Listening to Sad Songs to Make You Feel Better

When you're feeling absolutely horrible, and all you want to do is cry (whether you like to admit it or not, it's ok we're all human, tears are most definitely natural) what do you do? Do you cheer yourself up by listening to a good song and dancing around the house? Or do you listen to sad music and make yourself even more sad than you already were, because you want to cry some more and get all the pent up emotion that's inside of you out? Or maybe you like to cry and laugh at the same time, who knows! Everyone is different!

Well, if you're the latter, don't worry you're not alone, I'm like that too. When I'm sad, and I listen to sad music, until I get all the sad emotion out of me. I'm actually pretty good at keeping my emotions under control. But like so many things in this lovely world of ours, I have my limit. My emotional span is not unlimited unfortunately, and neither is yours. Eventually, we have to physically let out what were feeling. Our spiritual is tied and married to our physical in that weird way, sobhanAllah. Whether you skip, dance, run, scream, bang, kick, jump, whatever. All your actions are your emotions, your internal bubbling up and rising to your external, your surface! When your mad, there's always something that shows it. Usually a person's eyes are the best give away to their emotions!

It's pretty insane actually. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and I actually totally believe that. If everyone was just so awesome at covering up how they truly feel on the inside, we should all be Emmy Award winning actors/actresses. But anyway, getting back to the point...

So here are some things I do to let out my sad emotions. I take my iPod, put in both earphones and blast some of the saddest music I have! I used to have a playlist actually titled "Sad Songs" haha, but I got rid of it after thinking it was pretty pessimistic, that's just me though. So yea I try not blast the music too much so that I don't kill my ears, but just enough that I don't hear anything else around me. After that I go somewhere I know that I'm alone, and I let it all out! I'm not really ashamed of it. Embarrassed, yes but I figured there may be other people out there who may be looking for some common ground on this particular subject. And I have no problem at all at it being at my expense.

Ocean Hope

Don't be afraid to let out your emotions when your alone. It may seem cowardly to others, but who cares what the may say or "think." In the end we're all alike because I bet you that they do the same. They're just scared to death of someone finding out that they take a similar course of action when they're feeling so sad. But that's okay, everyone's different, and everyone deals in their own way.

In the end, let your emotions out, and don't be ashamed, you need to be honest with yourself, and when it comes to self-truth, nothing and no one should really stand in your way. Go out for a run ( I do that a lot too) scream into a pillow, do the dishes aggressively (but be careful not to hurt yourself! lol), etc. I actually do all those now that I think about it. So anyway, be proud of being human, be proud of feeling the world around you!

Skin Care 101

Well let me start out by saying this, I am NOT a licensed dermatologist. Any advice or statements I make in this post will just be me and my own experiences and knowledge that I've gathered over my own search for the infamous flawless skin!

So you know how you're always here these great success stories, ranging from Proactive, to Neutrogena, to Clean and Clear, to some not so popular herbal remedy, or some dermatologist prescribed medicine only. Why so many success stories from such a wide variety of brands? Well let's just state the obvious to get it out of the way,  everyone's skin is different!

Figure out what skin type you are - If you're only starting out, or even if you've been searching for years! I'm sure it can't hurt to go to a dermatologist (a professional who went to MEDICAL SCHOOL to understand the mysterious ways that your skin and body work) and ask for help from them as to what exact skin type you are. There's normal, oily, dry, combination (oily in areas and dry in other areas). There's even some more specifics like exactly what number you are, whether you get redness, white heads, black heads, flaky etc. If you are in search for good and healthy skin, find out your skin type!! 

Not every product will work for every person! - Just because Proactive worked for your best friend may not necessarily mean it worked for you. There are so many factors that go into reasons as to why your skin is the way it is. The food you eat, family history, even where you live on the planet!! Say for example you've got a girl living in Florida with combination skin. So-and-so product works great for her! However her pen pal who lives in Iceland also has combination skin, only so-and-so product makes her skin flaky and super dry. The environment that you live in plays a role in how your skin behaves as well! Leading to my next point!

Where you are in the world - So when the seasons change, do you notice that your skin acts differently? Depending on where you live in the world this could be a yes, no, or kind of question. Sooo, I live in New Jersey. Now New Jersey is infamous for being able to fit all four seasons into one week. it could feel like the middle of winter one day, and two days later it could be the hottest day of the year. (Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it totally feels that way sometimes!). Moving on! Different climate and temperature affects your skin as well. Cold weather makes your skin dry, and this goes for almost all skin types, so you're most likely to use a product that which may keep your skin nice and soft to prevent it from being dry, because during the winter, you skin is more prone to get dry! And the opposite for the summer. The summer is hot, and your skin is more prone to get oily, so you may use a product that strips your skin of some of the amount of oil that you may have needed during the winter.

Your nutritional diet - Now don't freak out, I'm not telling you that you have to give up your favorite chocolate that you will surely die without (at least that's how I feel when someone tells me chocolate is bad for me lol). However there are some foods that are known to make you breakout. Unfortunately chocolate is one of them. I don't believe that a person needs to completely cut chocolate out of their diet to prevent breakouts, however less is more. Plus either way you shouldn't be eating too much chocolate throughout your day for multiple health reasons, not just your skin.

How clean you are - I'm not saying that anyone is dirty here, but really how clean you are is important. Unfortunately our beautiful Earth isn't what she used to be. There are so many pollutants floating around in that air. And all you germaphobes can chill because there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. EXCEPT! Stay clean. I don't mean hand sanitizer every two seconds, and fifteen showers a day! Just stay clean. This one you're on your own, there isn't any dosage I or anyone else can give you here. Showers, washing your face, not keeping your make up on all day and such, that varies from individual to individual. But just to let you know, in my own opinion, the less make up throughout the day the better. Make up clogs up your pores, however like everyone else, I do love my make up. But just don't be too shocked when you find that you're not breaking out as much because you started to wear simple concealer instead  of concealer, foundation, AND powder! Like you, your skin needs to breathe!

Experiment! - If you've been searching for your perfect skin product for a while now, you know exactly what I mean. However for our lovely little newbies, welcome to the world of skin care!! Where there are billions of products to choose from that all claim to do the same thing, clear your acne! It's up to you to find the one that best suites you. Sometimes it's as easy as picking out your fave top at Macy's, others it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. BUT DON'T FRET!! You will find it, isA. Again, I recommend going to a dermatologist. They may recommend a brand name product for you, again they're TRAINED PROFESSIONALS so they do know what they're talking about. You don't have to go for the super expensive stuff. If you find that it works for you, than power to you! There are also less expensive products that I've heard just as many success stories as I have the expensive lines of skin care. I know that searching for your product sounds so tiresome! But trust me, in the end it is so worth it! Beautiful skin, and your new found self-confidence are most definitely worth it. Just be smart in how you spend your money.

Ok well that's my 2 cents (more like a full dollar actually, I sure do know how to rant!) for they day! I hope you all enjoyed it and I hope it helped some of you out. Let me just say it one more time, I am NOT  a professional when it comes to skin care, DERMATOLOGISTS are your # 1's, so definitely make an effort to go see one, it couldn't possibly hurt. Anywhos Jazak Allahu Khair everyone for  reading, see you all soon isA!

How to be a Productive Muslim

Well first off, let's start with what a "Productive Muslim" really is. In my own opinion, a Productive Muslim is a Muslim, who chooses and tries their best to always be in action, and not just any action, but action that pleases Allah of course! Want to know how to become a Productive Muslim, check these awesome YouTube videos out, and also subscribe to ProductiveMuslim (yes, I know the name is just so....WOW!).

Mashallah, these videos are great motivators, and they are not pressuring at all. Their Friday Naseeha's are amazing as well mashAllah. You'd think they'd run out of stuff to talk about in terms of productivity, but that just shows you the beauty of Islam, it can never be limited!

They give you a break down, step-by-step of what you can do for a more fulfilling, Islamic, life that will inshAllah bring you closer to our Creator. Here's one of my faves, it's a cartoon but this is actually what I wish to achieve some day, inshAllah!

My Advice To Anyone Who Will Listen

Ok, so here it is straight out. Don't keep things bottled up. 

You are an important person, no matter who you are, and you have a right as a human being to have your opinion and voice heard! 

If you keep your emotions bottled up then you'll explode and create a huge fire which is insanely hard to put out . I'm speaking from experience by the way. 

When something is bothering you, just say it, right then and there! But don't burst out in angry emotions. Take a breath, decide on what you're going to say, and then calmly and in the nicest way possible say it. 

Yes, you should be nice no matter how terribly that person has treated you or made you feel, just so you are better than them in the eyes of Allah. 

The cliche is: fighting fire with fire only gives you a bigger flame, causing more damage, and more for you to clean up.

Emotions are very powerful, they can build you up and tear you down in a bout a second's time, be careful with how you decide to express them, or not express them. 

May Allah be with you in your time of stress and give you more happiness.

Thanks for reading!

It's a No Brainer!

Asalam Ailaykoum W Rahmet Allah W Barakato

I absolutely love to find lectures on things that I have been long pondering for. Since Islam is a religion of not only faith, but logic, science, and proof! I am always eager to find preachers, sheikhs, etc, who are able to explain certain topics that just leave me utterly clueless. I am taking a currently taking AP Biology, and we have begun to study evolution. Now reading about evolution, and Darwin, and all the evidence through fossils, and stratums that scientists have come upon to claim their theory of evolution to be true. I'll be honest,  I was a little befuddled. I mean, these guys sounded pretty legit, their logic of well if this organism has so and so genetics, and this organism has the same so and so genetics than they must be cousins of some sort, and have the same grandparents, or great great grandparents or something like that. You know what I mean.

Anyway, I decided to do some investigating as to what Islam thought of evolution. One of my most favorite things about Islam, is that everything has a logical explanation for it. Yusha Evans, who is a convert whose story requires a post all on its own mashallah, said that the biggest sin in Christianity, is that you ask too many questions. That when he himself had asked questions concerning the legitimacy of the Christian religion, he told him, religion is not about proof, it is about faith beyond what comprehension. So I guess in other words, you have to believe in it, just not understand it. I'm not trying to beat down on the Christian religion or anything of course, I'm just reiterating something I've seen/heard. Anyway, watch the video of Yusuf Estes. For those of you who are searching for proof of religion or proof of God, I think you may find your answer here. But who knows, everyone is different and therefore not everyone sees things in the same way.

So take care, Salamz!

 

This is only part 1, click on the the video to get the rest of the parts!

 

 

 

 

Taking a Step Back, and Realizing How Fortunate We Really Are!

Salam Ailykom Girlies!
Kol Sana Wento Tayebeen, Eid is almost here!

Oh how I hate that money plays such a big role in the happiness in the lives of people today. But sadly that is how the world seems to be run now. Not to be shallow, it's not like money alone makes you happy, but it certainly helps what with nothing in this world being without its price anymore.

What brought up this topic today is that I was just making my to-do list, yes I am that much of an organized freak hehe. And in my to-do list I also like to plan out my budget; how much I will be making and just where I'm going to spend it next. I usually like to save all this stuff on word, and I don't erase any of it. I started doing this about a year or two ago and just scrolling through my past to-do lists and budgets it's amazing to see how much I've changed. You can tell that through my prioritization of items on my list. What was moved down the list, what has moved up the list, and what may have stayed the same over the past two or so years.

So going through my list I realize... Oh my goodness! I am so blessed to be able to worry about these things. I mean on this list I have things that range from my next phone bill, to the digital camera I want to buy, to eyeliner. I'm living a life right now where even paying the bills is a luxury. As odd as that may sound to some of us, it's true. We're all always so caught up in our own lives, which is ok, we can't help it sometimes. However we should be making more of an effort to realize and be reminded that our lives as they are now are a blessing from Allah swt. Every morning that which we wake up and find that our worries aren't actually all that ginormous. Not compared to what they could be.

It's at times like these I smile I say Alhamdllah, I thank Allah for all that he has given me, and I ask him to help those in the world who may not be as fortunate as I may be so that they may find happiness in life as well. Perhaps it's the fasting that's been doing this to me, but whatever it is. I am glad it happened. I was getting so caught up in my "problems" that I was starting to get a little stressed. Just thinking about how thanks to Allah I am where I am today, just made me relax, but it also made me feel ashamed.

Here I am complaining, worrying, and stressing about such silly things were there are so many people in the world who don't even know if they'll find food for their children the next day! I thank Allah for all that he has given and I ask him to help the less fortunate in the world, and that we may all be reminded to give our Zakat and charity. Eid is coming it, so it is the perfect time to feel thoughtful, and do this for you brothers and sisters of the world, and for Allah as well.

May Allah's peace and blessings be upon you all inshallah sisters! We are fortunate and have only Him to thank. So thank you Allah, I love you!

Celebrity Stalked Without the Free Designer and Unlimited Glam

Have you ever felt that when you're walking through the streets or into a store, or just anywhere public, that everyone is just STARING at you? It's quite off-putting, but what can you do about it? I truly do feel sometimes that paparazzi is going to leap out any minute now and just start snapping away. It's not in the good way. Not because you're Selena Gomez and people want to catch a picture of you feeding a dog on the street, but because you're Britney Spears, just got out of rehab, and people can't wait to see what crazy thing you'll do next.

 I'm a runner, have been since middle school and it's something that's become apart of me, something that I can't give up. Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but now when I run with my hijab wrapped around me, I can see people literally turning in their seats to just STARE. It's a wonder an accident hasn't happened yet because of this. I truly feel that people just like to oggle at me sometimes, or that they don't like to, but they forget themselves, their manners, and just go ahead and do it. As a hijabi, it's obviously not about fitting in, and not wanting the "unwanted attention." It's about pleasing Allah, and of course, nothing else matters.

Although we can't help ourselves. I know that I am not perfect, and some things do bother me because I just can't help it. I'm working on it, trying to bring myself back to the right type of thinking, but like I mentioned before, it's not easy.... You kind of know how celebrities feel now, but like the title of this post says, it's being a celebrity without the designer and the glam, at least not the type of glam that we know about on Earth ;)




Until another time, Salam Sisters!

Luxury of Your Room

I am sitting in my room right now and posting to you! This may not seem like a big deal to all you wi-fi alum, but for us wi-fi freshies/newbies, oh yea this is huge! I mean c'mon, I'm actually lounging on my bed right now, just typing away. I hear nothing but the rhythmic tapity tap tap of my fingers hitting the keys on my laptop. Alhamdllah, everything turned out very smoothly when the technician came to install everything.

Before now, I used to always only go on my laptop in the living room, because that was the only place I could get a connection. What about you? What's your favorite place to just lounge about and surf the web?

Oh the Beauty of Wi-Fi

Yes, I currently do not have reliable wi-fi at my home. So trying to upload any pictures is actually quite almost impossible at the moment. But that's ok because my new internet provider will be coming on Tuesday to provide me with some legal wi-fi for the first time ever at my house. How am I posting this you say? Well I never said I don't have wi-fi, just not reliable wi-fi...ahem. Any who, I'll be sure to edit the previous post with some of my favorite videos and pictures of those blogs. Check back soon! Now, I've got tons of Biology and Chemistry homework to do! I am telling you, AP Chem may be the death of me.

Hi there! I think introductions usually come first in these things :p

Ok, so I am totally new at this. I am a big fan of blogs, bloggers, video blogs on YouTube, the works. And I've always admired these bloggers for being able to get their thoughts out to the public for so many reasons. One: they're not afraid of being criticized because if they were, they wouldn’t blog, duh! two: they do believe what they have to say is important, and three: they care enough to take the time to make these postings and reply to their readers and viewers. So having been a blog follower for a couple of years now (sheesh that makes me sound so old!) I think I've finally gotten the confidence and courage to make my own blog, I know I'm such a drama queen, I mean c’mon, it’s just a blog!

So if you haven’t figured it out yet, I am a hijabi (ergo the title). I’m deciding how to define hijab because in Arabic there are different definitions, and I decided to check out dictionary.com and it says that it is a covering for the head and face that Muslim women wear… mmm, not quite. Not exactly the type of definition I was looking for, so I’ll try my best to define it myself.

Hijab is the concept and/or idea of a Muslim woman taking on the lifestyle of modesty. The standards for a hijabi, as described in the Quran, is covering the entire body from head to toe except for your face, hands, and feet (this one is actually debatable because I’ve heard so many opinions). It is the idea of modesty, so it doesn’t count if you are covering from head to toe with the exceptions, and yet people can still tell the exact your exact body shape because your clothes practically look like they were painted on. That’s a no-no.

So what is this blog about? Anything and everything! I suppose you could just think of it as the world through a hijabi’s eyes, but I feel like that would be stereotyping all hijabi views and opinions by my own. Which is so not true. Just because we all wear scarves on our heads, does not mean that we all think the same too, duh!

This is just my first post, kind of an introductory get to know you type thing and also for me, get used to blogging type thing. So here are a few fun facts about me.

·         I am a fashionista, I love fashion and I’m pretty open-minded to all types of styles and new ideas. My favorite thing to do is to hijabify fashions and styles! I feel like I can do so much more with fashion now than when I wasn’t a hijabi, quite interesting sobhan allah.

·         I like to rant, which I think is a crucial characteristic actually for any blogger, when you think about it, bloggers really like to talk! Best thing is you can always shut them up by closing out the page, wish I had that option with some of my teachers. Hahaha, jk!

·         I often/sometimes get these epiphanies and it almost kills me not to tell them to people, ergo my reason for blogging (I just love saying ergo! It makes me feel so smarticle! Thanks to iCarly, aaanywhoo).

·         I love to listen to people. I know that’s weird because I just said I like to rant too, but what could I possible rant about if I’m not taking in new information? So let me know you’re opinions, I seriously and truly want to hear them!

·         I listen to both Arabic and English music, I must admit that I’ve been way more on the Arabic side than the English side. I mean I haven’t listened to the radio in three months since yesterday, I turn it on and the SAME EXACT SONGS are still playing! No wonder we consider a song old after only two or three months, radio stations beat them dead.

·         More about my background: I live in the US, but I was not born here. Came her when I was 2 with my Mom and older sister, my Dad was here before us getting ready to bring us over, and my little brother and sister were born in the States. I am applying for colleges this year and I’m also taking three AP classes (for all you who don’t know what AP means it stands for Advance Placement, just a fancy way of saying you’re taking college course classes while still in high school). Yes I know, three APs and I’m starting a blog, I am out of my mind.

Well anyway that’s enough about me. The whole point of me making this blog is because I want to advance the world of Muslim women, hijabis, nonhijabis, old, young, whatever and whoever! I’m always searching for more Muslim women and young adult bloggers because I love to read about people who are like me. Who deal with the same things as a I do every day, and also who have the same outlook on life as I do. That is just so important in my opinion, that you find others like yourself in the world. I mean don’t get me wrong, I am all for diversity! I think it’s great, I encourage it. But you should always be sure that you have a good balance that you’re comfortable with. After all, it is well known that the more you hang out with a person the more you become like them. Which makes sense, it doesn’t mean you’re a poser or fake, it just means that you’re adaptable. And if human beings weren’t so adaptable, we probably wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today.

So thanks for reading, Jazak Allah Khairan, I will make more posts soon! Leave me some comments on what you would like a Muslim Sister to write about! What you want to hear from a hijabi! Whether you are Muslim or not, maybe you’d like to learn more about Islam, which is great, knowledge is always a great thing to give you a more comprehensive scope of life. So, ask me anything. Salam!