Louis Vuitton jelly baby anyone?

With all the Christmas wishlist's going on around me I decided to make a wishlist of my own. This wishlist however, isn't confined to obtaining everything in one day. Trust me, it's highly unlikely that I'll be able to get everything on  my list in one month let alone in a day.. This wishlist is made up of everything I'd like to achieve in 2012. Whether it is materialistically, spiritually, academically, physically, mentally.... you get the pic, no?I'll only share a bit of what I put on my list. My list is quite long seeing that I'm an over achiever and sometimes really hard to please(or that's what I'm trying to tell myself. Truth is I don't want to bore you with my endless rambling :P)
I have to say this, I NEED THIS BEAUTIFULLY DELICIOUSLY LOOKING LOUIS VUITTON BAG ABOVE. When I first set eyes on it I wanted it -badly!!!!I have been looking for any excuse to  buy it ever since then. So it's only fair that it's the first thing on my list

2012 WISHLIST
1.purple Louis Vuitton bag
2.genuine leather sling bag
3.red leather gloves
4.acing all of my subjects in radiography(totally freaked out)
5.a bonsai plant
6.a mini veggie garden
7.nikon/canon camera
8.spending more quality time with my besties
9.seeing everyone I love happy.Making the best out of every situation
10.trying to be a better practicing muslim
11.vintage taffeta jacket
12.leopard print kitten heels with red sole
Major wow! If I plan on getting half of what I want I have some hectic saving to do starting a.s.a.p.wish me luck :)

p.s I'll probably be M.I.A for a while.Unfortunately our internet will be having some down time.Hopefully it will be up and running as soon as the new year kicks in.see you lovelies then.Take care.

dress up with IMTI-THAAL

Decembers a month of good food,friends, family, laughs and when the girls get together playing barbie with a live doll is inevitable. Enjoy :)

Live Doll- the ever so gorgeous, talented,best friend of mine IMTITHAAL :) shukran for being my muse for the day and for not freaking out every time i made you change even though it was on the last minute(^^,)

The Quran: our MANUAL to life

Asalaamoe alaikoem warahmatulaah

 I'm hoping to find everyone in tip top shape :).

As muslims we believe the Quran is the last of the holy books revealed to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But what is the Quran exactly? A muslims holy book? Hmm yes, but not quite. The Quran is our manual to the precious product called life.
 "This is the book wherein there is no doubt, a guidance for the one conscious of Allah"-surah 2:2.
It is such a rare product that it falls into the limited edition category. So, like with all things that are rare , we compete. The winners to this competition are those that makes the best usage of their manual's and follows the commercial people to the T.I mean think about it, all those people that's always in the commercials with their not so fancy things becoming oh so gorgeous after using the product properly only because they kept referring back to their manuals. If you wondering who the commercial people are in this context, it's prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) and his companions. Who is more perfect than him...They paved the way for us and gave us a legacy called Islam. That stems from our manual to life.The above verse tells us that those that makes the best use of their manual are those that are conscious of Allah. The characteristics of a winner(believer) in this competition are those "who believe in  the unseen,establish prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them. And who believe in what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain in faith. Those are upon right guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are successful."-surah 2:3-5
So on we go with the competition. Always trying to get ahead of everyone else. In our attempt to stay ahead we are often faced with immoral choices that's sugar coated in such a way that we easily fall into it. Sometimes we are the very ones that sugar coats those immoral choices as a means of consoling our conscious when we are about to take part in something we know we shouldn't. "And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear only Me. And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know it."-surah 2:41-42 Once again, if we referred to our manual we would know we shouldn't compromise our principles simply to get ahead.Yes, we all want better for ourselves so we push really hard. But we shouldn't sell our souls to the devil out of fear."And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruit, but give glad tidings to the patient."-surah 2:55. 
The obstacles we faced with in this competition is merely tests. Tests for what? Tests to find out who in this competition is the most deserving of the ultimate goal. "Indeed, we have made that which is on the earth an adornment for it that we may test them as to which of them are best in deeds. And indeed, We will make that which is upon the earth into a barren ground."-surah 18:7-8. "Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds-they will have the gardens of paradise as a lodging , wherein they will abide eternally.They will not desire from it any transfer."-surah 18:107-108
The ultimate goal being paradise should be our real goal.That should be what we should really be pushing for. Not for the latest cars or the biggest houses in the most expensive part of town where you don't even know what your neighbour looks like.. Those things along with everything else in this world are temporary. While paradise is eternal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with wanting more for yourself. All I'm saying is we should try not to become so fixated on getting to the top that we loose ourselves along the way. The best way to achieve what we want even if its the best things and stay on course is by always consulting our manual. The Quran. So, let the reading begin.

the ART of ANCIENT LANDS

my weekends, like most people's weekends entails endless shopping. If it sounds like I'm nagging about it then you right I am nagging about endless shopping a bit.Weird but true. I'm not a fan of congestion. So to make my shopping experiences more bearable I look forward to visiting the art shops and book shops.Without these two shops my day of shopping aint shopping at all. These shops allow you to experience exclusive pieces from ancient lands and makes pretty unique gifts that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Due to time constraint i could  not take more photographs of the other things they have on sale. I suggest you head over to Kenilworth Centre to the "Nile Art and Framing " shop to have a look for yourselves.

a SECRET CALL

To my non-muslim,potential muslim and muslim readers

Non-muslim and potential muslim readers:" Have you ever seen a muslim pray?"
Muslim readers:"Have you been approached by anyone wanting to know about prayer? Like why exactly you pray and couldn't really answer them?"

If yes, what did you think of the up,down, forehead on the ground positions that this stranger does in rhythmic tranquility filled with utter devotion?

1.

Qiyaam

2.

Roekoo

3.

I'tidaal

4.

Sajdah

5.

Jalsah

6.

Sajdah

7.

Tasleem

Do you ponder about the name of these rhythmic set of actions or do you wonder why its done so frequently in a day or why it's even done at all? Do you want to know why there's so much fuss about praying on time , praying in a clean place or why when the call of prayer is heard it is as if the muslim hearing it is given an energy drink spiked with so much sugar the energy he emits while he's preparing himself for prayer look's like it's enough to give him an O.D? Yet once he steps onto that prayer mat and starts his prayer with "Allahoe Akbar" hes mad sky rocketing energy level is transformed into utter devotion and concentration on his secret call between lover and beloved that no one besides him and his Lord can hear or even comprehend, whilst his body effortlessly flows into the prayer positions.

The answer to these are simple but, quickly forgotten because we, human beings are forgetful beings.

Beside's prayer being compulsory on each muslim once he \she reaches a certain age.Prayer is a contemplation and secret call between Allah and his servant. 

Muslim's pray 5 times a day throughout the day each prayer having different names and is different in duration 

1. Fajr (dawn prayer), duration-2 compulsory raka ahs

2.Thuhr (noon prayer), duration- 4 compulsory raka ahs

3. Asr (late afternoon prayer), duration- 4 compulsory raka ahs

4. Maghrib (sunset prayer), duration- 3 compulsory raka ahs

5.Eeshaa (late evening prayer), duration-4 compulsory raka ahs

The importance and effects of these prayers can be summed up in the following saying: Prayer is like a river, in which you dip your dirty,grimy weary body in. To rid yourself of the days grime that accumulates hourly in the form of bodily dirt, spiritual dirt, intellectual dirt and emotional dirt. While walking away from the purifying river you give off a radiant glow that only lasts until your next bath. And so on the cycle must go.

                                                                                                                                                   anonymous 

NB. sorry for the poor photo quality I'm currently camera-less.I hope insha Allah you'll be able to benefit from this. If I said anything that's against Islam then know it's  from me and I seek refuge in Allah for the error.

junior college's annual food fair

yesterday i went with my siblings to their schools annual food fair. Initially i was suppose to be helping my brothers teacher sell their chicken salomies but instead, I ended up being the fairs official photographer. As i went around from stall to stall I asked a couple of ladies if I could photograph them. I was a bit nervous at first because I thought they would turn me down. But that didn't stop me. I was in awe of the way they wear their hijaab. Heres some pic's of the yummy mummies, children and what was on sale.

The result of yesterdays 4 f's-food, fashion, fun and fotographs-is a badly burnt forehead. Fortunately every time I look at the photographs and then at my tanned forehead the photographs tells me the tanned forehead is worth it :)