Sorry guys, I really don't mean to be patronizing with these reminder videos but I just had to post this:
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Quick Style Tip: Coil-less Pins
I was searching for hijab pins online when I came across these nifty safety pins from pinzpinzpinz.com. They don't have the coil so they won't snag your scarves.. Unfortunately, the small gold ones are not available at the moment, only the bigger silver ones are. They sell at 5 for £1. You can also get them from this ebay shop for £1.50 for 10 pins :)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Won 3rd. Place
Assalamualaikum.
This set has won me a 3rd. place inthis contest:
Alhamdulillah.
And here is the sets of all the 5 winners.
This set has won me a 3rd. place inthis contest:
Proud Hijabis. (Islamic Fashion) : It's Ramadan!
Created by Hanan.™
Enter your sets that best display the way you would dress during Ramadan, or sets that include pictures or symbols representing this holy month :) Two Weeks, Five Winners, NO LIMIT!!!
Alhamdulillah.
And here is the sets of all the 5 winners.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Night Beauty at the Qaryah Ramadhan
Assalamualaikum and Ramadhan Mubarak.
How's everyone today? Hopefully all of you are high in eeman and great in health. I'm doing fine, alhamdulillah and trying to think what will I share here today. I'm going to my bookshop in about an hour because we are having a SALE today and one of my assistants just texted me that she's on EL.
Anyway, I think I'm gonna share some photos taken from the official facebook page of the Chief Minister of Kelantan. Since it was in a public page so I think it's ok for me to use the photos. Before that, I'd like to inform that every year since maybe 3 or 4 years ago, the state government has spared a special place in front of the state museum stadium as a Qaryah Ramadhan.
What is it, you might ask? Well, it is a place like this:
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| Part of the Qaryah Ramadhan. |
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| The women's section under the aircond-ized tents. |
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| Our beloved Chief Minister. |
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| Men's section. The lucky ones who came early can find a place inside the close tents. |
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| After the prayers, people want to shake and kiss his hand. |
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| The visiting imaams from Egypt. |
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| Look, who's here - Imam Muda Hizbur. |
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| Bring along your children so that they can learn lots of Islamic value. |
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| Foreign visitors can also experience the breaking of fast at the Qaryah Ramadhan. |
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| What a nice view to see. |
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| During solat. |
That is how we translate Qaryah Ramadhan. This place is use day and night but nigh time is the best. I'd love to give my thanks to all the friendly photographers who have shared the nice photos that they've taken at the Qaryah. Without them I would not be able to write this entry.
Welcome to Kelantan everyone! You'll experience 'living Islam'.
Visit Qaryah Ramadhan here: Dataran Stadium Sultan Muhammad Ke-IV, Kota Bharu
It's Not Just Eating That Breaks Your Fast..
I made a pact with a friend a few months ago to stop talking about other people behind their backs and I honestly thought it would be a piece of cake.. But it was only when I was actively forcing myself not to that I realised how easy it is to backbite and not even be aware of it. I hope very much that I have not broken the deal we made but we all need reminding from time to time and what better time to turn over a new leaf than in Ramadan? So why not decide to stop committing gheeba, for good?
.
This should put you off the gossip for sure..
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are a sin. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." Qur'an, [49:12]
"He does not utter a [single] word, except that there is, with him, [an angel] ready and waiting [to record it]." Qur'an, [50:18]
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Blue-Green Look: Love It or Shove It?
It breaks all the fashion rules in the book and features the infamous harem style jumpsuit.. Are you googling 'lime green cardigan with matching scarf' or does it make you thankful that you're fasting as you might just have thrown up?What I wear to work today.
Assalamualaikum everyone.
Just a short sharing of my working attire for today. I worn my new butterfly abaya which looks more like a mishlah. Anyway, got to be ready for tarawikh so this is gonna be very short.
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| Butterfly Abaya Haniza |
And I also use my new handbag which is a Coach imitation with a very good quality material and workmanship. Anyway, I've bought a new handbag because I have donate most of my handbags to relatives and friends.
Here's the handbag:
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| I love it. |
And the shoe is a 1 1/5 inches Rorine:
Got to go now. Wassalam.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Have a taste at my Ramadhan menu
Assalamualaikum dear friends.
I wish I have something interesting to post here today then I remember that I haven't write anything about my Ramadhan menus. All simple and easy to make.
Actually I don't have much time to prepare a more interesting and yummy food because my time was a bit pack for teh past three weeks. I was sitting for my final exam and trying to act cool so that I can still be online everyday.
Anyway, the exam has finished yesterday and now I can give more attention to my ibadah, my husband, my job and my business. One of the ibadah that can benefit me a lot as a wife is preparing tasty food for dear husband especially during Ramadhan.
Here are some of the food that I've made:
I wish I have something interesting to post here today then I remember that I haven't write anything about my Ramadhan menus. All simple and easy to make.
Actually I don't have much time to prepare a more interesting and yummy food because my time was a bit pack for teh past three weeks. I was sitting for my final exam and trying to act cool so that I can still be online everyday.
Anyway, the exam has finished yesterday and now I can give more attention to my ibadah, my husband, my job and my business. One of the ibadah that can benefit me a lot as a wife is preparing tasty food for dear husband especially during Ramadhan.
Here are some of the food that I've made:
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| Sira Roti (I don't know how to call it in English) |
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| Express Fried Rice |
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| Sweet & Sour Scrambled Egg |
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| Fried Mee |
Usually we break our fast with 3 dates and we have another sweet food then drink a hot tea or just warm water. Then we pray Maghrib and after than we eat our dinner. Then we either rest and watch the news or reading the Qur'an before we my husband go for Isyak and tarawikh at the mosque.
Most nights I do my Isyak and tarawikh at home and sometimes I accompany my husband to the mosque. But he prefers me to solat at home unless my mom goes with me.
That's my little sharing about some of my simple menus for Ramadhan. Wassalam.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
My State Government introduces Gold Currency as an Alternative
Assalamualaikum. Happy Ramadhan everyone and have a nice weekend.
Recently, my state government has introduced an alternative money as an alternative in a barter trade system. They are dinars and dirhams. I believe most of Muslims have heard about dinar and dirham because we have read the seerah or maybe we read the Islamic history.
Well, I am not a knowledgeable person in this financial area be it Islamic or civil but I am a person who believed in the ability of my state government. So, as for now, I'm going to support them while I'm educating myself more on this issue.
The central government is especially the Deputy Finance Minister is not happy with the act and he's been condemning the state government's action. Despite all that, this is the current news on the gold currency in Kelantan.
'Gold rush' in Kelantan as dinar goes on saleHarakahdailyKOTA BHARU, Aug 20: When was the last time gold sold like hot cakes in Malaysia?In spite of the relentless attacks by Barisan Nasional over the PAS state goverment's move to introduce gold currency in Kelantan as an alternative to the barter trade system, there has been a rush to acquire the new coin which comes in several denominations and subject to the current price of gold.The gold dinar and silver dirhams went on sale Wednesday, with national news agency Bernama reporting that Kelantanese were 'storming' into Islamic pawn shops Ar-Rahn, the authorized representative for dinar and dirham.However, some buyers were reportedly sticking to the only thing they had known about gold's usage - as personal ornament.Following Kelantan's announcement that the gold dinar will be made legal tender, Deputy Finance minister Awang Adek Hussin slammed the PAS-led state government for trying to introduce its own currency, and warned that currency matters came under the purview of the Federal government and Bank Negara Malaysia.Denying Awang Adek's claim, state economic planning, finance and welfare committee chairman Husam Musa said the dinar was meant to be an alternative in the barter trade system only.“I do not see why this issue has to be blown up following Kelantan introducing the use of the dinar, as it has been around since the beginning of Islam,” said Husam.Operating manager of Ar-Rahn, Siti Azian Ibrahim, said a total of 344 pieces of dirham and 50 pieces of dinar were opened for sale yesterday.“Looking at the situation, at the beginning we did not expect the dinar will be well received as many who disagreed with its usage in everyday business," she said."But on the first day of sale at Ar-Rahn, the people are showing intense interest to buy it," she said, adding that most customers said they wanted to make the dinar into personal jewellery.High grade goldFive types of dinar were on sale at different prices based on the current value of gold in the market.At press time, half-a-dinar cost RM296, one dinar at RM592, two pieces at RM1,184, five dinars RM 2,960 and 8 dinars at RM 4,736.The silver dirham sold at RM13, two dirhams at RM26, five dirhams RM65, ten dirhams RM130 and 20 dirhams at RM260.Siti Azian added that the dinar was produced using high grade of gold normally used for jewellery, adding that buying gold had always been a trend in Kelantan due to its stable market value.Those interested to acquire the dinar may get more information at http://islamicmint.com.my/ or from Ar-Rahn outlets.
It was reported earlier in Sinar Harian that 1000 business/shopping outlets in Kota Bharu have agreed to accept dinar and dirham in their businesses. That's interesting. And I am planning to get a dinar and a dirham for my personal use. I'd like to experience the gold currency.
However, I need to understand more about this because I might get confuse with the current money system.
Masoomah Jilbab Review
I while ago I said that I had ordered the above jilbab from Masoomah Jilbabs - I have since received (and returned..) it and have decided to write a review on the site and the product..
Shop review:
Quality of website:
Aesthetically speaking and by comparison to popular fashion sites, it's not the best by a long shot; but by comparison to popular abaya and jilbab sites, it's quite average. In terms of ease of use, it's relatively simple to navigate and order from. I has a very wide selection of jilbabs and abayas as well as scarves.
Overall rating: 3/5
Customer service:
Buying:
Too informal for my liking: I was called up by a woman from Masoomah asking me to text her my sizes. Although she was friendly, I didn't feel it was professional enough for a company that started in 2001.
Quality of website:
Aesthetically speaking and by comparison to popular fashion sites, it's not the best by a long shot; but by comparison to popular abaya and jilbab sites, it's quite average. In terms of ease of use, it's relatively simple to navigate and order from. I has a very wide selection of jilbabs and abayas as well as scarves.
Overall rating: 3/5
Customer service:
Buying:
Too informal for my liking: I was called up by a woman from Masoomah asking me to text her my sizes. Although she was friendly, I didn't feel it was professional enough for a company that started in 2001.
The jilbab arrived in relatively good time considering that they alter the garment to your size. P&P was well priced.
Returns:
I am a firm believer that you can tell the quality of an online company from their returns policy. In order to return an item at Masoomah, you have to email the company telling them that you want to return it and then they email you the returns address. You then must pay to return it unless it is faulty or incorrect, in which case they will pay. This procedure is far to long-winded and will make me think twice about purchasing from Masoomah again.
I am a firm believer that you can tell the quality of an online company from their returns policy. In order to return an item at Masoomah, you have to email the company telling them that you want to return it and then they email you the returns address. You then must pay to return it unless it is faulty or incorrect, in which case they will pay. This procedure is far to long-winded and will make me think twice about purchasing from Masoomah again.
Overall rating: 2.5/5
Value for money:
I think the abayas and jilbabs are very well priced, with a basic jilbab costing around £35. The tweed one above was £31.99.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Jilbab Review:
Pros:
- Where else can you get a tweed abaya?!
- Good length
- Perfect for winter
Cons:
- The sleeves look lovely in the photo but are far too poofy in real life so they make your arms look disproportionately fat
- It's heavy to wear
- The colour in the photo is nicer than it really is
Overall:
Overall:
Even though the review sounds a bit harsh, I would actually recommend the site because of it's wide range of jilbabs, good prices and most importantly, it's safe to purchase from. Good for a full time jilbab wearer, but just not for me.
Overall rating for Masoomah: 3/5
Overall rating for Masoomah: 3/5
Friday, August 20, 2010
A Non-Muslim Perspective: 5 Benefits Of Fasting
I found this article by Gabrielle Lim on this non-Muslim website.. It's a nice little read:
The 5 Benefits Of Fasting — For Your Mind, Soul, And Body
With start of Ramadan approaching on Saturday, I thought it’d be apt to put up a guide to the benefits of fasting. Whether you’re religious or not, fasting is something that has permeated every culture, religion, and history.
And for good reason. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing it for religious reasons or health reasons, fasting can be a way to rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul.
Enjoy these 5 benefits and if you’re currently fasting or will be in the near future, drop a comment. I’d love to hear what your reasons were for your decision.
1. Retune your digestive system
Not many people know this but fasting can be a way for you to give your digestive system a tune up. According to Dr. Naomi Neufeld, an endocrinologist at UCLA, “You re-tune the body, suppress insulin secretion, reduce the taste for sugar, so sugar becomes something you’re less fond of taking.”
What happens is that the body eventually uses up the stored sugar (glycogen) so that less insultin is needed to help the body digest food. And that gives your pancreas a rest.
2. Reduce your intake of free radicals
Mark Mattson, a scientist with the National Institute on Aging, has reported that fasting can reduce your intake of free radicals, which can cause cancer. In fact, according to Mattson, “These free radicals will attack proteins, DNA, the nucleus of cells, the membranes of cells. They can damage all those different molecules in cells.”
Even just reducing your calorie intake can have the same effects as a fast. In a study amongst rats and mice, it was noted that those who were fed very little and restricted in their food intake had a reduction in disease compared to those who were fed normal daily diets.
3. Speed up your journey to self-discovery
We are all creatures of habit. And eating, just like smoking and sleeping, is a habit. What happens during a fast is that by taking away such an essential part of your daily routine, you mess up your whole schedule. This sounds bad but it’s not. It’s really a time to reflect on your routines and give you a pause to think about how you want your life to move forward.
By fasting, you become more conscious of yourself and you can take the time usually spent eating to meditate, journal, or do any other form of reflection.
4. Increase your gratitude
How could you not be grateful to break your fast? And after each day when you do break fast, it’s a celebration. A celebration for a completed day of fasting, reflection, and persistence. So rejoice and celebrate your success! Show gratitude to yourself and others.
And when you break your fast, you will be very very happy to taste food again. And contrary to some beliefs, you won’t binge on food. In fact you will be more conscious of what you allow into your body and feel gratitude for the food you receive.
5. Launch yourself into your ideal life
Sounds like a pretty big benefit for something as simple as fasting. But it’s true. When you begin your fast you can take this time to break old patterns, examine your current situation, and use it as the starting point for a whole new life.
What really makes this possible is that by fasting you are exhibiting control over yourself and your situation. And controlling your eating habits may be one of the hardest things to do. For each day you complete a successful fast, you condition your mind into to believe it can and will do anything. You are training your mind to be successful. And after days of a successful fasting your mind will be neurologically conditioned for success.
So the next time you set a goal for yourself, it’ll be easier to attain!
There are tons more reasons why fasting can be good for you and before you begin a fast, check out some resources for the safest and best way to do so.
The 5 Benefits Of Fasting — For Your Mind, Soul, And Body
With start of Ramadan approaching on Saturday, I thought it’d be apt to put up a guide to the benefits of fasting. Whether you’re religious or not, fasting is something that has permeated every culture, religion, and history.
And for good reason. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing it for religious reasons or health reasons, fasting can be a way to rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul.
Enjoy these 5 benefits and if you’re currently fasting or will be in the near future, drop a comment. I’d love to hear what your reasons were for your decision.
1. Retune your digestive system
Not many people know this but fasting can be a way for you to give your digestive system a tune up. According to Dr. Naomi Neufeld, an endocrinologist at UCLA, “You re-tune the body, suppress insulin secretion, reduce the taste for sugar, so sugar becomes something you’re less fond of taking.”
What happens is that the body eventually uses up the stored sugar (glycogen) so that less insultin is needed to help the body digest food. And that gives your pancreas a rest.
2. Reduce your intake of free radicals
Mark Mattson, a scientist with the National Institute on Aging, has reported that fasting can reduce your intake of free radicals, which can cause cancer. In fact, according to Mattson, “These free radicals will attack proteins, DNA, the nucleus of cells, the membranes of cells. They can damage all those different molecules in cells.”
Even just reducing your calorie intake can have the same effects as a fast. In a study amongst rats and mice, it was noted that those who were fed very little and restricted in their food intake had a reduction in disease compared to those who were fed normal daily diets.
3. Speed up your journey to self-discovery
We are all creatures of habit. And eating, just like smoking and sleeping, is a habit. What happens during a fast is that by taking away such an essential part of your daily routine, you mess up your whole schedule. This sounds bad but it’s not. It’s really a time to reflect on your routines and give you a pause to think about how you want your life to move forward.
By fasting, you become more conscious of yourself and you can take the time usually spent eating to meditate, journal, or do any other form of reflection.
4. Increase your gratitude
How could you not be grateful to break your fast? And after each day when you do break fast, it’s a celebration. A celebration for a completed day of fasting, reflection, and persistence. So rejoice and celebrate your success! Show gratitude to yourself and others.
And when you break your fast, you will be very very happy to taste food again. And contrary to some beliefs, you won’t binge on food. In fact you will be more conscious of what you allow into your body and feel gratitude for the food you receive.
5. Launch yourself into your ideal life
Sounds like a pretty big benefit for something as simple as fasting. But it’s true. When you begin your fast you can take this time to break old patterns, examine your current situation, and use it as the starting point for a whole new life.
What really makes this possible is that by fasting you are exhibiting control over yourself and your situation. And controlling your eating habits may be one of the hardest things to do. For each day you complete a successful fast, you condition your mind into to believe it can and will do anything. You are training your mind to be successful. And after days of a successful fasting your mind will be neurologically conditioned for success.
So the next time you set a goal for yourself, it’ll be easier to attain!
There are tons more reasons why fasting can be good for you and before you begin a fast, check out some resources for the safest and best way to do so.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Muslim Brides In Niqab: Part 1
Assalamualaikum.
I am trying to compile photos of Muslim brides who wear niqab. I have many photos but their owners do not allow them to be published so I googled and founf this 2 photos. It was in my album for quite sometime and I already forgot the link of where I copied them.
If the owner is reading my blog, please inform me and I'll give proper credit to both photos. I do not know any of the couples in the photos but I found the photos in so many blogs. Hopefully it is okay for me to publish them here.
I am trying to compile photos of Muslim brides who wear niqab. I have many photos but their owners do not allow them to be published so I googled and founf this 2 photos. It was in my album for quite sometime and I already forgot the link of where I copied them.
If the owner is reading my blog, please inform me and I'll give proper credit to both photos. I do not know any of the couples in the photos but I found the photos in so many blogs. Hopefully it is okay for me to publish them here.
From their faces I can claimed that they are Malaysian.
How lovely to see more and more brides who are a niqabi wear their face veil on their wedding day. Mabruk!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
My Wedding Abaya
Assalamualaikum and Ramadhan Mubarak.
Just now, one of my FB friends mention that she saw a picture of my wedding abaya. Well, I almost forgot that 2 years ago I've made a post about it. And a few months ago I think our friend, JASMINA wrote something about wanting to see my wedding abaya. Hopefully I'm not mistaken.
Anyway, if anyone still interested to have a look, here are the pictures of my wedding abaya.
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| The outside layer is mosty green while the inside is milky green. |
Some close ups:
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| I love the embroideries, neat and tidy. |
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| Embroideries for the inner layer. |
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| My own design and my brother's SIL made them for me. |
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| The simple decoration on the sleeves. |
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| Pretty isn't it? |
Sorry for the blurry pictures. I have to blow up the original ones to make it bigger. Alhamdulillah this abaya is still in good condition after 8 years. And I'm so glad that I can still fit into this abaya. I just wear it during Eid and sometimes when I attend formal events such as weddings and dinners.
What about you dear friends, do you still have your wedding dress?
Wassalam.
This and That
Assalamualaikum and happy Ramadhan everyone.
What a busy day ahead and at the back of my mind, I keep reminding myself to have a look at my notes because tomorrow I have another exam to sit. So I have to neglect this blog for a few days and focus on the main blog only.
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| Suhur's menu: Sweet Sour Scrambled Egg |
I'm sorry for doing this but my focus is branching out so much. I am trying to be focus in a few current things that I'm doing. Even though I plan not to pay lots of attention to business during Ramadhan, and give more attention to other ibadat, it's just impossible.
This is gonna be brief and I'd like to share with you something. C of the blog Old Muslim Woman In the Shoe has interviewed me and the interview was published yesterday in her blog. If anyone interested in reading, please visit HERE.
Bye for now. Wassalam.
Eating Out
If you are planning to eat iftaar out this Ramadan, here's an outfit idea that I made on Looklet..
.
Not quite sure how I managed this, actually.. Iftaar was an hour ago and I'm stuuuffed.. :O
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
This is the kind of advert that I want to see on our Malaysian tv
This is how an advert should teach the public. Simple advert yet have a very big impact.
Volunteer Blog Author/Moderator Courdinater Needed
To all those sisters helping me with the previous post, let me remind you all of this site (mine) http://jilbabandhijab.blogspot.com/ that hasn't been used in quite a while. This is how it all worked: http://jilbabandhijab.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-this-all-works.html.The thing is, I REALLY don't have time to run it right now. I don't have regular internet access. Or free time. So if there is a sister of good reputation in the blogging community or with a recommendation from a sister of good standing in the blogging community who has time to volunteer and be a co-author (and maybe knows how to use the chip-in widget) please leave your email and a little about yourself in the comments section. I will not publish. Thank you!
Love
-a "very-busy-and-internt-less" Pixie
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