a brick wall

salam!

bismillah

I have been trying for days to write something here, but I feel there is a big huge brick wall before me.

I never understood "writers block" until now...

When I think of what I should write I feel a big blank space where ideas should be. I feel like I am not this person anymore, and I can't think of what she would say.

When I wrote this blog everything was new and exciting. I was passionate and opinionated. In a lot of ways I was better than I am now.

Now things seem much more ordinary and I have realized as I learn more that I am still so ignorant... I realize that I am not qualified to be over opinionated and I feel shy to dispense advice. I am flawed.

I have made many mistakes and continue to stumble along the path, but I feel a hypocrite trying to write here with the passion I once had.

So I guess that the real reason I haven't written on the blog in so long is that I have outgrown it a bit in it's current incarnation. The girl who wrote this blog is not really me...

Should I overhaul and try to start anew, or should I try to continue on in this vein?

Wow: PLEASE READ!

Salam!

Bismillah

Hey sisters, I'm so sorry that I have been neglecting this blog so badly...

I don't want to close it, but my life has taken a lot of changes and I'm not sure exactly where this blog fits in anymore. Unfortunately that has led to me slacking off here.

Are there still people coming and reading? Is there anyone interested in new content? What kind of stuff are you interested in hearing about?

I started this blog talking a lot about comparative religion and my experiences in Arkansas as a new minority. For the last semester I've been out of the state, and really out of touch with the world lol.

Anyway, thanks for your input sisters, Jazakum Allah Khair!!!

I'm alive Alhamdulillah

Salam 3laikum!

I'm still alive alhamdulillah. For a long time I couldn't think of anything to write... so I didn't write anything.

I still can't really think of anything to write, but I know how frustrating it is to find a blog, read a few posts then wait forever for another post that never comes and I definitely don't want to be that kind of blogger.

So thanks you all for your patience with me and I am going to try to do better inshaAllah!!

What do you guys want to hear about?

~Non-Muslim Family interactions

~Something funny

~Something serious

~Something about Islam

~Something about football/soccer :-P

~Other

Awesome Website

Salam sisters,

bismillah

I found a great website mashaAllah. Check it out!

www.productivemuslim.com

So Behind

Salam!

Bismillah

So an update: I got a job alhamdulillah but now I'm super duper busy. I'm currently doing the job of about 4 people (as in the University could have legitimately hired 4 different people to do the stuff I do there, but decided not to).

I'm only getting a couple of hours of sleep a night, but I'm hoping that things will even out once we get into the swing of school again.

Anyway, InshaAllah I will be resuming posts again once things cool off a bit.

As for my goals, as you can probably tell I am horribly behind astaghfirullah, but I'm hoping to put in a lot of real effort for the last 10 days/nights inshaAllah.

Keep me in your du'as!

much love.

99 Names Part VI and VII and NEWS

Salam!

Bismillah

I'm so sorry that I missed yesterday's post! I was totally distracted :-P

Yesterday alhamdulillah! after searching all summer I finally, by the grace of Allah, got a job on campus in an office/ teaching.

ALSO! A few hours later I found out that my sister in law is PREGNANT! mashaAllah!!!! please please say mashaAllah you guys. This inshaAllah will be my brother's first child and my sister in law's second. May Allah guide them ameen.

So on to the post!

51. الحق Al-Haqq: The Truth, The Real

52. الوكيل Al-Wakīl: The Trustee, The Dependable

53. القوى Al-Qawwiyy: The Strong

54. المتين Al-Matīn: The Firm, The Steadfast

55. الولى Al-Waliyy: The Friend, Patron and Helper

56. الحميد Al-Hamīd: The All Praiseworthy

57. المحصى Al-Muhsi: The Accounter, The Numberer of All

58. المبدئ Al-Mubdi': The Originator, The Producer, The Initiator

59. المعيد Al-Mu'īd: The Restorer, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All

60. المحيى Al-Muhyi: The Giver of Life

61. المميت Al-Mumīt: The Destroyer, The Bringer of Death

62. الحي Al-Hayy: The Living

63. القيوم Al-Qayyūm: The Subsisting

64. الواجد Al-Wājid: The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing

65. الماجد Al-Mājid: The Illustrious, The Magnificent

66. الواحد Al-Wāhid: The One, The Unique

67. الاحد Al-'Ahad: The Unity, The Indivisible

68. الصمد As-Samad: The Eternal, The Absolute, The Self-Sufficient

69. القادر Al-Qādir: The Omnipotent, The All Able

70. المقتدر Al-Muqtadir: The Determiner, The Dominant

feeling a bit low

salam

bismillah

hey ladies

i'm feeling a bit low

i've been having these intense feelings of loneliness even when i am in a room full of my family

i feel a bit set adrift

inshaAllah things will brighten up soon

Netherlands vs. Brazil

Salam!

Bismillah

This one is for my dear HalfCalf ;-)

Brazil and the Netherlands are going head to head on the 2nd as well! Their match history is pretty even, with Brazil only slightly ahead.

For Brazil: designer Eman Joharjy, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121314521888

For Netherlands: http://2hijab.com/abaya_samar_style_010.asp

I'm picking Brazil for this match, but the two different styles of ball will make for some excitement on the field!

Uruguay vs. Ghana

Salam!

Bismillah

Hey guys! I thought it would be cool to do a little feature for each game in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. I'm planning to feature WC inspired outfits and maybe a little game-talk or prediction. Something for everyone sah!?

SOOO first game in the Quarterfinals will be on the 2nd of July InshaAllah

It will be Uruguay vs. Ghana

The Uruguay Outfit: http://www.eastessence.com/products/Aftab_Abaya-193-9.html

I'd break up the Blue with some nice accessories and a scarf in a different color :-)

And for Ghana: http://2hijab.com/abaya_sabrina.asp

You don't have to plaster yourself with flags or team slogans or compromise your modesty to support your group!

I think this will be a cool game to watch. Ghana is the last African team in the running and has a lot of heart, but Uruguay has got more experience at this level.

One Year Again

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

Bismillah ar-rahman ar-raheem

SubhanAllah wa Alhamdulillah today is the one year anniversary of my conversion to Islam.

I look back and marvel at what I have learned and I am appalled at what I have forgotten, subhanAllah

I look forward and realize that I am one year closer to the The Day of Judgement and wish that I had done better during this time, astaghfirullah may Allah forgive us for wasting his precious gifts intentionally and unintentionally.

I am overjoyed to be a Muslimah. Overjoyed. Overcome. Verklemmt. Gobsmacked. Exhilarated. Euphoric. Rapturous. Jubilant. Just plain tickled pink.

But most of all I am grateful. Grateful to Allah subhana wa ta'ala, grateful to my friends, my teachers, and even my family. Alhamdulillah 3la kul shay'

Some Announcements!

Salam!

Bismillah

Here are some updates from the fair lady Amber at Sisterswhoblog :-D

Check out this website in support of The Muslim Rosa: A group that is for fair treatment of Muslims in the image of Rosa Parks

http://tinyurl.com/support-muslim-rosa

I would also like to announce the 2010 Best Blog Award: To honor the best hardworking Muslima bloggers on the web

http://swbmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-blog-award.html

Happy blogging sisters!!!!

ONE YEAR!!

Salam!

Bismillah

ALHAMDULILLAH I MADE IT THROUGH ONE WHOLE YEAR OF BLOGGING!!!

Things that have happened this year:

1. I converted to Islam, alhamdulillah

2. I fasted my first whole Ramadhan, alhamdulillah

3. I took survived two semesters of Intensive Arabic, alhamdulillah

4. I wrote 141 blog posts here + 33 on my food blog

5. I got a sister in law and a niece all on the same day :-D alhamdulillah

6. I wore hijab for the first time this year, alhamdulillah

7. I started to wear jilbab and hijab when I converted this year, alhamdulillah

8. I made ridiculous amounts of blogger friends alhamdulillah (*muah* xoxoxoxooxoxo)

9. I *almost* graduated college, inshaAllah next semester!

10. I followed over 200 blogs and had around 1870 profile views

ALHAMDULILLAH WA MASHAALLAH it has been such a great year and inshaAllah I hope to see you all here for another one in the best of health and iman ameeeeeeeeeen.

much love.

One Down, Two to Go

Salam!

Bismillah

I worked about 16 hours straight on my Arabic project trying to fix all of our technical difficulties and still ended up being almost 24 hours late, but alhamdulillah ustadhaty took it anyway and gave us a B+. I really needed an A, but alhamdulillah 3la kul shay a B+ is INFINITY times zero. :-)

I have left now to write a resume + cover letter for my advanced comp class and a 20 pg paper on socio-cultural phenomena throughout the history of Physics. YAY!

How is everyone else progressing? School? Finals? Work? Life? I'd love to have an excuse to take a break for a couple of minutes :-D

much love.

EEEEKKKKK

Salam!

Bismillah

SubhanAllah I have 100 followers... I really never expected that you know...

When I started this blog, it was mainly a way for me to 1) comment on other blogs I was reading and 2) write something when there wasn't anything else to read.

Alhamdulillah it has come to mean a lot more to me than that and has been so much more useful.

I have met some of my best friends through this blog (love you dear rayyan) and continue to make more and more as the days pass, ALHAMDULILLAH

So thank you all, Jazakum Allah khair, for reading and commenting and keeping me motivated.

much love.

NeverEver

A Day in the Life

Salam!

Bismillah

I added a group on SistersWhoBlog and I'd like to invite all of you to come join me!!!

It is all about sisters who write about our *incredibly interesting* daily lives and thoughts :-D

HERE is the link

Let me know what you guys think inshaAllah

Low Fat Yogurt

Salam!

Bismillah

I love yogurt. Unfortunately MOST of the (affordable) brands use gelatin. Meaning there could be little piggy parts swimming in my strawberry yogurt. Either I fork over a ridiculous price for the "expensive" kind or forgo my yogurt.

But alhamdulillah the other day I found out that Great Value (Wal-Mart Brand) uses kosher gelatin. Read: no little piggies in my strawberry yogurt!!

YAY!!!!!

Paintings

Salam!

Bismillah

Did you know that the world's top 5 most expensive paintings were bought for a total of $712.2 million US?

How much food could that have bought? That is almost 1,800,000,000 lb (830,000,000 kilo) rice from the Sam's club down the street from my house. That is about 8,180,000,000 servings of rice.

Was it worth it?

Sisterswhoblog Network

Salam

Bismillah!

Amber Misk at Sisters who Blog just posted a link to a new networking site. It looks really cool mashaAllah and I encourage all of you to join so that inshaAllah it is easier for other women who are just starting to blog or be interested in what we do/say/think/etc to find us :-)

Here is the link

Whew... Missed it by *this* much

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Wow... what a crazy few weeks it has been subhanAllah.

So update on the wedding proceedings:

I was scared scared scared of the wedding honestly. One side of my family knows about my conversion and the other side doesn't and they were all planning on coming to the wedding (along with my cousin who just looovvveeesss to make situations awkward.) So I was praying and praying in the days leading up to the wedding.

The weather had been around 65 all week, and really beautiful. BUT the day before the wedding the sky opens up and dumps around 14 inches of snow onto our little town, SUBHANALLAH. This is the MOST snow I have ever seen in my whole life. So because of this, most of our family cannot make it into town.

My brother and his wife *giggle* decided to get married anyway and have a ceremony at the place where she works with just some close family and a couple friends (instead of the 75 people who were going to come before). Alhamdulillah they are doing really well and seem really happy to finally be married. And my niece *:-D* calls my brother daddy now all the time (soooo sweet).

The next day ALLL of the snow melted. ALL OF IT. SUBHANALLAH. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen and I know that Allah subhana wa ta'ala does not ever put you in a situation that you can't handle.

ALHAMDULILLAH

My brother

السلام عليكم

بسم الله

MASHAALLAH my brother is engaged!!!!!



They are planning to have a short engagement, so inshaAllah they will get married either during spring break next month (!?!?!) or the last part of May.

His fiance has a little three year old girl and I llooovvvveeee her. We play with puzzles. Which are awesome.

I pray that Allah put love and understanding in their hearts and give them a great big happy family, ameen!!