the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science (FEPS) at Cairo University, as well as Professor of Economics at FEPS. Dr. El Said boasts a very impressive and long resume; she proudly served as an Advisor to the Governor of Central Bank of Egypt and Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI). She is currently a member of the board of directors of several financial and banking institutions, including the Egyptian Banking Institute, the Central  Bank of Egypt and Egypt’s National Post Authority. She is also a member of the board of trustees of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit at the Central Bank of Egypt, and in the past served as a board member of Arab African International Bank.

Dr. El Said leads a prominent role in the domain of public service as she is an active member of both the Egyptian Association for Protecting Competition and Egypt@Work Advisory Committee-Nahdet El Mahrousa. She has also been a member of such NGOs as Our Children Our Future Foundation and MENA Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) at the World Bank.

Dr. El Said is the prestigious author of a wide range of internationally acclaimed research papers, studies and reports on diverse topics related to the financial sector, international finance, privatization and economic reform, such as: Bank Mergers, Corporate Governance as well as the Role of the State in Credit Risk.

She has organized and participated in more than 80 conferences, symposiums and workshops in the same fields in cooperation with many scientific and development institutions and organizations locally, regionally and globally. She has led the project of the first national census for SMEs access to finance (2009-2011).

Dr. El Said holds a B.A, MSc and PhD with honors in Economics from the Faculty of Economics & Political Science at Cairo University. Cairo West Magazine had the honor of speaking to Dr. El Said about her career, her role as a well-renowned leading female professional in the region, as well as her work-life balance.

CWM: When did you first realize that you had a natural inclination for economics and finance?

H.S: I realized that right away, as soon as I commenced my studies at the faculty of Economics and Political Science. At first, my initial wish was to join the Political Science department but when I had the opportunity to thoroughly study both subjects, I felt I was more interested in economics than political science.

Tell us about your career ascent in this specialized and fascinating field.

I graduated with high honors from the Economics department, got appointed as a Teaching Assistant, and then according to the system, I finished my Masters and PhD in economics. I was seconded to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to be the executive director of the Egyptian Banking Institute. I was then elected as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science and also appointed as a non-executive board member at the CBE.

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced to reach where you are?

One of the biggest challenges on the personal level was always trying to maintain a healthy balance between my home and my studies, and also between my home and my work. On the professional level, I found managing a diverse group of professors and students to be quite challenging, particularly after the 2011 revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.

What are some challenges women face in high-level positions?

There is still very much in place an informal referral system among male directors in the region. We find that the majority of women directors are, in fact, recruited from personal acquaintances of male directors.

There’s a fear among some CEOs that women directors will bring a woman’s agenda, as opposed to a general agenda of increasing shareholder value and the company’s profit margin. This fear is sensed by many women directors, so they, in turn, become reluctant to bring up gender-related issues. The accumulated values and cultural assumptions about women’s roles are still very much stereotyped in the whole of the Middle East. This can have negative effects on top women executives in the work place.

Women face real challenges in balancing work and family life. They try so hard to put on both hats but it can get extremely stressful for them at times. It’s essential to have a very competent and reliable support system as well as loving and understanding family members who believe in your goals and are willing to support you to reach them.

Have you found yourself making sacrifices to meet your career objectives?

The last thing you wish is to find yourself sacrificing quality time with the family and missing out on major events or important gatherings. Instead, you end up compromising on your own leisure time, hours of rest, your general health and wellbeing. >>

How have you been able to directly apply your knowledge to improving conditions in the community?

My main goal is, and always will be, to make a positive impact on the community and better the conditions of the economic sector. During my role as an Executive Director of EBI, I was involved in upgrading the capacity of bankers. I also called for and advocated for policy changes. Mentoring and coaching our students is always a very satisfying and rewarding activity because you feel you are investing in the younger generations, our future Egyptian bankers and policy makers.

As a busy person, how do you prioritize your time?

A busy person always organizes his or her time to make use of every minute. We cannot afford to procrastinate or mismanage our time simply because we cannot make up for it. Time is gold.

What advice would you give any person who feels that they can contribute to the community, but are not sure how to go about it?

You have to totally believe in yourself and your capabilities as a human being. Our community is in dire need of the contribution of each and every one of us through either work or joining different social initiatives or NGOs.

How often do you go on holiday?

I go on holiday twice a year. It’s my chance to reboot and come back feeling refreshed, revitalized and ready to assume all my roles and responsibilities once again.

Which Egyptian companies do you feel have international standards in terms of profitability and as an organization?

A lot of Egyptian companies have international standards but I can very safely claim that banks in Egypt are very well regulated. They have the human capability that is able to regularly supervise and monitor their performances. They have invested in human capital, and abide by international standards that apply good governance.

Most of us have a skincare routine that we stick to out of habit. Here are 6 skincare habits we’re all guilty of!

1. Excessive Exfoliating

It’s tempting but very damaging in the long term to buff away too much of your top skin layer. You are removing the protective barrier, once removed your skin is exposed to environmental toxins and sun damage. Only exfoliate two to three times a week.

2. Sleeping with Your Makeup On

Not removing your makeup before bedtime clogs your pores and oil glands.  When makeup becomes impacted in pores, it makes them appear larger and leads to inflammation.

3. Not Cleansing Properly

Use the right cleanser in the evening to put your skin in optimal condition for overnight renewal. Look for a cleanser that contains the right ingredients, such as antioxidants for protection, salicylic acid to help clear your pores, and witch hazel, which acts as a natural astringent.

4. Using Dirty Makeup Brushes

Invest in a brush cleaner, especially for your foundation brush. Keeping your brushes clean every day will ensure no dirt and old makeup buildup is going to affect your skin.

5. Loading Your Skin with Products At Night

After a normal cleansing routine, applying two or three different serums for a variety of concerns isn’t effective at all. All topical products are effective up to 0.3% absorption into skin so the more you add the less effective each of them is.

6. Taking Too-Hot Showers

It’s tempting, but problematic for your skin. Hot showers can strip your skin of essential moisture and healthy oils. Take warm, not hot, showers.