Author Archives: minaraelrahman

Love and Marriage

Reality of Marriage

, , , , Leave a comment

20121014-151431.jpg
Jasmine is such a little flower, but it provides the most lovely fragrance even at a distance.

Like jasmine’s demure size, it’s the little things in a marriage that keep it going.

The look of appreciation after a hard day’s work, telling your spouse how good they look, or even sending them a sweet email or text.

Like jasmine, it may seem small, but the beauty of the act travels far.

The contrasting thing that can poison a marriage is little bits of nagging. Saying “you never do things like so and so’s husband does.”

Let me tell you, sometimes you see people on Facebook talking about getting served breakfast in bed but what you may not know is how that spouse may have been kicked out that very same bed the night before!

You never know a couple’s whole married life, so stop comparing and enjoy what you have. Make sure to stop and smell the flowers on a stroll with your spouse today.

Style

Perfect Weekend Shoes

, , , 1 Comment

20121013-140655.jpg

Before I was a mom, I used to loooooove wearing heels, wedges, and other cute shoes. After my baby was born, I had such swollen feet, I couldn’t even wear shoes (just flip flops)! So now, I have to settle for comfortable shoes.

The good news is that with ballet flats, slippers, and other styles, I don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort.

On the weekends, I especially love to wear laid back flats with fun details like the Toms you see here. They are perfect for just slipping on and being on the go with a baby and Hubby in tow. I especially love the crochet patterned ones.

For you cold weather folks, Toms may not work as well so I would recommend nice flat heeled boots you can tuck your jeans into. Stylish, functional and warm! Perfect for chilly fall weekend weather.

Make sure to jump in the leaf piles for me!

PS: Thanks to my girl Sarah for introducing me to Toms and making me more stylish!

Beauty

Skincare Basics

, , , , Leave a comment

Pssssst! I want to tell you all a secret. The secret to having unclogged pores and gorgeous skin. For years, I struggled with clogged pores, disastrous facials, and stress breakouts.

Finally, a genius at Nordstrom Spa used this miracle tool called a Clarisonic on me. While it felt nice, I was skeptical about if it would REALLY work. I mean it’s not a cheap tool that’s for sure.

I mentioned it in passing to my Hubby while I was pregnant, cranky, and complaining about hormone induced breakouts. So he surprised me with it (I think it was mostly to get a rambling pregnant lady to stop talking!)

It was the BEST present I have ever gotten (besides my daughter from Allah of course).

You can use literally ANY cleanser (drugstore, fancy pants, whatever) and it will clean all that gunk off your face, exfoliate, AND unclog pores.

So ladies, if you want to wear less makeup, invest in this. I know I sound like an ad, but trust me, Clarisonic did not pay me a dime for this post.

PS: At first, you may break out even more because using the brush causes more sebum to surface quickly. But stick with it, and you will see your skin improve.

Life, Parenting

Body Image and Muslim Women

, , , Leave a comment

Source: google.com via Jillian on Pinterest

My older sister wanted to share her thoughts about how Muslim women are not immune to unrealistic images of women in the media.

It could not have come at a better time since I have a bully in my life. She, like most bullies, think its okay to tell people unflattering and just mean things. It’s not.

Her latest thing to talk about is my weight. At first, I was hurt. Then I tried to be proactive and watch what I ate and exercise. Then I realized, “Screw this bully!” She probably is cranky because she wishes she could enjoy life like I do! (Plus I really enjoy food and was getting annoyed saying no any time someone offered me something to eat). Here is what my sister said:

“We all have fellow women (and men) who try to impose unrealistic ideals on us. What can we as practicing Muslim women do to help this situation? First we must believe that this body temporarily houses a far more beautiful thing called the soul. How beautiful this soul is depends on our deeds and actions and not some arbitrary thing like genetics. We must believe our bodies are an amanat or trust from Allah and as such must put pure and halal food into it and make sure it’s done in moderation.

We must also make sure we are exercising at least 30 minutes a day. This can be done and maybe sisters can start a walking club. Even sisters at home can do tons of exercise that don’t require special equipment. Learn to love and embrace your self. I read somewhere about stretch marks– I am a tiger that has earned her stripes.”

So I still watch what I eat and exercise, but I would much rather be known for my beautiful soul. And let’s all pray that this bully starts to change and focuses on having a beautiful soul herself.

Style

Fall Must Haves!

, , Leave a comment

20121011-215144.jpg
Clockwise: sweater from Banana Republic, top from St Johns Bay, jeans from Banana Republic, bag by Mulberry.

Fall is a great time of year for hijabis because we can actually add layers to add coverage to our outfits without adding too much bulk.

I used to HATE orange as an outfit color (just ask my Rahnuma Bhabi), but these recent fall pieces have me singing a different tune.

Pairing brights such as hot pink and orange with rich toned pieces in camel or brown gives your outfits depth and a luxe feel.

Some pairing to try are: yellow with mocha, camel with fire engine red, ecru with cobalt, and the combo of orange with oatmeal.

Are there brights you are scared to wear? Try these tips and tell me what you think!

Life

The Beauty of Friends

, , Leave a comment

If you are lucky, you have friends that not only are with you during good times, but through hard times too. I mean a friend who doesn’t just agree with everything you say or do, but a friend who is willing to set you straight.

That type of friendship is rare, but if you find it, Islam recommends you cultivate it and care for it.

In Islam, the Prophet (saws) always spoke of the importance of brotherhood and camaraderie.

“You cannot enter paradise unless you become a total believer and you won’t become a total believer unless you love each other.”

I have always relied on my girlfriends to get me through life and give me good advice based on Islam. I can honestly say that they make me a better wife and mother. I love you ladies! I hope you know that your love counts with Allah (swt).

So if you are having a bad day, make sure you talk it out with a close friend. And make sure to share this post and tell them how much you love them!

Yummy Treats

Fall Squash Curry

, , , Leave a comment

20121010-220319.jpg

As a working mom, it’s easy to be too tired to fix a healthy meal for my family during the work week. So for those days, I turn to quickie easy recipes like this one.

Fall is the perfect time for foodies. From seasonal offerings at places like Starbucks, to farmer’s markets popping up everywhere, it’s easy to experiment with your recipes.

Fall is the time of year that squash like zucchini is abundant, so I just threw together this dish tonight for dinner. I promise that even if you never made a curry before in your life, this recipe will help you make an authentic one. Thanks Amma (my mom) for teaching me this easy basic in my early teens.

Make it and then curl up to snuggle with your family!

Minara’s Fall Squash Curry

1 med onion chopped
3 tbs EVOO
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red hot chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp chopped naga pepper (also known as ghost pepper. If you can’t find this, just replace with chopped Thai chilies)
3 med zucchini sliced thinly
1/4 lb jumbo shrimp, shelled, deveined and cut into bite sized pieces
3 tbs EVOO (or any oil you have on hand will do)

Total prep time: 15 minutes
Total cooking time: 28 minutes
Total time: 43 minutes

1) Heat a medium sauté pan and add EVOO
2) After 3 minutes, add chopped onion and sauté till onions turn translucent.

3) Add salt and sauté.
4) Add naga pepper and sauté.

20121010-220842.jpg
5) Add spices and sauté for 7 minutes on medium heat.

20121010-221018.jpg
6) Add bite sized shrimp and cook until pink.

20121010-221132.jpg
7) Add zucchini and cook on 10 minutes medium heat.

20121010-221305.jpg
8) Raise heat and cook for 8 minutes high heat or until zucchini turns translucent.

20121010-221416.jpg
9) Serve with brown rice.

20121010-221521.jpg

Islam

The Power of Prayer

, , 2 Comments

20121009-074436.jpg

Salah (the daily prayer that Muslims do five times a day) is something that we may take for granted sometimes. We get caught up with taking care of our kids, work meetings, and other things. But it’s something that if you do it regularly, you look forward to.

Why?

It’s because salah or any prayer brings peace of mind. You can step away from life’s craziness and recenter just by having a one on one with God.

I love how my office park (pictured above) is lush with greenery. It helps me focus and remember who created all that beauty.

When I miss a salah, I feel like my whole day is ruined. And I guess that is the way I should feel based on the hadith below:

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, “If people only knew the reward of giving the prayer-call or the merit of standing in the first row of the congregational prayers, they would insist on drawing lots for finding a place therein. And if they could know the merit of repairing to the mosque early for noon prayers, they would go there running and if they were to know the blessings of night and early morning prayers, they would go to the mosque dragging themselves on their buttocks if they had not the strength to walk upto it” (Bukhari, Muslim)