My Style: Black on Black and ICNYU/Islamic Relief Fundraiser for Gaza!!!

Salamz folks! 

A few days ago I found out about Emergency Fundraising Dinner at NYC for Gaza which is where I will be going to tonight inshallah.

My Style: Winter Bright

Pleasure is spread through the earth

In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find

~William Wordsworth, 1806

Where have My Style posts gone??! With life being so busy I am not getting dressed up as much. But!...whenever I want to show off and look fancy in my everyday-wear, I dawn my favorite outfit! 

By the way....Winter can kiss my mustard butt! 

Habits to live by: Eating Healthy (Annette Larkins)

Salam Folks! 

Several months ago my sis and I found a link to an extraordinary interview with Annette Larkins. 

She is a 70 year old woman who looks much MUCH younger without any work or craziness that has become common for the aging nowadays. She is vibrant, healthy, and absolutely gorgeous...all as a result from her incredible diet of 27+ years. 

By the way...this is real! 

Business Planning Chapter 5: Beginning Again

Hello folks! 

I hadn't worked on my dear business in such a long time. The move took longer than expected (a few months) and I was not able to attend the ISNA conference like I had built myself to do. At the time of coming to realization we would not open in May (of this year) I did feel a sense of sadness and frustration.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Our first product review!

My Life: Hurricane Sandy and the Rockaways Queens NY part 2

Salam wa Alaykum folks,

So much is happening. I have been quite busy in the past few days. I heard the subways are starting to fix up around my area which means I can travel out of the Rockaways where I live. No hot water or heat so far but more and more people are finally getting electricity. My neighbor has a considerable amount of pictures and videos and I will soon harass him for all of them to post here. 

Gratitude List: Happy Friday November 16h 2012!

Salam folks and Sabaa7 al Khayr (Good Morning)!!!

I feel so happy today, like a tiny little weight has been lifted off my shoulders and even a tiny little knife pulled from my back! Yesterday was a bit difficult but today is a new day to make it count.

One of my life goals (check out my buckit list which is soon due for a revamp!) is to show more daily gratitude.

My Style: 3eed

Salam folks, 

Things were thrown off from Sandy but inshallah slowly and surely we are hoping things get better. Here are some photos and vids from Eid. Sis and I got dressed up and attended the morning prayer at the mosque down the street which is going through some repairs as it was flooded just days later. 

My Life: Hurricane Sandy and the Rockaways Queens NY part 1

Salam wa alaykum folks,

It has been awhile since I posted. The main reason for that is because of the infamous hurricane Sandy that rocked the East Coast. My home was in a primary evacuation area that was hit pretty bad but alhamdoolilah Allah swt was watching out for my family and I.

My Life: Youm al Arafa and Eid Plans inshallah!

Salam wa Alaykum folks! 

I hope you are all in the best of health and imaan. And I hope you are racking in all the blessings this special day when the Prophet delivered his Last Sermon. I am putting chunky face down for a nap and wanted to use this time to blog.

They Say it Better: Imam al Ghazali

"You should not neglect your time or use it haphazardly; on the contrary you should bring yourself to account, structure your litanies and other practices during each day and night, and assign to each period a fixed and specific function. This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing (baraka) in each period. But if you leave yourself adrift, aimlessly wandering as cattle do, not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment, your time will be lost. It is nothing other than your life, and your life is the capital that you make use of to reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of God the Exalted. Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved. Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens. What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter? Therefore be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind."

 -Imam al Ghazali from The Beginning of Guidance.

Featured Events: ZOMBIEFEST!!!!!

Once upon a time my roomie and I went searching for good ol’wholesome fun in New York. After some perusing we found a lovely event happening in this horror-filled season known as:

Friday Night Zombiefest!

Jumuah Mubarak! Gratitude List Friday!

Jumuah Mubarak folks!

“And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful.”

- Nahl 78

Hair Journey Part 1

Hello Folks!

Today, is the second installment of my “progress” with starting this new path to improving my hair and reaching my hair goals that I started in this post.

First of all, what is a hair journey?

A hair journey process where someone makes a continuous intentional commitment to grow and/or improve the health of their hair.

This process takes a lot of patience, some extra funds, plenty of research and sometimes physical daily maintenance. It may be even best to document or take note of what is happening with your hair. A natural hair journey is when someone who is used to relaxing their hair chops it off and starts to regrow healthier un-relaxed hair.

For all the Sou Sou lovers!

Hello folks!

My offspring, a.k.a. chunky butt, a.k.a. Sou sou is finally adjusting to the new home very well. Her two new favorate English words are Park and Beach!

New Home Updates!

Hello folks and Salaam all over the place!

Yes its been awhile since I moved here to New York! I finally got the time (and energy) to blog about it.

The best news this year..

What are the best pieces of news you have ever heard? What were the most wonderful things you found out that either made you cry, do a happy dance, or smile for days on end? You just knew that they would change everything...these were some of best moments in your life....

So far I have had three:

1. When I found out that I was accepted into University in DC to study International Relations and Business.

2. When I found out I got accepted in the study abroad program in Cairo.

3. When I saw my daughter for the first time, stared to into her eyes and thanked Allah swt she came out perfectly healthy despite my hyperemisis during pregnancy.

 

4. And just a few days ago, I found out...

Link Loving: Blessle.com (Islamic Search Engine)

Hello Folks!

I hope all of you are in the best of health and spirits. For all my Muslim readers out there, I wanted to share with you something that has become a part of my daily life since over a year ago.

Crossing my fingers....

Please keep sou sou and I in your duas...we are praying inshallah to secure a home finally in NY. Inshallah we will know the outcome in a few days...

Baby Tarteel!

Hello folks!

Some time ago, the chunky butt (a.k.a. Sou sou) climbed behind the rehal (Quran stand) and tried to recite on her own. At first I was nervous to let her touch it, but then

You NEED to SEe this!!: One 4 kids Zaky DVDs

Hello Folks!

So not too long ago, while looking around online I happened upon some incredibly adorable Islamic videos for Muslim children!  The character Zaky and the videos were created by a company called One 4 Kids. They company has already produced seven films so far and are set to come out with perhaps two more by the end of the the year inshallah.

Growing up with Mixed Hair and Hijab...

Salam folks!

In the past few days I have felt inspired to take some steps in growing and taking better care of my hair. I’ve done a lot of research, watched tons of you tube videos and even talked to my best friend about it and she is right on board with me!

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with my hair like most women. I think my particular experience was driven by issues being mixed and bicultural.

Project Bucket LIst: Finishing Qur'an for Ramadan and Updates

Asalamu Alaykum folks!

Artwork by Moi!

ALhamdoolilah I can't stop smiling as I am proud to announce I met one of my most important goals I set this Ramadan...

I finally finished the Quran in 30 days!

and the crowd goes wild!!!

All about 3rabee: Learning Arabic and Quranic Recitation (tajweed)

Starting this Ramadan, LFFM will be featuring new posts dedicated to Arabic language learning called All about 3rabee. I realized several of my friends both Muslim and Non-Muslim continually express their desire to learn the Arabic language. Even with so many programs, language institutes, and books dedicated to this language, Arabic still remains an elusive and complex language to learn for the English speaker.

In my opinion, language learning in general can be difficult, not just because of all the repetition, pronunciation, grammar, and cultural elements, but rather because of how humbling it is....

Habits to Live by: Reading

One of the most thought provoking memories I took from living in Egypt was during Ramadan. As I took my seat in the women’s train in the metro I noticed that the majority of the ladies were pulling out miniature Qurans and began reading amongst themselves. Everyone from the older women to the little tweens were intensely focused…I sat there unnoticed, staring in awe and realizing how beautiful our religion is.

Reading the Quran for Muslims is by far one of the most important things we should be doing, however this post is more about reading in general.  

Reflections: Preparing for Ramadan Mentally and other Updates

Salaam folks!


Ramadan is starting tomorrow and I feel both excited and a little anxious. There is so much I want to get accomplished and yet so much fear of not accomplishing them. It would be better for me to have this attitude throughout the year and just not for this sacred month, but I hope at least the coming days will enact for change and spiritual transformation inshallah.

I want to reveal to all of you my goals for this Ramadan.


Lets start with my general self analysis:


I feel very spiritually distant as a result of occurances in my life since last year. My moving situation is STILL in limbo, and I have had to put my dear business on hold as a result. I am still searching for employment and support my bestfriend/sis in our anticipated move back to New York which is proving incredibly difficult. I feel stuck, nearly hopeless...a bit angry. Deep down inside I know Allah swt is doing this for a reason, and although I feel like crap sticks, I have an advantage this Ramadan. For example, I have the ability to fast, and time on my hands to utilize the best of my capabilities. My responsibilities are less then they were last year.


During this month I want to:


(Religious Goals-tangible and specific)

1. Finish the reading of the Quran
2. Memorize Surat Naba (my favorite)
3. Practice Tajweed (recitation) daily for at least an hour minimum
4. Performing prayer
5. Daily Tasbee7 after prayer
6. Important Dua memorization (will search for my favs soon)
7. Watch Islamic lectures/movies
8. Increase my knowledge overall with extensive reading

(Spiritual/Emotional Goals)

1. Revive a love and desire, if not need to maintain my Salah (khushoo)
2. Feel greater trust and reliance on Allah
3. Decrease my anger and bitterness
4. Abstain from wasting time on things that don't benefit me during this month, like mindless TV watching, music, chatting, phone convos...etc
5. Reflection, contemplation, looking at my faults and what I hope to achieve in this life...

(Personal Goals)

1. Increase my Signing ASL vocab
2. Teach and read to Sou sou  Daily
3. Daily Physical Activity (Badmitton)
4. Update my bucket list
5. Create a review policy for this blog
6. Refrain from unneeded purchases and save the mess out of my money
7. Get rid of Sou sous old clothes
8. Practice my Spanish and Egyptian Arabic
9. Blogging (posts that I have been itching to get out)

Do you have any religous/spiritual/personal goals for this Ramadan? Is there anything you want to accomplish without a question? Where do you want to be by the end of this month? Happy fasting folks!!!