O Kaaba, O Kaaba, how steadfast is the Qibla.

            Ramadan Kareem everyone! The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, and it is the time for family gatherings, heightened spirituality, and self reflection. For a little more detail about this holy month check out an article I wrote a couple years back for the Dearborn Patch:Five Things Everyone Should Know About Ramadan.

One of my favorite things to see for every holiday is how people decorate their homes in celebration. I am happy to see a lot more homes decorated for Ramadan in Dearborn! I have been seeing larger than life “Ramadan Mubarak” banners across front porches, twinkling lights, and the famous moon and star symbol hanging on windows. Now that I have a daughter, I really wanted to make it a point this year to decorate my own home for Ramadan. I want Madina to know that the month of Ramadan is of utmost importance in our household. And, I want the Eid to feel just like Christmas morning would to a young Christian child.

Speaking of Christmas, even as a Muslim, it’s hard not to soak up the aura that Christmas time exudes. When I think of Christmas, I picture the colorful lit homes, the dazzling Christmas trees with all their hanging ornaments, and the fresh, white snow as it brightens the dark night with its sparkling glow. It’s no wonder a lot of Muslims partake in the Christmas festivities—some even put up Christmas trees in their homes.

Likewise, because the Christmas tree is so popular … many Muslims will put it up during Ramadan or Eid and refer to it as “Eid/Ramadan tree”. However, I decided to steer away from the Christmas tree when thinking about a decorative symbol for Ramadan. Not that I don’t condone the tree, I just wanted something that was different; an eye-catching symbol to decorate my home.

After a conversation with a friend about possible decor options, we discussed the perfect idea (among many, actually). If you ask anyone who has ever been to hajj (the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca) to describe the Kaaba, the answers can all be summed up into one word: Breathtaking. I have yet to go to hajj, (god willing I will get to go soon) but the Kaaba is such a prominent and beautiful structure in Islam … so why not use a Kaaba as a representative symbol? So after a few hours of feeling crafty I created my own little Kaaba to decorate for Ramadan. Here are some pictures: 

How I did it:

I actually don’t want to tell you how I did this, only because I made it a lot harder than it had to be. I’m just going to give you a much simpler direction: Find a cardboard box big enough to fit presents inside. Be sure to take into consideration the size of your family and how many gifts you will need. If you can find a box with a lid, that’s even better. I’m sure they are out there somewhere because I’ve seen people do gender reveal parties with big boxes that balloons fly out of.

Go to a crafts store (Michaels, Joann Fabric, etc.) and find black wrapping paper and glue it on to all the sides of the box. You can use Elmer’s glue for this. I also bought this yellow shimmering poster board that I thought would do well for the Kaaba’s detail. If you go to a fabric store, they have a lot of pretty gold rolls that you can use … or if you’re artsy you can even use paint! Anyway, I cut the poster board into four thick strips and wrapped them around the black box using tape to stick. I then cut even smaller pieces of the gold cardboard to go underneath the first wrap. If you Google search how the Kaaba looks, it has Arabic writing around it. So, I Googled (should be a legitimized verb) the word “Allah” and printed and cut out the calligraphy (four; one on each side) that you see in the above picture.

Using the Christmas stocking concept, I bought two small gift bags and labeled them with our names to use to accumulate sadaqa (charity). And, finally, I bought a little chalk board with a stand so that I can write a different Quranic verse every few days. You can get really creative with this. Mine is pretty simple, but I wanted to share the idea with you because I think it’s a nice alternative to the tree if you were looking for one. I plan on buying some white lights to go around my Kaaba as well! 

Did you decorate your home for Ramadan? If so, how did you do it? Let me know in the comment section! I look forward to hearing your ideas!

How I left my baby behind to vacation!

                Fortunately for me, my daughter is the first grandchild on both sides of our families. I say fortunately because my mom and my mother-in-law fight (in the nicest way possible) to watch her. It’s truly a blessing to be able to have this luxury, especially because I plan to start my career soon and I know my baby is in good hands. This is what made my decision to jet-set alone a little easier.

                A few months ago, my friends and I were entertaining the idea of taking an all girls trip to Florida (yes, I went again). I decided to make a list of reasons of why I should and should not go. Some of the reasons that were in favor of me going were:

1. Now is the best time to go since my daughter is still the only grandchild.

2. I would most likely be working in the fall.

3. In the last year and a half I have been pregnant and taking classes full time, gave birth over the summer, completed a student teaching internship, and then finally finished my master’s project and eventually earned my degree.

And,

4. I Haven’t had a good night sleep since I was 8 months pregnant.  

             Needless to say, I needed a break. While all of these reasons were justified in me taking this vacation, the one reason I had to stay behind seemed to the most prominent: Missing Madina. However, I knew that this opportunity was not going to come by again anytime soon and so after serious contemplation and encouragement from my husband and friends, I decided to book my trip.

            Shortly after, I prepared everything for Madina for the time that I was away. I wanted to make things as easy on my mom and my mother-in-law as possible, since they were doing me such a great favor. Well, if you ask them, I was probably doing them the favor by keeping her with them. Anyway, I began with her food. If you refer to my previous post titled, “Meal Prep for Baby”, you will see how I puree and prep my daughter’s food. In this instance, I organized all of the food by day and stored them in zip lock bags. I wrapped 3 food “bowls” in plastic wrap and labeled them “breakfast” “lunch” or “dinner” like so:

               I then packed Madina’s clothes in separate bags and labeled them using post-it notes to indicate the corresponding days (Monday through Friday) like so:

                In each bag was a hair accessory, a hat, an outfit, shoes,socks, extra cardigan and leggings just in case it got a little chilly and an extra little bag labeled “Night time Pj’s”.

            I also wrote down a checklist for my husband to refer to both in the morning and at night before and after he took her to my mom/mother-in-law’s. He said he followed it promptly…but I don’t believe him.

                Lastly, I printed out a feeding/nap time schedule for my mom and my mother-in-law to use as a guide. Now, I am fully aware that my mom and mother-in-law have had children before and they are perfectly capable of figuring out when a baby needs to nap and eat, I only wrote this down just as a reference. I informed them that it was tentative, and I’m glad I wrote it because they both found it helpful.

               The night before my departure, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of guilt and selfishness as I questioned: Is she going to miss me? What if she doesn’t realize I’m gone? Am I going to be able to handle this? I really shouldn’t be going, do I really need this? Isn’t four nights too long?

              After shedding a few tears (yes, I’m a little dramatic), my husband assured me that there is nothing to worry about, and that everything would be taken care of. I set my worrisome feelings to the side and tried to look forward to the trip.

              When my friends picked me up the next morning, I finally started to feel excited when the thought of sleeping through the night became a reality. I wasn’t as excited about the beautiful beach, our ocean view balcony, or getting to try some delicious new restaurants… I just wanted to sleep.

              And, so I slept. The first night I woke up out of habit it seemed, but after that I was able to sleep through the night, and take naps, and lounge by the water. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was. Although every toddler in sight reminded me of my baby, I was glad I took the time to myself. I came back feeling refreshed, strong, and ready to jump back into the beautiful role of being a mom.

              Sometimes it’s important to allow yourself time to just relax, catch up on sleep, and make your husband realize how much you actually do. We are all so wrapped up in trying to be super mom to our babies, but I don’t believe a few days away makes you anything less. After my trip, I feel a moms get-away is definitely recommended, especially if you have reliable care for your child. So go ahead… Treat yo' self.

             Have you vacationed without your child/children? If so, what was your experience? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section! Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog on the right hand side of your screen.

-Mariam 

My current favorite summer trend: The wide leg pant!

                I’m loving the summer trends right now because a lot of the fashion is hijabi friendly! You can easily find long maxi dresses, skirts, kimonos, cardigans  and loose-fit clothing at stores like H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Banana Republic etc. But, my favorite thus far this summer has to be the wide leg pant. I cannot tell you how much I love this trend. This item is so nice because it’s light, airy and so modest!

                I stocked up on a lot of wide leg pant styles last year while I was pregnant. I couldn’t wear them while I was pregnant (for obvious reasons), but I intended to save them for the following summer—I’m so glad I did! It also seems that this year, the wide leg pant is back with even better quality styles and so much variety. I have some that are patterned and some are that are plain, and you can style a lot of the solid colored pairs to occasions like I did in this photo—(Disclaimer: This is my failed attempt at ‘modeling’). Photocred @JessicaKobeissi :)

                I was super comfortable in this outfit as I wore it to a relative’s wedding. I bought the pants from Forever 21, the waistcoat/vest from Banana Republic and the bow tie blouse from Forever 21 a few years ago. The color orange may not be your first choice when considering a wide-leg pant purchase, but if you choose to tone it down with other colors that aren’t so bright, or rather neutral, you can pull off a conservative, classy look. 

               You can really re create this look with a variety of colors, for instance, if maybe you had burgundy pair of wide leg pants, and a black/cream waistcoat. Or, you can even use a black bow tie blouse instead. There are plenty of ways you can wear this outfit using different color tones.

               What’s great about the wide leg pant is that you can style it sort of the way you would a skirt. For example, if loose enough to where the pants don’t shape your body, you may not need to find long shirts to go with it. You would be able to tuck in your blouse/shirt (whatever works), which allows for a lot more options when shopping! Not to mention that a lot of the wide leg pants that are out are breezy and light, which is so nice for us hijabis in the summer. 

               I always convince myself to buy hijabi friendly styles before they are no longer on trend (it’s also my way of justifying reasons to shop). I cannot tell you how many items of clothing my mom used to own that are trending now but have disappeared in past years. I still bug her about throwing them out.

              What is your favorite summer trend this year? Share in the comment section below! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog!!

Getting your hijab done for occasions: Keep it simple, keep it classy.

   So for years we’ve been hearing about women getting their hair done, nails done, face done, etc. But, people, we are in 2016 and Muslim women are getting their hijabs done, too. While this has created some good businesses for some clever women who have learned the art of styling hijab, my personal take is the less flashy, the better. 

                For those of you who don’t wear the hijab, or are not quite sure what I’m talking about… here’s a little rundown: Many women seek out hijab stylists for special occasions so that they can have a different, fancier look that matches their fancy attire. While this may seem a little odd, there are several different ways one can wrap her hijab. For example, in my case, I don’t wrap my hijab one way all the time. It just depends on my outfit and which style works best with it. Likewise, with occasions, sometimes an evening gown might require something a bit more decorative. I usually don’t get my hijab done (only got it done on my wedding day)—I just prefer a fancier material like silk or chiffon-- but I do see a lot of pretty, subtle, and elegant styles that are out there. But, that’s the key in my opinion: Less is always more in this instance.

              However, I do have to admit that I have seen some scarf styles that are a bit too over the top for my liking. It's also important to keep in mind that hijab is a representation of modesty/reserve, and some styles can draw more attention than a woman who wears barely anything to an occasion.

               For instance, I have seen fringes that swing across foreheads, excessive crystal-like embroidery, and braided fabric. Come on ladies, we can do better than that! I’ve also noticed a lot of stuffing that goes into some of the styles. I know that stuffing needs to be put in place to add a little volume, but when stuffed excessively, they tend to create larger than life mountain bumps. I would prefer someone in a two piece hijab with an evening gown, rather than the outrageous bump heights. Or just ask your stylist to keep the stuffing to a minimum.

              If you want to get your hijab done, I suggest you ask the stylist to keep it simple and classy. And, what’s nice about the hijab is that it’s not like your hair where you sit in a chair and wait for the hair stylist to complete the look. If you don’t like what you see, you can easily ask for it to be fixed as it is being designed.  

               Nada Makki is one of the many hijab stylists in the Detroit Metropolitan area. Her slogan for her business is “Simple yet elegant". Here are some pictures of her work that I think are appropriate styles and could complement evening attire.

              Nada can be contacted via phone : (313) 999-9980 and e-mail: hcsbynada@yahoo.com . You can also follow her on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook and pinterest @hijabstylesbynada .

              There are many women, especially in and around Dearborn MI, who are also hijab stylists and are talented in this craft. My suggestion is to envision a style and aim to wear your hijab in a simple and elegant fashion, like those worn in the above pictures. 

              Do you get your hijab done? If so, feel free to give your hijab stylist a shout out. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!

How to clean where you get clean: The Shower!

               Today I want to share with you how I clean the area I use to get clean: The shower! I have to say that I’ve tried numerous products while cleaning my shower. And, it’s not that those products didn’t do the job, most of them did…I just wanted to see my shower sparkle. Sometimes, my philosophy on cleaning aligns with that of a child as I question: if there isn’t soapy foam is it really clean? 

               My shower is all tile and I have a glass shower door, which is SO annoying to keep clean. I like it better than a shower curtain, but good god there’s just so many parts of it that you have to detail. Anyway, back to the soapy foam. I always knew that something that always gets soapy and foamy is dish soap. So, one day I decided to use my Polmolive dish soap to clean my shower , and alas, I saw my shower sparkle.

               You may find this strange, but I kid you not, my shower has never been so sparkling clean. I tried to get a good picture to post for you, but my shower is in my basement, and the lighting is horrible so a picture wouldn't do it justice. I usually clean my shower about twice a week, and I do it right before I take a shower. Here’s my routine:

1. I spray some Clorox clean-up with bleach OR Lysol (whatever I feel like using that day) all over the shower. I also spray some on the shower door.

2. I wait about five minutes, just so the cleaning product kills any bacteria that may be present.

3. I turn my shower on to really hot water. I then wash away the cleaning product.

4. I grab my bathroom sponge (because I have to have a separate sponge), squeeze some dish soap onto it and then wet it just a tad.

5. I then begin to scrub my shower head, the knob, the shower door, the tiled walls and the tiled floor of the shower. You may need to add more dish soap as you continue your scrubbing.

6. After everything is scrubbed down, I grab my removable shower head and begin washing away all of the soapy foam. If you don’t have a removable shower head, I would suggest using maybe a water pot used for gardening. Or, if you’re Muslim, you can use … you know … that pot we all have in our bathrooms (of course, sanitize it first).

                That’s pretty much my shower cleaning routine. I initially started using Polmolive dish soap to clean it, then my husband had bought me dish soap from Costco (you'll soon learn that is our favorite store), and it really does the job just as well. So, if you don’t have Polmolive brand, I’m sure any dish soap can make your shower sparkle. 

                My mother-in-law recently told me that she uses laundry detergent to keep her shower clean! And, I’m sure there are other uncommon techniques out there. Have you heard of any? If so, share in the comment section below! I’d love to hear it! Don't forget to subscribe to my blog by submitting your e-mail. :)

Traveling with Baby: Some uncommonly thought of packing tips.

 Before I had my daughter, I used to pack just two nights before traveling. And, very seldom did I forget things –except for the one time I forgot to pack my husband’s undergarments (it’s still hilarious, but that deserves another post). But, when I had my daughter, the thought of packing haunted me for weeks before our trip.  I kept having recurring nightmares that I forgot some of her essential items back home and I woke up frantic. 

My number one suggestion when packing with a baby is to pack ahead of time: at least one week in advance! Start by creating a list of all of the things your baby needs so that throughout the week whatever you remember you can add on. 

This will lessen your chances of leaving anything behind. Through my recent traveling experience to Florida, I figured I’d share with you some items that you may of not considered before to help you pack for your baby!         

               

1. Protective swimwear- 

Of course, sunscreen is a given. But, this swim shirt offers an extra piece of mind. Now, I know you are super excited to put your baby in that swimsuit that you bought from Janie and Jack…but keep in mind that your child’s skin is super susceptible to sunburn. I couldn’t wait to put my daughter in her adorable, colorful swimsuits so that I can photograph her. But, I knew that protecting her from the sun was far more important. These protective swim suits are a must have! They are long sleeve and you can find them anywhere. I actually saw a few at Target last week (here’s a link to one on Target’s website: Protective Swimwear). Along with the sunscreen, these long sleeve swim shirts will help protect your little baby’s soft, fragile, kissable skin! And, the sun in Florida is definitely different than the sun here in Michigan. It’s much stronger.

2. A baby carrier-

We were kind of iffy about this, but we ended up buying this Infantino baby carrier and it was so worth it! It holds up to 32 pounds, and it was really nice to use when we wanted to avoid hauling the stroller around. My husband did the carrying, but he said it was very comfortable with plenty of support for his back! We were able to use it when walking on the beach, which was really nice, and my daughter seemed to enjoy it, too.

3. Items for the plane- I’m sure you’ve probably read that the elevation of the plane may cause some discomfort to your baby’s ears during take-off and landing. It’s true. You may have also read that having the baby suck on a pacifier or bottle may help ease some of that discomfort. Also true. But, I do also suggest that when in flight to take some of your baby’s favorite toys, or books to keep him or her occupied. If your baby has a favorite show like mine does (Maya the Bee FTW) download it on an iPad and allow them some TV time (with no sound, though) in flight. Snacks are also a good thing to keep in your baby bag, as it will help kill some time as they work on their fine motor skills and enjoy their little nom nom.

4. Lysol/Clorox/Disinfecting wipes- I always like to take disinfecting wipes with me when I travel. Maybe I’m a little paranoid, but I used them to clean my stroller, car seat, and the crib that the hotel offered for our stay.

4. A crib sheet- Many hotels offer a crib for babies to sleep in during your stay. I took a sheet for my daughter just because it made me feel a little more comfortable as she slept in the hotel crib.  

5. A wipeable (is that a word?) bib- I honestly recommend these for everyday use and not just for travel, but they are great to take on vacation. It just saves you the extra laundry that you would have to bring back if you used cotton, cloth like bibs. Wipeable (Sorry if it's not a word) bibs are just so much more convenient and super light. I found mine at Target, and there are many different options.

6. This floaty thingy- 

So, originally we bought a different one, and it was no good. Then, we bought the one pictured above, and my daughter had so much fun in it. Not to mention it floats really well and it seemed really comfortable to be in. It’s colorful and cute and safe (with supervision, of course)

.

7. Health insurance cards- I cannot stress how important this is. I’ll admit, my daughter had a fever when we were on our vacation, and it scared the crap out of me. It went down quickly after I gave her some Tylenol, but if it had gotten worse I would have definitely had to take her to the ER. It’s always good to have your insurance cards on-hand when you are traveling away from home. You just never know what happens.

                Overall, we had a great time on our first family vacation. Florida is such a beautiful state, and really makes me question why I still live in Michigan. My family is lucky that I love them.

What are some uncommon things you recommend to take on vacation? Also—if you have more than one child, what are some tips you have when traveling!? 

Ten must-have items that belong in every woman's wardrobe!

If you scrolled through the images before reading this post… I just want to assure you that this isn’t a guide about how to be basic. This is a post that I think all girls can relate to. These are some versatile and essential pieces of clothing that I think every woman should have in her wardrobe. You can style each and every one of these articles in a number of ways, which is what makes them so useful! Here are my top ten favorite and must-have items in my closet:

1. A long black blazer: 

 Whether you want to dress this up, or wear it with a white t-shirt and jeans; you’ve got to have a long black blazer. It’s such a classy piece that you can match with so many different outfits that gives off that refined, chic look. I bought this specific blazer from H&M and I believe they still have it online. It has a nice structured fit to it, too!

2. A black maxi dress:

 Well… to be honest, any solid color maxi dress is good to have for the summer, but a black one is just your savior for when you don’t have anything else to wear. It’s the dress you wear to go shopping, or to lunch with your friends. It’s convenient—especially for hijabis—because you can mix and match many different hijab colors and patterns to give it a different look each time.

3. A jeans (denim) jacket: 

I think every wardrobe should have a little jeans jacket. This works for me especially when I have maxi dresses that are sleeveless (like the one pictured above). I think that a denim jacket like this works on almost any maxi dress. It’s a good alternative to wearing cardigans because a lot of cardigans have that sweater-like material, so the jeans jacket is much cooler. Also, for us hijabis, the lighter, thinner cardigans require us to wear long sleeve shirts underneath so our skin doesn’t show. And, the jeans jacket helps with reducing the layers (darn you white cardigans!!). Plus, of course, long sleeve body shirts are not an option for me under maxi dresses (as you know from my previous post). #stopbodyshirts2016

4. A black maxi skirt: 

Black maxi skirts are great to have because, like the long black blazer, you can dress them up or dress them down. You can wear these with pretty blouses of any color, with high heels or flat sandals, in the fall with boots, and with light sweaters or button downs. They’re definitely a must have. I got my pleated one from Urban Outfitters and my plain one from Forever 21. The pleated one I mostly wear for special occasions, whereas the plain black one I wear casually.

5. A polka-dot blouse:

 Now, you may disagree with this particular one, but I’ve had this blouse for over three years and I’ve used it in so many different ways. I’ve worn it under blazers; alone with a skirt; underneath sweaters; and under cardigans. I feel like polka-dots can take a plain outfit and make it trendy. I got this from Forever 21.

6. A long denim shirt: 

So...maybe I should have ironed these before photographing them, but I like to keep it 100 on this blog. I have a lighter denim shade and a darker one. One is from Banana Republic (my favorite store) and the other is from J.Crew. These two have definitely come in handy multiple times as well. What’s nice about these shirts is that you can wear them throughout all four seasons. You can also pair a denim shirt with a black maxi skirt and it makes for a super cute casual outfit. You can also wear a denim shirt like this by itself in the summer and as a layering piece in the winter. They are especially cute with tall brown boots. 

7. A long maxi cardigan: 

These things are heaven sent for hijabis like me. This one that I have pictured is a taupe color that I got from H&M last year and I’ve worn it so many times that I’m beginning to feel sorry for it. It’s so light and airy and conservative. I call it a modesty piece for any outfit--especially this color. I’ve seen so many long maxi cardigans out right now, so I suggest you buy them while they’re still in style! I’ve worn this with wide leg pants, jeans, a jump suit, and even those harem pants. It literally goes with everything.

8. A long white button down shirt: 

Okay…I’ve searched endlessly for a shirt like this because I needed it for layering and just as a go-to under blazers type shirt. I finally found it at the J.Crew factory store last year, and, again, I’ve really put it to work. I think if you need one of these, now is the time to buy it because I imagine they would have a ton of them out for the spring and summer. Plus, white is always a good color to have to brighten up an outfit and works with almost anything.

9. A black and cream long sleeveless blouse:

These are wonderful to have to wear underneath cardigans or blazers. I use these all of the time and dress them up with slacks and dress pants. They’re nice for work, too … You can mix and match countless outfits with these two blouses because they're so versatile. 

10. For all of my hijabi sisters-a taupe colored hijab:

I feel like this color just goes with so many outfits. This is my default hijab; the hijab that won’t let me down and always helps fight away my bad hijab days (Yes—it’s a thing). It goes well with any skin tone and is a soft, neutral color that works with most outfits.  

I know that these items aren’t bright and colorful, but they are essential to my wardrobe because I can wear them over and over again in different ways, and that’s why I love them. That's not to say that I don't love the colors and patterns I do have in my wardrobe, but these specified pieces help me maintain a modest style that is also fashionable and sophisticated. 

I'd like to hear from you! What are some essential items that are in your closet?! Feel free to share in the comment section below! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog!