~Belly Bumps and Haircuts and Hanukka.....Oh My!~

CAUTION:  EXTREME RANDOM-NESS AHEAD....READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Maybe it's my pregnant belly and overly hormonal brain, or maybe I'm just using that as an excuse, but my trains of thought have been running off the tracks at all stations lately.

I can think of numerous times within the last couple of months where I have had to start a story at least three times before I could actually finish it.  In fact, not so long ago I was telling my hubster about a close friend of mine who I had gone to college with, and when he asked me what her name is I couldn't even remember!  The humiliation of actually having to look her up in my contacts on my cell phone was too much for me to handle.

I've read different theories about why pregnant gals get so scatterbrained, everything ranging from increased levels of hormones, to baby production using up any available intelligence.  But I honestly still don't understand it.  As if being pregnant wasn't complicated enough, we also have to suffer through the embarrassment of frequent Freudian slips, constantly misplaced house keys, and totally bizarre daydreams.  Alhamdulillah for the ability to have kids, don't get me wrong, BUT lately it has gotten to the point that I have even *gasp*
LOST MY DESIRE TO SHOP!

Yes...it's true.  As most of you fabulous fashionistas know, I am on another vacation visiting family.  My Chick of Chic-ness....Guru of En-Vogue...Scholar of Shopping (AKA My mom) has tried getting me to splurge on some totally cute clothes since getting here, but once I wedge myself into them and look into the mirror I tend to lose my nerve.  I'd much rather just go buy some adorable dresses for my daughter, than try on more preggo clothes.

I don't mean to sound vain or conceited, those who know me know that I am anything BUT that...alhamdulillah I am so grateful for being able to be a mommy, and I love my baby bump.  I am just not one of those women who relish my new outtie belly button and cankles. 

Speaking of being able to have kids and loving being a mommy, I took my daughter for her very first haircut the other day!  I have to admit I was up almost the whole night before, filled with dread about the screaming, crying, and otherwise bad behavior I was sure would be displayed once she was in that chair. 

 My mom recommended her own totally fabulous hairstylist to cut my daughter's hair, knowing that her very own daughter has crazy curls much like mine.  She assured me that Ms. L would be loving, patient, and knowledgable....and she was so right!  Not only did my daughter bond with her immediately when she showed her how cool the spray bottle was, and how fun a chair complete with hydrolics could be, but she only needed to trim barely an inch off of my daughter's locks to make them look as healthy and lustrous as ever!  She explained that the reason the worst part of my day is when I have to brush my daughter's hair is not because I was a horrible mother (which is the way I feel after a ten minute sob fest with my little one every time I go near her holding a brush) but because we needed to use different products on her curly-q's.  Here were her suggestions:

1.  Use a shampoo sans dyes, perfumes, alcohol, or all that other stuff that's added to most shampoos.  They were stripping her hair of its natural oils, thus causing the curls to become balls of frizz.  Product recommended: Deva Curls No-Poo (like shampoo...but no-poo)

2.  Let her sleep on a satin pillow case.  She explained that cotton naturally wicks away moisture from anything including hair or skin.  I think I, also, will be purchasing a satin pillow case in the hopes it will help me in my dry skin problems.

3.  Instead of a brush, use a large comb with teeth that are set far apart from eachother.  Those brushes that almost everyone uses with the little bulbs on the end of the teeth do nothing to help de-tangle her tight curls, and any natural hair brushes also draw moisture out.

I have tried number one and number three (haven't gotten around to shopping for satin pillowcases yet) and ALHAMDULILLAH hair brushing time has gotten %150 better.  It's still hard to get her to sit still for ten minutes (pretty normal for any two year old) but there aren't nearly as many tears shed by either one of us.  THANK YOU MS. L!

And last, but not least....Hanukka.

Now I KNOW this is truly random, but the other night I was sitting with my family, and my father shared a bit of interesting knowledge with us that I found astounding.  He said that he had been listening to NPR (the national radio station here in the U.S.) and they did a story explaining the history of Hanukka.  According to National Public Radio, Hanukka was actually not even a holiday until after WWII when the increased population of Jewish people in the United States felt left out during the Christmas season, and so they started to celebrate a holiday of their own.  Now, this is definitely a "fact" I'm going to research more, but I found it quite interesting...if it's actually true.  I am not one to bash religious holidays other people celebrate.  In fact living here in the U.S. I absolutely love the Christmas/Hanukka/New Year season for the feeling of frenzied joy and mass marketing that accompanies it.  My family is what I like to call "default Christians" meaning they don't actually practice, hardly even believe, but by default celebrate Christian holidays.  That created a very materialistic view of the holiday season for me both as a child, and into my adult years, and I still hold onto it long after converting to Islam (alhamdulillah!).  I love to go shopping those couple of weeks before Christmas, even if I'm only buying myself some new lotion, or my daughter some shoes, or just an Auntie Anne's pretzel from the food court.  The long lines, packed parking lots, and late night hours add an excitement that I've only ever experienced one other time of year...the night before Eid in Jordan.  Insh'Allah one day I will live in a Muslim country and be able to enjoy this feeling of comradery during my own holiday, but for the moment I see nothing wrong with enjoying the holiday spirit that surrounds me...even if I don't technically celebrate Christmas or Hanukka.

Well...I've probably filled you amazing Muslimahs with enough random-ness for the night.  I would hate for my totally random ramblings to be the cause of any migraines or brain aneurysms or the like, so for now I will wish you a goodnight, and insh'Allah will see you again soon.

Ma'Salaama and Happy Hair-Brushing!

Fashionably Yours,
The (what was this post originally about again?) Mujahada in Prada

~Sabah~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Afternoon My Stylish Sisters!

Today I am having a 100% laaazzzyyyy day.  It's not often that I put my foot down, take a stand, and say "No! I'm not going to do dishes, I'm not going to wash clothes, and I'm not going to cook!"  Okay, okay, actually I did do the dishes....but other than that I am determined to spend my day playing with my daughter, watching movies, and snacking on more Danish Butter Cookies than could possibly be healthy.

Last night my husband came home with a new toy for the household, which inspired my lazy day today.  A brand new, internet ready, blue-ray DVD player!  I am not one to rave about technology...when it comes to cell phones as long as I can dial a call I'm happy, and when it comes to TV's I'm usually completely satisfied as long as it's not black and white.

BUT I do have to say I am soooo impressed with this nifty, tiny little box that sits under my TV and magically delivers Netflix, Pandora music, and even Facebook into my living room.  I'm in the middle of watching a movie called "Sabah" about a Muslim woman living in Toronto, Canada who falls in love with a non-Arab, Christian man.

Although I have to admit the movie is entertaining and pretty amusing, I can't help but to keep thinking "Ya Haraam!" every two minutes.  After Sabah has felt stifled by her controlling brother, and total responsibility for her mother for too long, she begins sneaking to the local swimming pool.  These escapades lead her to a meeting with Stephen, and gradually as her love for him grows, her dedication to follow Islam diminishes.

What bothers me the most is that every Islamic guideline that she follows at the start of the movie is somehow shown to be a horrible, unfair restriction on an oppressed woman.  This same attitude is flashed across the TV every evening on the news, and splashed across the front page of the paper almost every day.  The blessings of security, honor, and having a supportive family is turned around into boredom, dowdy-ness, and overbearing relatives. 

Although at the beginning Sabah struggles between her desire to follow her heart, but her sense of responsibility to her family, and her dedication to Islam, she witnesses someone close to her committing an even greater sin than she.  It is almost as if she feels reassured that if this other person can commit something sooo haraam, that perhaps what she is doing is not quite as bad as she thought.  I can't help but think this is often so relevant to all of us.  Although it may be hard to admit, I'm sure we have all been in the position where we felt truly guilty about something we were doing, until we saw someone doing something even worse.  This is an easy trap to fall into...and a very hard one to climb out of.

The funny thing is...no matter how many times I sit here and tell myself I can't bear to watch another minute, I don't want to miss seeing how it ends LOL.  So...I will make the selfless sacrifice to my stylish sisters, and take it upon myself to watch it until the end so as to save all of you from the same fate.  Or...if you insist on watching it, go ahead...but don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know what YOU thought of it!

Ma'Salaama and Happy Lazy Days!

Fashionably Yours,
The (aren't those little pretzel shaped Danish cookies DELICIOUS??) Mujahada in Prada

~Mini Mujahada's Latest Obsession~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Jummah Mubarak!  Insh'Allah you all have a wonderful weekend with lots of time spent with family and loved ones ahead of you!

I'm spending my Friday evening sitting with the Mini Mujahada (my daughter) watching Princess movies and eating way too many Arabic sweets and coffee (milk for the little one).  Alhamdulillah for simple pleasures like these, I live for quality time with my fashionist-ette doing girly things like this.

I guess it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that my Mini Mujahada has developed a very keen fashion sense and strong personal style for only being two.  I mean, the girl has more shoes than I do (which is saying a lot), and lights up at the idea of going to the mall.  Her latest love is the new Yo Gabba Gabba edition Vans shoes that have been released recently here in the States.  For those of you who have never heard of Yo Gabba Gabba, it's a funky little kids show with lots of dancing, skits, and performances by every type of musical group out there.

The characters (from left) are Plex the Magic Robot, Muno, DJ Lance Rock, Tootie (my daughter's favorite), Brobee, and Foofa.  It's a pretty wacky show, but I like the messages they convey in their skits, and my daughter is absolutely enamored.

Unfortunately when we went to the mall a few days ago they didn't have any of the shoes in her size, and I had to drag my very disappointed and tearful toddler out of the store empty handed.  Tomorrow one of my good friends and I are going to give it another try and search a different mall for a pair, so wish us luck!!  I've decided if worst comes to worst I'll just have to get them off ebay for about $20 more than in the store.  I'm not usually one to go to such lengths to get my daughter something.  I've always made fun of those moms and dads who stand in line for hours trying to get the newest "Tickle Me Elmo" or "Brats" doll.  I guess I must want her to have these cool little shoes as much as she does LOL

Here are the coolest little kicks on the market right now, what do you ladies think?

Pretty funky, huh?

Well, I'm off to gorge myself on more sweets and pour another cup of coffee.  Enjoy your weekend, and wish me luck on the shoe hunt tomorrow!

Ma'Salaama and Yooooooooooo Gabba Gabba!!!

The (Big Kid at Heart) Mujahada in Prada

~Totally Random....Totally Beautiful~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters...

I know this post is completely random and has nothing to do with my recent rantings about home improvements, but I just came across this picture on a close friend's FB page and HAD to show you ladies...

I'll give you each one chance to guess at who it is....

~Okay....So The Bedroom Has Been Put on Hold~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning My Stylish Sisters!

Well ladies, as usual in my hectic life, the plans have changed.  After some discussion with the hubby we've decided that we will put the bedroom plans on hold for just a bit, and concentrate instead on the living room/kitchen/dining room areas and the bathroom.  After finding out we will have some family members visiting from overseas for a bit, and realizing that everyone who walks into our house sees our living room but not the bedroom, we've chosen to adjust our home improvement plans.

Alhamdulillah we already have some very nice furniture, including a gorgeous sofa and loveseat combo, and a collection of six (yes SIX) wrought iron tables with glass tops including end tables, coffee table, and a mini buffet style table.  The problem is, it is all literally sitting at the EXACT same spot it's been sitting since we moved in four months ago LOL.

I have two huge gilded mirrors that I haven't had the chance to hang yet, and still need to get some rugs and other accessories.  We've been searching around for a dining room set, a feat that has proven to be WAY harder than I expected even though our expectations are quite reasonable (in my humble opinion):

1. Must be 100% REAL wood.  Do people even make things in real wood anymore?  It seems that every set I look at is corkboard or balsa wood or some other kind of composite of the leftovers laying around the floor of someone's shop.

2. Must be round, with the option of dropping two sides (or all sides) in order to make it square and save room while not in use.  You would think hinges cost millions, as hard as it's been to find drop side tables...geesh.

3. Must be espresso colored wood.  NOT cherry, NOT black, NOT natural, NOT beech, NOT birch, etc. etc. etc.  In my opinion espresso is the MOST ordinary color of wood! A nice deep dark brown stain without the reddish tint of cherry colored wood.  Again...they must have run out of espresso colored stain years ago...

The other plans that I have for our living room is to find a nice bench that has storage under the seat.  My plan is to have this bench sitting near the front door for visitors to sit on while removing their shoes, as well as a good place to throw my daughter's stray toys when I have a last minute visitor.  I've looked around at quite a few benches and found a beautiful leather one at a local store for less than $50.00.  It looks pretty similar to this one from overstock.com:

Other than those few items I need to buy, I've been searching everywhere for a cute set of towels and oven mitts for my kitchen.  I still can't find anything that both my husband and I agree on.  Insh'Allah this weekend when we head downtown to the textile district to search for rugs we'll find some nice accessories for the kitchen and bathroom too.

So that's about it for my most recent home improvement adventures.

Oh except...how could I forget to announce the latest news???  When we do decide to redecorate the bedroom, it looks as though we will be using brown and pink for my daughter....brown and turquoise for my hubby and I....and for the new baby....brown and...........

PINK!!

Yes, it's another little princess we are welcoming into our family!  Alhamdulillah for everything.  I was teasing my husband that our daughter is so spoiled she even got her way with this.  She's been begging for a sister ever since she found out there's another baby on the way, so she was overjoyed when she learned she got her wish.  :)

Well ladies I am off to do some more internet browsing for the house.  Insh'Allah I'll see you amazing Muslimahs again soon, and have some updates for you of how the decoration adventure is coming. 

Ma'Salaama and Happy Home Improvements!

Fashionably Yours,

The (DIY) Mujahada in Prada



~How To Turn One Bedroom Into An Elegant Master Suite, A Toddler's Bedroom, and A Nursery All In One~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

First of all, I apologize for the excessively long title for this post.  But I couldn't figure out how else to title it using any fewer words LOL.

After a lot of discussion with the hubster the two of us have decided that in order to save money to buy a house in the future, we are going to stay in our one bedroom apartment for another year or so.  If we are able to stick it out even longer (until mid 2012) there is a probability that we will receive a sizeable buy-out from the city, so they can demolish our building and expand the local airport.  And as good as a two-bedroom apartment sounds NOW....a nice lump sum of money in a couple years sounds even better.  And so begins our attempt at patience. (Allah help us!!)

So, the best part of our plan (other than the lump sum, of course) is that I get to redo our bedroom!  The only problem is; turning one bedroom into a nursery for the new baby, a fun bedroom for my toddler, and an elegant master suite for my husband and I is turning out to be a bit harder than planned.  I've already had my husband rearrange the existing furniture twice, and I still don't like it, so I decided that before I make him rearrange it again I would draw a To-Scale diagram of the room with mini furniture so I could see how it would look.  My husband made fun of me for a couple of days after seeing my diagram, but he'll appreciate it when he learns he only has to change the furniture one more time.

After figuring out how I am going to set up our beds I started searching the internet for different ways to divide the room in order to give my daughter her own space to play and sleep, and to allow my husband and I to have some privacy.  I have browsed literally thousands of different room dividers and chinese screens, and have finally decided on one similar to this:

Although at first I was concerned that this style wouldn't coordinate with our bedspread and other decor, in the end I've decided this screen is the best bet because of the stand at the bottom.  With a toddler playing around the screen, and working with limited space, the ability to have the screen stand straight up (instead of zig-zagged) and be more stable is much more important to me than the style aspect.  And, the opposite side of this screen is plain white, without the grids, so I will have that side facing the door, and possibly hang a nice picture from it or decorate it in some other way.  If you like this screen you can go to iroomdividers.com and check out their huge selection of room dividers ranging from Shoji style (like this one) to modern, and even some with art prints and photographs.

I'm going to use this screen to separate a space for my daughter's bed, a bookshelf for her toys and books, and her table and chairs.  Here is all the stuff that will be on her side of the screen:

This is my daughter's bedding set.  Her bed is similar, but is in a dark espresso colored wood.  Also the bedding looks much more pink in person, rather than the lavendar that is showing up here.  You can't see the polka dots so well at the bottom of the comforter, but they match the canopy I've chosen (shown below).  If you like this bedding, or want to see other beautiful bedding for anyone from babies to adults, check out bacati.com.  Their customer service is amazing, and the quality is superb.

And here is the adorable canopy from ikea.com that I will hang above her bed.

I've looked around at many different bookshelves, and my original plan was to get a bookshelf that I could use two cloth baskets on the bottom shelf, and stack her books on the top shelf.  But then I came across this adorable sling bookshelf with storage bins from OneStepAhead and I loooove it.  I can also personalize it with my daughters name for only $5.00 which is such a cute touch!  The wood is available in Espresso, to match her bed, so I'm sold! yay!

I also found this adorable rug, which is wayyyy expensive (for a rug...and my budget) but I am going to keep searching for one similar, because the style of the bird looks like her bedspread, and the pink color matches perfectly.  This one is from rosenberryrooms.com.

Now...my daughter has this cute set of table and chairs from Ikea (that I can't show because they don't have that style anymore) that are solid wood, and unfinished.  I bought them because I despise (not just hate....but DESPISE) plastic furniture for kids.  (unless it's for use outdoors)  I also chose them unfinished because at that time I wasn't sure what colors I would use for my daughter's bedroom, and I wanted to paint them myself.  After a lot of thought I've decided I will stain them to match her bed, and her new bookshelf, and paint the seat of one chair bright pink and the other turquoise, to coordinate with her bedspread.

Whew!! So....those are the plans I have so far for the "Other Side Of the Screen" (sounds like a cheesy horror flick, doesn't it??? LOL) I'll wait to bore you with the plans for the adult side in the next post.....but I will give you a hint....

I just got a BEAUTIFUL bedding set...and got it on sale!!  And you ladies know...there is not much that makes me happier than getting something beautiful...unless it's getting something beautiful ON SALE!!

Please ladies, let me know what you think of my plans so far!! Feel free to tell me if you think something else would look better, or if you have any home improvement projects of your own right now! 

Ma'Salaama and Happy Home Improvements!

Fashionably Yours,

The (yes I DO use my stilettos to hammer the nails in) Mujahada in Prada

~Bassinet Browsing~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Afternoon My Stylish Sisters!

Insh'Allah all of you had a wonderful weekend, and a productive start to the new week!

Alhamdulillah since my last post I am feeling much more optimistic.  I have kept myself very busy these past few days.  When I got back from my trip with my daughter, my poor husband was living in a house completely void of any groceries, and badly needed some laundry done.  He is very independent, and fends for himself when he needs to, but the poor guy is working 70 hours a week and gets home from work ready to shove anything close by into his mouth and pass out in his work clothes.  So, after unpacking our suitcases (we came back with one suitcase more than we left here with, and all three suitcases overweight!-oops!) I spent a couple days washing clothes, cleaning house, and stocking up on some much-needed groceries. 

This past weekend my hubby had a day off and we were able to take our daughter, his little sister, and his younger cousin to a nearby aquarium which was an amazing experience for the kids.  We all enjoyed looking at sharks, beautiful fish, turtles, stingrays, and the craziest looking seahorses called Leafy Sea Dragons!

Yesterday I was kept busy running all over town getting some other odds and ends we needed for the house, as well as running some errands for my mother-in-law, so today I am enjoying a peaceful and MUCH-needed day of rest and relaxation.

I decided since I'm home, with my feet up, and my cappucino by my side, it was a good time to start cruising the internet to check out some beds for the new baby.  Holy Shmoly!! I can't believe all of the different choices there are out there now!  My daughter is only two years old, but I don't remember seeing all of these options out there when I was choosing a crib for her!  I wanted to share some of the options I found with you amazing Muslimahs and see what you think.

Old World Cradle

I absolutely love the traditional, old school look of this cradle from ababy.com.  I can imagine it staying in the family for years to come, and filling up with the baby's toys, stuffed animals, and other treasures as they grow up.  I also like that it could easily be used for a girl, or a boy, depending on the blankets and accessories that you use with it.

Oval Elite Bassinet

This bassinet is a beautiful compromise between traditional and modern.  Like the cradle, I can imagine this bassinet sitting in the corner of the room even as the baby grows up, and becoming somewhere for him or her to hold their stuffed animals, or other toys.  The round shape is different and unique, and I could easily remove the canopy and bedskirt to convert it into a more modern, and simple storage place for extra blankets or other trinkets.  This style is available on various websites and varies in price and color, this one is on sears.com.

Fisher Price "Zen" Bassinet

I looked at this bassinet when I was pregnant with my little girl.  I love the modern look of this one, along with the special features it has.  It plays fifteen different songs, and makes various soothing movements designed to help put the baby to sleep.  My only reservations about this bassinet is that it is made out of mainly plastic, as opposed to the solid wood construction of more traditional bassinets.  I do like the little shelf under the bassinet, which would come in handy for extra sheets and blankets, but the construction of the bassinet concerns me, and I don't see it sticking around for very long.  This bassinet is available at amazon.com.

Traditional Swag Bassinet

I absolutely adore the traditional, flowing shape of this bassinet.  The sash around the top can be changed from green, to blue, to pink, depending on the sex of the baby and the color you choose to decorate with.  It is formal, yet simple, and reminds me of the elegant bassinets used in the 1800s by royalty.  Although I'm not sure it could be used for too long after the baby outgrows it, I think it is absolutely beautiful.  I debated getting a bassinet like this for my daughter, but instead got a co-sleeper which I quickly regretted and will NEVER do again, and honestly I still feel guilty that I robbed her of the opportunity to sleep in such a gorgeous little bed.  This beautiful bassinet is available at ababy.com.

The Cocoon Hammock

Although this hammock style baby bed is not as beautiful or elegant as the others, it appeals to me for personal reasons.  When my daughter was still very young she was extremely colich-y and would go for hours (and sometimes what seemed like days) screaming.  My husband would walk her up and down the hallways of the apartment we were living in, which would soothe her, but as soon as he would come back into the house and lay her down she would start screaming again.  It was very stressful for the two of us (and I'm pretty sure for our neighbors!) and it was hard not to feel like we were doing something wrong.  Finally her pediatrician suggested we let her sleep sitting up, so we would often sit her in her baby swing and let her sleep there.  I'm not sure if it was the sitting up, or the gentle rocking of the chair that helped her sleep, but she rarely slept in her crib the first four months of her life.  When she outgrew that little swing we were panic-stricken, but alhamdulillah her colich-y days were over and she slept peacefully in her crib.  Because of those sleepless nights pre-baby swing, I am considering getting a hammock bed for the new baby just in case he or she has the same problems sleeping as their older sister.  This cocoon bed is available at armsreach.com.

It's nice to be sitting at home, enjoying my time with my daughter and searching around for the new baby.  It's good to feel hopeful again, and actually be excited for the arrival of the new one.  It was hard to admit that I wasn't exactly overjoyed at the prospect of having another baby, and I felt guilty for not being happy.  Alhamdulillah, Allah is the Best of Planners, and now I know that He has blessed me with another wonderful opportunity to be a mom, and blessed my daughter with the chance to be a big sister.

Ma'Salaama and Happy Bassinet Browsing!

Fashionably Yours,
The (getting bigger by the day) Mujahada in Prada

~Ooohhhh...That Explains It!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Before I say anything else I want to say a big THANK YOU to those sisters who commented on my last post, gave me your support and suggestions, and made du'a for me to recover from my bout of the blues.

Alhamdulillah I have discovered one BIG reason why I was feeling this way, and it's not because I didn't accomplish something I had planned to do, nor was it because I was feeling pressured to wear hijab, nor was it because of a lack of support or kindness from my sisters in Islam (although that IS quite discouraging at times)

It was because of.............................


HORMONES!!!


That's right! Yours Truly is Preggo! Alhamdulillah, it wasn't exactly planned, but Allah swt is the Best of Planners, and He has blessed me with the responsibility of being a mother.  Again  :)

So, there ya have it!  Definitely a cause for my sporadic crying spells, bursting into tears at advertisements with puppies or babies, and my totally illogical anger toward my husband, friends, daughter, or random strangers on the street.

I am feeling much better alhamdulillah, and have found that the thought of having another child insh'Allah, has encouraged me to buckle down and get my schooling done, start practicing Islam the way I should, and be the best mother I can be to my daughter and the future baby.

So, alhamdulillah for everything.  I have lots of future plans, but right now my biggest plan is to go get some much-needed shut eye next to my amazingly adorable, yet frustrating, two year old.  :)

Ma'Salaama and Happy Dreams!

Fashionably Yours,
The (Preggo) Mujahada in Prada

~Plug Me In....I Hate Sleeping!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning My Stylish Sisters!

Up until a couple of months ago I hated sleeping.  I had so many other things I wanted to do with my days (and nights) that I often wished that Allah swt had made me with some kind of charger that could just be plugged into the wall for a couple of hours a day.

The house was never clean enough, I had never studied enough, I hadn't read all the books I wanted to read, I hadn't played with my daughter enough or spent enough time with my husband.  The list went on and on of excuses why to stay up, instead of getting the sleep I needed.

Then in the last couple of months that has all changed.  You see sisters, I have reached a bit of a speedbump.  I am not the super motivated perfectionist Mujahada that you have come to know.  I've gotten lazy...even lethargic. 

I realized a couple of days ago I just need to admit the fact that I'm a bit blue.

This last couple of years has been really tough for me.  My personal life has been uprooted more than once, and thrown into turmoil by people surrounding me.  I have had to move five times since my daughter was born two years ago.  And I don't mean to say all of this to complain, but simply because I think it's time that I face the music and pull myself out of this rut.

The weird thing is, I still avoid sleep like the plague.  For some reason my dreams are never happy, and when I wake up from sleeping I actually feel worse than when I laid down. 

Tonight while I was doing everything possible to keep from going to bed I heard screaming in the neighborhood behind my house.  There was a man's voice yelling at a woman to stop screaming, and I could hear someone being hit with something loud.  I called the police, but by the time they arrived the screams had stopped and I don't think they found anything.  It was scary to me, but as I called to the police wandering the street below I realized they were probably wondering who this crazy woman was sitting in her window waiting for some kind of excitement to happen.  *sigh*

Anyways...I have to find a way to get out of this funk sisters.  My husband suggested I get back into something creative....which would be wonderful if I could figure out a way to get my sewing machine back from Amman (it's a looooong story).  My mom suggested I make a small goal for myself each day that I can feel good about crossing off my list before going to bed every night, which I am going to try to do tomorrow. 

How about you amazing Muslimahs?  Do you have any suggestions?  What do you do to pull yourself out of a fog, and help feel better when you're not running at your optimal speed?

Well, I guess for now I'd better get some sleep.  It's getting late, and before I know it my daughter will be shaking me awake to make her some breakfast.

Ma'Salaama and Sweet Dreams!

Fashionably Yours,
The (down in the dumps) Mujahada in Prada

P.S.  The police didn't find anything.  Insh'Allah what I heard was someone's TV and my overactive imagination (combined with watching too many episodes of Cops and The First 48) I'll keep you updated if I hear anything else.

~So Sorry My Pretties~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Afternoon My Fabulous Fashionistas!

It has been WAY too long since I have seen you all.  I have missed our little chats together, and am happy to say that I am back and will insh'Allah be posting much more often than I have this past month.

Insh'Allah Ramadaan was wonderful for all of you!  My hubster, daughter and I spent almost every iftar at my mother-in-law's house surrounded by wonderful family, lively conversation, and yummy food alhamdulillah.  Our Eid was amazing as well mash'Allah, and we threw a lovely and quite successful Eid party on the 12th which insh'Allah I will be posting about next time (just as soon as I organize all of the pictures).  I had a blast decorating and organizing, and the kids had a blast tearing down the decorations and dis-organizing LOL.  But alhamdulillah everyone enjoyed themselves and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with some special sisters.

This past month has been absolutely crazy for my family.  My poor husband had an accident at work right before Ramadaan started and broke his kneecap which has put him out of work and driven him absolutely crazy because he is confined to the house.  Alhamdulillah it's been a wonderful opportunity for him to spend lots of quality time with our daughter and me, we have had some great conversations, watched some good movies, and gotten on eachother's nerves more often than we usually can when he is working all hours of the day.  My daughter has also been in and out of a pediatric cardiologist's office for multiple tests to determine the cause of her heart murmer, and today we were told she has what is referred to as a Mitral Regurgitation (which you can read more about here).  The seriousness of this condition can vary from mild to severe.  Alhamdulillah because she is a vibrant, happy, energetic two year old, the doctor is not too concerned, but we will be keeping an eye on it, and will return to the doctor periodically for further ultrasounds, EKG's, and various other testing.

Because of all of the stress from these situations (and one other that we will be chatting about in the near future) it has been hard for me to maintain the happy, positive outlook that I usually have in life.  My imaan has not been as strong as it has been in the past, I've become lazy with praying, and didn't push myself during Ramadaan as I usually do to make extra prayers, read Qur'an and otherwise study Islam.  It's hard for me to admit feeling this way, but I am determined to turn myself around.  Today, while driving home from the doctor's appointment, I looked into the rearview mirror of the car and noticed my two year old daughter singing along word-for-word to one of the popular songs on the radio.  I realized that if I played Qur'an for her instead of the radio she would memorizing THAT which is a million times more beneficial than some pop song.  It is my responsibility to set an example for my daughter of how a good Muslimah should act, whether in good times or bad, and one day I will answer for my actions in doing this for her or not.

And in a totally unrelated sidenote, I would like to apologize for urging you sisters to defend me, and defend Islam in general, against the commenter in my last post by the name of Jay.  One of my dear sisters quickly informed me that he is a serial commenter, debate-starter, and cynic of Islam on almost every single Muslim blog there is.  I will not take his comments to heart, as we all come to a point with people like him that we must accept that Allah subhanahuwata'la will guide whom He wills.  Insh'Allah we will all continue to be guided.

Be back soon with a much more interesting and fashionable post my stylish sisters, but I had to check in and let you know I had not forgotten you all.

Ma'Salaama and I Missed You!!

Fashionably Yours,
The (do bad things REALLY come in threes? ACK!) Mujahada in Prada

~My Ramadaan Diary-The Five Pillars~

Since my conversion to Islam four years ago, one of the most recurring comments I’ve received from non-Muslims is their concern that Islam is so “strict”. I’ve been asked how we keep track of so many rules, how we still enjoy ourselves when we can’t do anything “fun”, even how we have time to do ANYTHING else in our lives when we have to pray SO MUCH.


That last one especially makes me chuckle a bit inside, although I try not to be rude when confronted with it, because really: we were blessed with twenty four hours every day by Allah (God) so how can praying for maybe three of those (and that’s including Sunnah and Taraweeh prayers) be SO MUCH?

I can understand how others may feel Islam is especially strict in comparison to other religions. But to put it simply, we do not have any more rules than any other religion; we just still try our best to follow them as the original Muslims did insh’Allah (God-willing), instead of shifting or bending them to fit modern life more easily.

In my last diary entry I talked a bit about fasting and the reasoning behind it. I attempted to answer a couple of the most common questions I’ve been addressed with by non-Muslims, and tried to clear up a few misunderstandings that seem to persist. I thought it was only fair after covering one of our five basic “Pillars” or requirements of Muslims, that I should address the other four.

Faith…Prayer…Charity…Pilgrimage

When we talk of faith, we don’t mean faith in a general sense. Faith when relating to Islam specifically indicates faith in only One God, and the knowledge that Muhammad was His messenger. When one chooses to revert/convert to Islam there is a statement that is made, usually in front of an imam (head of a Mosque or Masjid) along with another one or two witnesses. This statement is referred to as the Shahada and is said in Arabic.

Ashadu an la ilaha ila Llah, Muhammad ir Rasoolu’Llah.

There is no god except God (Allah) and Muhammad is His messenger.

To Muslims, especially converts, those simple words can bring tears to your eyes. Witnessing someone take their shahada is probably the single most uplifting, emotional experience that Muslims can have (other than taking their shahada themselves). This faith is the first pillar of Islam and is quite simple and straightforward. Muslims do not believe in a trinity, or the status of Jesus as God’s son. We believe in one god (Allah) and in the importance of Muhammad as His messenger, the one who received the revelations of the Qur’an.

The second of the five pillars is prayer. In Islam there are two different types of prayer, the required (fard) prayers that we must say throughout the day, and supplemental prayers (du’a) that we can make whenever we feel the need for support, guidance, or protection as we live our daily lives. Many non-Muslims have asked me why we pray SO MUCH. According to authentic (sahih) stories (hadith) that have been passed down by scholars throughout the generations, Allah (God) first commanded His followers to complete fifty prayers a day. Prophet Muhammad ascended with the angel Gabriel to the heavens to beg on the people’s behalf that we would not be able to complete this number of prayers a day. After much begging, Allah commanded that we complete only five prayers a day, and we would still receive the rewards as though we had completed all fifty. (Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, #345) The fact that we are given the reward for fifty prayers, by completing only five shows how merciful Allah is, and is an example of how although the guidelines in Islam may seem more strict, there is great reward in abiding by them. Five prayers a day may seem to non-Muslims to be a lot of time spent in prayer, but it is also time that prevents a person from falling idle, committing sins, or otherwise wasting time. It is much easier to spend this time praying than to spend it suffering from the effects of our behavior.

In Islam we are required to give charity to others. We refer to this charity as Zakaat The purpose of Zakaat is to spread wealth throughout the community, to prevent us from becoming greedy or miserly, and to help us to remember others during times of need. The importance of Zakaat is revealed in the Qur’an, as well as hadith. Although the giving of Zakaat may seem to others to be hard, especially in tough economical times, it is shown in many hadith that giving something even as small as a half of a date will be rewarded.

"Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 24, #498)

The pilgrimage that Muslims are required to make is called Hajj. Hajj is a time of symbolically stripping away people’s social and economic standing, by wearing simple garments, traveling to Makkah and completing seven rotations around the Ka’ba, as well as seven trips between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. At the end of this journey all the pilgrims join together in prayer, a time that is the most uplifting and spiritually moving experience in a Muslims’ life. After Hajj is over there is a huge celebration called Eid Al-Adha that includes prayer, and exchanging gifts. Although Hajj may seem to others to be demanding and difficult, it is only required of those physically and economically able to make the trip.

When asked if it is “hard” to be Muslim, or when confronted with skeptics who view it as too demanding I like to counter with this thought: Which is harder, to prostrate yourself in front of your Creator five times a day and beg for forgiveness, or to pull yourself out of a life of sin or despair that was caused by too much idle time and a lack of direction? Which is harder, to share your wealth a bit with others who are worse off than you, or to be one of the “worse off” with no one to turn to because you refused to help anyone when you had the chance? Which is harder: to stay strong in your imaan and avoid drinking alcohol, abstain from improper relationships with the opposite sex, and steer clear of gambling and cheating; or to lose the respect of your family, your relationships with your loved ones, and your potential for a good future due to alcoholism, pre-marital and extra-marital affairs and excessive debt?

This is exactly why when someone approaches me with their concerns over the “strictness” of Islam, and pity me that I don’t have any fun in my life I just smile. You can have your fun. I don’t need it, I have my faith…my prayer…my fasting…my charity…and my pilgrimage. And I am happy with that. Alhamdulillah.

Ma'Salaama and Happy Fasting.

Fashionably Yours,
The (yes, I still have fun) Mujahada in Prada

~Wow!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning My Stylish Sisters!

Insh'Allah I will be back soon with a much longer post, but for now I had to let you amazing muslimahs know that Love Nyla is having a HUGE sale!!!! Everything is 25-50% off!

Love Nyla

There are some amazing designs at even more amazing prices right now!  Sterling Silver bracelets with Swarovski Crystal charms, Sterling Silver Key Necklaces, Beautiful Hijab Pins, Stunning Chandelier Earrings, and more!

Yay! I'm excited!  Insh'Allah you ladies get some great things before the sale runs out!

Ma'Salaama and Happy Jewelry Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (Swarovski Crystal-loving) Mujahada in Prada

~My Ramadaan Diary....Fasting~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Ramadaan Mubarak! Subhan'Allah how time flies, I am still shocked it is already Ramadaan again. Alhamdulillah I truly needed this month to come again, in order to strengthen my imaan and insh'Allah ask for forgiveness for my transgressions.

Throughout my years as a Muslimah I have been confronted with many colorful and interesting questions and comments regarding my reversion/conversion, and have always wanted to write about them.  The accusations, inquiries, and downright funny questions I have had proposed to me has shown me just how misinformed many people are about Islam and our duties as Muslims. I was quite flattered when I was asked recently to write an article on a wonderful blog called Muslimas Oasis and decided I would take this opportunity to discuss these experiences and do my best to insh'Allah clear up some of these misunderstandings.  I decided I would do something of a Ramadaaan Diary, and address a different topic every couple days throughout this blessed month.  

The following is my first article.  Insh'Allah you enjoy!  And please, take a look at my introductory article as well here: One Muslimah's Ramadaan Diary

Ramadaan Mubarak!



Alhamdulillah it is that most blessed time of the year again. The time when all Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking, or having relations with their spouse from sunup to sundown. The time when we all join in congregation to pray together into the late hours of the night, and read the Qur’an daily. The time when we make our best effort not to lie, curse, raise our voices in anger, or otherwise treat others badly. This is the month during which the Qur’an (or holy book of Islam) was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).


To non-Muslims it may be hard to understand why this month is so special to us. It may sound like a big sacrifice to give up food and drink all day, and a lot of dedication to pray all night instead of sleep after a long day of fasting. It is hard to explain the feeling of Ramadaan to someone who is not Muslim. There is a feeling of electricity, of hope. It is a time of renewal of faith for us, a time when we can concentrate on our imaan (faith) and increasing our knowledge without the distractions of food, drink, or sex. Because many of us break our fasts with our families, friends, or neighbors, there is a strong sense of community and cooperation.


I am sure that all Muslims have been asked many questions by non-Muslims about Ramadaan and fasting. Personally I’ve had reactions from others ranging from disbelief (“You mean you can’t even drink WATER all day?”) to disgust (“I think it’s horrible you would put your body through something like that”) to absolutely hilarious (“You mean you can go a whole MONTH without eating and survive?)


I figured, since today is our first day of fasting, it would be the perfect opportunity to take a few of these questions I’ve been asked and try my very best to answer them. I’ve included quotes from the Qur’an as well as references to what Muslims call hadith (ha-deeth). Hadith is stories and examples that have been handed down throughout generations of Muslim scholars about what the first Muslims said or did in certain situations. I only refer to the most reliable hadith that has been researched and verified by various scholars within Islam, so insh’Allah (God willing) the information I have provided is as accurate as possible.


     Question #1: Why do you fast?


The short answer to this question is simply: it has been commanded of us by Allah and is one of our requirements as Muslims.


“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”[Quran 2:183]


But there is more to the story than just this. Fasting is a way for Muslims to push aside the comforts that food and drink provide us, and help us to understand the way that those less fortunate live. The reward for fasting during the month of Ramadaan is enormous, as related in this Sahih (authentic) hadith by Bukhari:


“The Prophet said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."


Personally, when I am fasting I put a much greater emphasis on my five daily prayers, subconsciously because it is a way of counting down the hours until I can eat, but also because I have a greater clarity and concentration on my connection with Allah. From a medical point of view fasting is also a way to cleanse your body and to give your digestive system a rest. Fasting enables us to worry less about what we’re eating for lunch, and more about what we’re doing to bring ourselves closer to God.


     Question #2: Does everyone have to fast?


Muslims believe that Allah is Most Merciful and does not give us a burden more than He knows we can handle. Fasting is not intended to be easy, but is not intended to be impossible. Those who are sick, who have to take medicine, who are very old, who are traveling, or who are physically unable to fast are not required to. Also pregnant women, or those who are nursing, do not always fast depending on if their child is getting enough nutrients and the difficulty of their pregnancy. The very young do not have to fast, it is only required once they reach puberty and begin praying as well, although many choose to start earlier because they are eager to partake in this blessed month.


     Question #3: Is it only food and drink you give up during Ramadaan?


When Muslims fast we abstain from more than just eating and drinking. We believe that anything that causes liquid to go down our throat including gum or breath mints break our fast. We also abstain from having sex with our husband or wife, from cursing or lying, and from raising our voice in anger. Although as Muslims we always try to treat others with kindness, this is a month that we concentrate on growing in our faith, that we attempt to be as calm, understanding, and forgiving as possible. This is a month that we do our best to share what we have (no matter how little we have) with others, including non-Muslims.


Insh’Allah this Ramadaan is blessed for all of us, and Allah accepts our fasts and our prayers. Insh’Allah (God willing) the information I’ve provided has been beneficial to all of you, whether Muslim or not, and as always…Allah knows best.

Well ladies it is getting late and I am exhausted.  The first day of fasting is always the hardest, isn't it?  May Allah accept our fasts and forgive us for our sins.  Ameen.

Ma'Salaama and Ramadaan Kareem!

Fashionably Yours,
The ("Yes, we do go a whole month without eating.  Muslims have superpowers!" LOL) Mujahada in Prada

~New Amira Colors~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Just wanted to let you lovely ladies know that I have some more colors in the two piece Amira hijabs right now.  I have them listed on ebay.com for amazing prices!

Check them out here and click on the link under the pictures to go to the listing on ebay.com:

Floral Print Amira Hijab

Dark Grey/Green Amira Hijab

Lavendar Amira Hijab

Dark Teal Amira Hijab

Ma'Salaama and Happy Bidding!
Fashionably Yours,
The (are you ready for Ramadaan?) Mujahada in Prada

~Another Sale!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

As if my earlier post wasn't enough, in celebration for Ramadan coming, the entire selection of hijab pins at http://www.lovenyla.com/ are 25% off right now!

YAY!  Don't you just LOVE sales?  I'm thinking of just getting all of my Eid shopping done now!  (and maybe getting myself a couple of things too!)

Ma'Salaama and (as always) Happy Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (shop-a-holic) Mujahada in Prada

~Let's Shop!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Just a quick post to let you know that some of those fabulous scarves and underscarves I posted about back in March are now on ebay for almost 50% off the original prices!  In order to make room for some new merchandise I'm getting in I'm offering you amazing discounts, and shipping within the United States is only $2.50!

I have also posted a couple of new items that were not in my original posting, like this Amira style hijab:
Amira Style Hijab


Original Post:
Hijabi Fashions!

Hurry and get your Eid scarves now before they are all sold out! At these prices you can get one for yourself, and another as a gift for a Fashionista Muslimah in your life!

Just go here:
Beautiful Chocolate Brown Hijab
Set of Three Underscarves
Swarovski Crystal Hijab Pins

If you click on any of these you can go under "Seller Info" on the far left and click on "See Other Items" to view everything I have posted.

Ma'Salaama and Happy Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (knows a good bargain when she sees one!) Mujahada in Prada

~Hot Mama Muslimah!~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

This blog entry is dedicated to one amazing Muslimah in particular.  In celebration of her newly announced pregnancy (mabrook again habibti!!) I thought it would be fun to do some searching for some highly fashionable, hijabi-fied outfits for those mommy-to-be Muslimahs.  Some fun, some classic, and all modest enough to cover the necessary parts even when you're ready to pop, here are some of my top picks for muslimah maternity wear:

Mama Muslimah "Baby Blue" Outfit

Mama Muslimah Baby Blue Outfit by LoveNyla on Polyvore.com

Cotton Long Sleeve Top in Brown
$37 - bellablumaternity.com

Paisley Pashmina Hijabs
2.50 GBP - alhijabworld.com

Forever21.com - Love21 - Maternity - 2000003035
$28 - forever21.com

Product: Kenneth Cole Reaction "Flower Gem" Sandal
$50 - dillards.com

Pugster.com: Silver Foil White And Blue Flower Pattern Brown Murano...
$26 - pugster.com

pictures 4 polyvore Home - pictures 4 polyvore
thereagency.com

Flared Maternity Long Jean Skirt
denimskirts.com

Mama Muslimah "Crayola Colors" Outfit:

Mama Muslimah Crayola Colors Outfit by LoveNyla on Polyvore.com

Square Hijab, Islamic Scarf, Buy,Italian Scarves,Mortada,Head Scarf -...
$13 - starscarves.com
More scarves »

Set of 4 Copper-Tone Wood Bangles : Target
$13 - target.com

Mossimo® Black Women's Kimono Sleeve Maxi Dress - Yellow XXL : Target
$50 - target.com

Cotton Long Sleeve Top in Sweet Potato
$37 - bellablumaternity.com

Report Copper Women's Dara Shoe
$86 - shoes.com

pictures 4 polyvore Home - pictures 4 polyvore
thereagency.com

Antique Copper Fashion Alert Medical ID Bracelet :: Medical ID's ::...
colonialmedical.com

Fashion Jewelry Copper-colored Jardiniere Vase with Colorful Crystal...
sourcingmap.com

Mama Muslimah Classy Kimono Outfit:

Mama Muslimah Classy Kimono Outfit by LoveNyla featuring GAP maternity

Kimono Dress
bellablumaternity.com
More dresses »

Gap Semi demi panel skinny jeans (dark wash)
$30 - gap.com
More GAP maternity »

Cheap Gucci Silk Scarf for sale
$109 - scarfonlineshop.com

Paris Hilton Tasso at Zappos.com
$73 - zappos.com

Small Under Scarf Caps,Hejab,Hijab,Amira Hijab, Head Scarves -...
$4.99 - starscarves.com

Point 925 Jewellery - Silver cuff bangle bracelet
point925jewellery.co.uk
More bracelets »


This post has just inspired me to do many more Polyvore Preggo outfits for our Hot Mama Muslimahs, so I may be back with more! But hubby is calling, lunch needs a-cooking, and the day is young so I am off for now! Insh'Allah you enjoy the sets I've thrown together, and if any of you fabulously fashionable followers have any other great preggy websites with hijabi-worthy pieces, please post them in the comments!!

For now,
Ma'Salaama and Mash'Allah to all our Mama Muslimahs!
(and the rest of you stylish sisters too!)

Fashionably Yours,
The (Is it just the cute preggy clothes, or am I having baby fever?) Mujahada in Prada