Remedial Hijab Lessons

Assalamu alaykum y'all.

Yes, I am in need of remedial hijab lessons. I have resorted to wearing slip on Al-Amiras because of my inability to pin or wrap them right. No matter what I do, or how hard I try, they are lopsided, slip off, become twisted or look like they are objects on my head, not part of me. The biggest problem I have is slippage. Despite using underscarves, they always slip off, and I find myself hiding in dark places so I re-adjust them. I just cant get a snug fit! I can't even DREAM about wearing an oblong shayla, that just throws a monkey wrench in my routine.

Ive watched videos on you tube, illustrations on the web etc...... and I still can't get it right.

Any suggestions? I almost never go to the masjid.....that's a whole 'nother post.

Help!

Real Beauty

Salaams sisters,

Check this out, some of you might have seen this, but if you haven't, grab your mothers, aunts, daughters and nieces, grandmothers, cousins, granddaughters and friends- it's a real eye opener:

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/film_fullscreen_evo.html

Even I, a 35 year old woman, hold myself to ridiculous standards sometimes. While I never fulfill them, I sometimes feel like "less than" a woman because I cannot.

Stupid huh?

6 Weeks To Go

Assalamu alaykum,


I've got about 6 weeks left before my little brownie arrives. "My Little Brownie" is a nickname that my husband assigned to our little boy in-progress; which is a tribute to his absolute favorite snack, the fudge brownie lol.

I guess I am nesting; I am starting to freak out about our apartment; I feel like everything needs to be thrown out and re-decorated and re-organized. I can't stay focused, and seem to get nothing accomplished because I get distracted easily, plus I am totally e x h a u s t e d.


Went for fetal monitoring today, and I am pleased to report that my little sunshine would not stay still long enough for my doctor to get good tracings! Eventually he settled down, and all is well alhamdulillah. His size is average, not big, not small, which just reassures me that I am taking good care of my health and the gestational diabetes.


My husband and I elected not to have a baby shower. My family was very disappointed, but the concept is foreign and odd to my husband (not that that matters lol), but more importantly, I find it hard to celebrate without having baby in my arms. It is just how I feel. Sure, I would have liked all that attention, and a mountain of useful baby gifts, but we are good. We've managed to get everything we need thus far. We will have a good support system with my family living in such close proximity, and that is a tremendous blessing (my husband's family is overseas).


Thank you Allah, for providing everything in due time, for the health care we are receiving, the roof over our heads, for the love of our families and friends, for our faith, our jobs, our full stomachs, and for this very special experience and for a loving and respectful marriage.

Who Hijacked My Rainbow?

Salaams.

I have loved and adored rainbows since childhood.

I don't know how the general public feels, but I am deeply annoyed that the symbol for "gay pride" is the rainbow. The rainbow, nature's prism, a rare sighting in most parts of the world, and also the most beautiful, has taken on new meaning for the public.

I have the most outrageous rainbow luggage strap, which is quite easy to spot amongst a sea of blue and black suitcases at the airport. My good friend and travel buddy (who happens to be female) was embarrassed to be seen with me, and when we checked into our hotel, the hostess behind the counter assumed we wanted one king bed! On another occasion, I returned home from San Francisco, with said luggage strap and rainbow trimmed socks LOL, and my mother actually thought I was trying to tell her something. My younger sister approached me whilst we were pigging out over a decadent lunch waiting for my dad to come out from heart surgery, and she told me that my mother was ready to attend a PFLAG meeting, because she was convinced that I was a lesbian. I guess a trip to SF coupled with the fact that I travelled to Hawaii with another woman is what caused her suspicion (?). I was in my late 20s, newly divorced, excelling in my career, and took a genuine interest in travelling. For the first time in life, I had saved some money, was in a good frame of mind after a traumatic divorce, and was ready to build new memories that weren't associated with my former husband. All I wanted was to have a little fun.

I recently treated myself to a new umbrella, but passed on the gorgeous, golf size one that could easily shelter my husband and myself, as well as look fantastic on a gray and gloomy day. Of course, you guessed it, each "pie slice" of the umbrella's protective barrier was a vibrant color of the rainbow. I know for sure, I would be walking alone if I carried it.

I won't even mention (ok, so I will mention it) my beautiful pastel, ribbed rainbow scarf that looked smashing with my tailored black wool Navy Pea Coat. (It mysteriously dissappeared after numerous negative comments).

My point is that, that I am just angry, that something so beautiful and awe-inspiring is linked to an alternative and controversial lifestyle, but maybe I should be angrier that others are too quick to judge and arrive at false conclusions.

Who's idea was this anyway?

Are we a nation obsessed with symbols?

Should I just go back and get the umbrella? I really admired it.

What do you think?

Bananas Don't Belong in Fruit Salad

You've got to be kidding me. Why do people insist on putting bananas (and grapefruit) in fruit salad? They have NO PLACE, I tell you, NO PLACE. The creamy texture of the 'nana just insults the satisfying, fresh, and thirst quenching integrity of cherries, watermelons and grapes. And grapefruit? Delicious alone, plain old nasty when paired with other fruits.

Blasphemy. I'm disgusted.

Salaams.

Simple Gifts



Scenery Created by Allah (swt)
Photographed by: iMuslimah
Mode: AP, dSLR
Manipulations: cropped, contrast adjustments
*Images may not be used or reproduced*

The ocean and it's surrounding nature are most magnificent during winter. Sometimes, just sometimes, I miss the wind whipping through my hair. The other times, I remember how blessed I am, to witness moments like these.