~Tea Cups~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters,

It's been a loooong time since I've posted about something truly fashionable, so tonight I decided I would vent a bit about the trouble I'm having trying to find what SHOULD be a very simple functional accessory to give a jump start to my home decor for my new place.

The item I am referring to are tea cups.

"Tea Cups?"  you say scratching your head and wondering WHY on earth something so basic could be causing me such consternation.

Yes....Tea Cups.  Because, you see, I don't want just ANY tea cups.  I don't want the little white china ones with the tacky blue and pink flowers or the oversized American coffee mugs that hold two liters of liquid.  I want the simple, traditional Middle Eastern style, non-handle having tea glasses.

I have searched high and low on the internet.  And when I FINALLY found a set that I really liked I discovered that the shipping for them cost just as much as the actual cups do.  That to me is just...well...un-necessary!

I can distinctly remember being in Jordan walking into a regular, run-of-the-mill kitchen supply store in downtown Amman and being totally shocked at the amazing selection of both beautiful and inexpensive tea and coffee sets.  Anything from the plain glass, to the simple gold-rimmed to the ornately decorated...and all under 10 JD.  (for those of you who have never been to Jordan that means all under around $18.00)

For the record...I did find a set I liked on ebay for a reasonable price and was going to get them until I realized they were a set of FOUR...ummmmm who EVER heard of an Arab household (okay even a half-Arab household) only have FOUR guests at once???

So, you can just imagine how disgusted I am with myself that I am sitting here wasting two hours of my evening searching high and low for some tea cups that I KNOW are just waiting for me on some dusty shelf of a tiny shop in the city I love half-way around the world.

Well...anyways, during my search I did see some beautiful cups that I thought I would share with you marvelous muslimahs, even if I'm not actually going to purchase any of them. 

I like these well enough, although I wasn't sold on the plum color of them.  The price was right, until I discovered the shipping costs.  If you like them, you can get them at http://www.justmorocco.com/.  They have many beautiful styles, but I was somewhat turned off by their crazy prices and the fact they have a monopoly on all things Moroccan.  If you notice they have like four or five websites that look different, but upon second glance are really the same company.

These are beautiful, and are in the blue hue that I had in mind...albeit a bit TOO blue for me.  These are from Amazon.com and come in a set of six which is nice...but after shipping they are still over $40.00 which is kind of hard for me to stomach, especially when I normally get free shipping on Amazon but these are excluded   : (

Okay, so these are the ones I am currently considering.  Enough blue to tie in the color of my carpet, along with a tan to match my furniture.  I like the understated gold accents instead of the bright and shiny in-your-face gaudiness that so many Middle Eastern tea sets possess.  I haven't actually purchased them yet though, so feel free to grab them at http://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Tea-Glasses-Blue-Smara/dp/B000TRC2VY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1279352112&sr=8-11 if you like them!

These are very pretty, although they are silver and I was hoping for something with gold.  It doesn't really matter anyway because they are NINETY DOLLARS.  Yeah...crazy, huh?  Probably made in China and cost the company around twenty-five cents per glass to make, but you know us crazy Americans and how much we'll pay for anything "exotic."  Well...some of us anyways...I know better.  But if you don't... go ahead and get them from http://www.stlloftofstyle.com/.  You would think if they're charging that much for some tea cups they could afford to spell 'decor' correctly...sheesh.

And last but not least my all-time favorite set.  Beautiful...inexpensive...and SOLD OUT.  Ugh...just my luck, eh?  Anyways, you can see the picture if you want to at http://www.mightyleaf.com/.

Well ladies, my search for the perfect tea cups is over for the night.  I was really hoping to find some pretty little tea glasses for serving guests, especially with Ramadhan fast approaching, but I need my beauty rest.  It looks like my hunt will continue, but I would really appreciate any suggestions from you lovely ladies!

Ma'Salaama and Happy Tea Cup Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,

The (tired of sipping my tea from a styrofoam cup) Mujahada in Prada 

~Inna Lillahi wa Inna Illayhi Rajioon~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Afternoon My Stylish Sisters,

I'm not really sure how to write this post.  It's been a long time since I have suffered the loss of a loved one alhamdulillah, and grieving is a very private process for me.  But for some reason I have the urge to let the world know that recently I lost one of the greatest people in my life, and it is unbelievably hard.

I'm not sure if you sisters remember my post a while back about being in New Mexico and my Aunt and Uncle's dog eating my shoes.  Well if you do...I have since lost something much more important than a stupid pair of clogs.  Early this morning that same Uncle passed away.

It was a huge shock to all of us.  He had just recently gotten healthy after struggling with some health problems.  He was happy, vibrant, hilarious, and loving.  Even though he wasn't a blood relative, he and my Aunt have been best friends with my parents for 40 years, and I can't imagine them not being in my life.

I can remember when I was young we spent every single Thanksgiving at their house.  The adults would be upstairs cooking and laughing, and the kids would be playing downstairs.  I remember one year as I was running up the stairs I cut my foot on a wayward nail, and started bleeding everywhere.  In his true character my uncle made jokes to make me laugh while my mom and Aunt cleaned my foot and bandaged it.  After I converted to Islam and didn't drink alcohol anymore, he was always considerate enough to make me a "virgin" of whatever drink everyone else was drinking at family functions.  The last time I visited them my aunt highlighted my hair, and I can remember he was disappointed he couldn't see how the end product looked.  Even though I'm 30 years old with a child of my own, he always called me kid...I will miss that so much.

I have soooo many memories of this amazing man that I could fill up pages with them.  Instead though, I will continue to let them fill up my heart.  He may not be with us anymore, but every time we gather he will be with us in spirit.  There are many things I wish I had done differently, called them more often, not made such a big deal over their dogs eating my stupid shoes, but I can't change that now.  All I can do is hope he knew how much he was loved by all of us, and continue to honor his memory by telling my daughter about this amazing man that she unfortunately will have to grow up without.

I will miss you Uncle R.

Ma'Salaama

The (Tearful) Mujahada in Prada

~Happy Birthday~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Today is a very sentimental day for me...my baby daughter turns two years old.

I remember the day she was born like it was just yesterday.  I was in labor for hours...they had sent my husband home thinking I wouldn't be giving birth for at least a few more, when the doctor rushed in and announced I needed an emergency C-Section.

I remember thinking that I should be scared, but I wasn't.  You could argue it was the drugs, but I strongly believe it was Allah swt telling me to be strong, that He was there with me and with my unborn child and that He already had everything planned out.  Alhamdulillah everything went smoothly and two days later I brought home my amazingly beautiful, smart, and energetic little girl.

As I sit here alone, listening to the neighbors laughing and planes zooming overhead I imagine my beautiful baby sleeping in the next room.  She loves to snuggle with one green bear in particular, and she hates having her feet covered when she sleeps.  Her nose is a little stuffed up, and I can picture her in there breathing peacefully in and out of her mouth, twitching from time to time as her little genious mind dreams about playing, running, and jumping.

My little girl is growing up so fast.  The other day someone jokingly said we should give her some pill to keep her this age forever.  There is actually a part of me who wants to do just that...keep her this small and dependant and snuggly.  But there is a bigger part of me that marvels at how much she learns every day.  The awe on her face as she discovers a new bug, the excitement when she hears her favorite song, or the squeals she makes when her baba comes home from work.

Her life has been pretty complicated compared to most toddlers'.  She's moved around much more than the average two year old, flown at least ten times, and had to adjust to several new beginnings.  Each time I am so impressed at how easily she seems to sink right in to her new life, her new surroundings...usually long before I am able to do the same.

I could sit here and name all of the things I love about her, the sayings she uses that make me giggle, even the mischevious acts that I try my hardest not to giggle act.  But I would be here all night, and I doubt you ladies would want to hear them.  So instead I will simply say Alhamdulillah...Allah swt has blessed me with a gift much greater than I could ever deserve.  I learn more about myself in one day from this tiny little human, than I have during the rest of my life combined.  She lights up my life, and insh'Allah I will always do my best to be the mother to her that she deserves.

I love you habibti.  Happy Birthday.  May your life be full of sunshine, laughter, and unconditional love, and may Allah guide and protect you always.  Ameen.

Ma'Salaama and Happy (Birthday) Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (who knew someone so tiny could give so much love?) Mujahada Mama in Prada

~The Purple Tree~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

I am soooo excited to see all of you!  Please, let me pour you a cup of tea...or coffee.  Have some goodies to snack on, and relax...I am so happy to finally catch up with you again!

I sincerely hope that each and every one of you have been doing well since we last met insh'Allah.  I hope you all know that my disappearance had nothing to do with you lovely ladies, but was a combination of my life getting a little extra crazy, and me being a little extra lazy.  My family and I have had to move three (yes THREE) times within the last month due to reasons beyond our control.  We were able to take a short vacation in the middle of it, which made a truly stressful time a bit more bearable, and now FINALLY we have put down roots in a new area, with new surroundings, and loved ones nearby ALHAMDULILLAH!

The only thing about our new place is that I feel I am living in a sort of ghost town.  I know that sounds strange...we are, after all, in a city of ummmm like almost 10 million people.  The view from my balcony is one that would be next to impossible to get anywhere around here-it is literally a huge empty field with one gorgeous purple tree in the center.  This beautiful tree, although tall and healthy looking seems a bit sad to me for one reason.

Not even five years ago all of these fields were houses.  Homes...memories.  Children running and laughing, mothers cooking for their kids, fathers kissing their wives before going off to work, young couples planning their lives together.  I almost hear the echos of these people when I sit on my veranda at night.

All of these houses, these homes, were bulldozed.  All to make way for an expansion of a multi billion dollar a year business.  I know in a way it is a positive change.  The expansion of this business will of course provide jobs for hundreds of people and will boost the city's economy.  And these people were not kicked out of their homes, they were given sizable settlements to ensure they could rebuild their lives elsewhere.  But, I have to wonder...do any of them return?  Just to drive down the street and imagine where their home once stood?  To remember that special barbeque they had for their child's birthday, or where they themselves took their first ride on a bike?  These homes were over 50 years old, if not older...and I'm sure that although the houses are all gone, the memories are all still standing.  Just like that beautiful tree....left to sway in the wind and remember.......until it is bulldozed too.

Now before I go, I would like to cheer us all up a bit with some positive news.  Despite all of the recent turmoil and transplantation of my family and me, I am excited to announce that Love Nyla finally has their website up and running!  Mash'Allah the site is amazing, with some beautiful pieces of jewelry ranging from earrings to necklaces to hijab pins.  And of course, their gorgeous customizable charm bracelets.  I definitely urge you sisters to check it out at http://www.lovenyla.com/.  Let me know if you found anything, and share with us what you got!! There is nothing better than buying a fabulous new piece of jewelry, except showing off a fabulous new piece of jewelry to your good friends!

Ma'Salaama and Happy Memory Making.

Sentimentally Yours,
The (Purple Tree Loving) Mujahada in Prada

~Love Nyla~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

Sorry this post is so short but I HAD to share the great news!  The Love Nyla website is finally up!! Full to the brim of beautiful charm bracelets, necklaces, and (most of all) amazing hijab pins!  Check it out ladies!

http://www.lovenyla.com/

Ma'Salaama and Happy Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (in love with Love Nyla) Mujahada in Prada

~Good Hijab vs. Bad Hijab~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning My Stylish Sisters!

Insh'Allah you all had a restful night's sleep.  I am only on my first cup of coffee for the day, and won't fully wake up until at least the second or third so please forgive me for my typos.

First off this morning I would like to address a little issue that slightly hurt my feelings, and caused me not to write for this last week or so.  As I'm sure most of you ladies have noticed I like to put a small poll at the upper right hand corner of my blog so I can keep my sisters involved in choosing the topics we discuss.  This past poll I asked what you would like me to talk about next, and jokingly included an option that said "Nothing, we've heard enough" not realizing I was opening myself up to criticism.  You can imagine my shock and disappointment when I logged on a few days ago and found someone had chosen this option.

I know it is impossible for everyone to like you all the time.  It's actually something I've struggled with since a child, trying to spread myself too thinly in the effort of appeasing everyone's opinion regardless what my own personal beliefs were.  It has gotten me hurt and disappointed in the past, and even though I'm grown up now it still hurts to know someone out there doesn't enjoy my posts.

I debated about not posting anymore, wondered if perhaps my time and efforts would be better spent elsewhere, and seriously considered giving up on blogging for good.  But then I realized that if I stopped blogging, if I stopped meeting with you amazing Muslimahs from time to time, then I would be putting that ONE person's opinion above the 26 opinions of my fashionable followers.  And that wouldn't be fair to all of you.

So, bottom line is this.  There will be times in life that people don't agree with what you're saying.  For one reason or another there may be a clash of personalities, a difference of opinion or some other obstacle between you and another person.  Whatever the case may be, it's important that you listen to that person's opinion, but don't let it stop you from being yourself.  Because for every one person who may NOT like you, there are probably twenty more who DO like you!

So, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I'd like to chat a bit about an issue that has come up several times throughout my years as a hijabi.  It's something I've struggled with every so often, one that has caused me to experiment a bit and find a happy medium between my inner modest Muslimah and fashionista.  The issue I'm talking about is: what is considered "good" hijab, and what is considered "bad" hijab?

There are those sisters who may feel that only black, grey, or browns are acceptable colors for a Muslimah, as well as others who feel that as long as their hair is covered it doesn't matter what color or print their scarf is.  There are those who feel that we should wear only abaya or jilbab, and many who prefer to wear jeans or long skirts with tunics.  The styles of hijab vary as much as the Muslimahs who wear them, and it's important that we consider the fact that each Muslimah is at a different point on her path in Islam before we judge her style of hijab.

Here are some pictures of different styles of hijab.  Take a look at them, and pick out those you consider "good" or "bad" then ask yourself- why am I jumping to this conclusion?  Don't worry- this is NOT a test; there are no right and wrong answers here. (well there probably are, but I'm not the one to be the judge of that-only Allah swt can judge our intentions)

So what do you think ladies, are any of these hijabis better than the other because her hijab style is better?  When you walk through the mall and see a hijabi wearing tight jeans and a three quarter sleeve top do you automatically judge her or make a comment under your breath?  I know it is only human to do this, it's hard to reserve judgement when you feel strongly that someone is not behaving in the way we feel is required of us.  But instead, next time you see someone wearing something that you feel is "bad" hijab ask yourself this: How do you feel when someone judges you?  Have you always been as strong as you are now in your faith, or at the point you are now on your personal path in Islam?  Giving our fellow Muslims their 70 excuses is as much our responsibility as a Muslimah as is wearing hijab, so if we are jumping to these conclusions, in a way we are foregoing one Islamic duty for another.

Let's try to be a little more understanding of eachother.  Of course it is our responsibility to kindly remind eachother if our intention is purely for the sake of helping our sister in Islam to follow the guidelines set forth for us.  But at the same time, that hijabi you are judging, or backbiting, or pointing out and giggling over with your girlfriends at the mall is a Muslim like you, a daughter like you, and most importantly she is your sister in Islam. 

Remember: Compassion is Always in Fashion!

Ma'Salaama and Enjoy Your Own Path!

Fashionably Yours,

The (far-from-perfect) Mujahada in Prada 

P.S.  Here is a link to a fatwa regarding this very subject.  Insh'Allah you find it beneficial!

Good Hijab, Bad Hijab?

~Re-Posting For Your Viewing Pleasure!~

aSalaam uAlaikum my Stylish Sisters!

I am re-posting this one again (actually being lazy and just linking you to it) because I now have the two piece prayer garments in all white.  Back by popular demand these are high quality cotton garments, with a decorative border and fit American sizes 4-14.  Elastic waistbands, and nice long top pieces allow it to fit this wide variety of sizes very well, and they are great quality.  I literally received them yesterday from Jordan, and already have sold one- so act quickly because I haven't found any other all white sets available on the internet anymore!

Hijabi Fashions

Ma'Salaama and Happy Shopping!

Fashionably Yours,
The (one stop muslimah fashion shop) Mujahada in Prada