Khizar's First Eid Recap!

Dear friends! A belated Eid Mubarak to you! For those who don't know, we Muslims recently celebrated the completion of the holy month of Ramadan (month of fasting). The celebration that commemorates the end of this month is called Eid-ul-Fitr and to wish someone a happy Eid, you simply say, "Eid Mubarak"!

We celebrated on June 5th (at my parents' home) and so much has happened since then (parties, my cousin's religious marriage, Khizar and I getting sick for a week, roadtrip, etc.) that I have failed to get to this blog post until now. But you know what they say, better late than never!

My entire Eid and the process of blogging about it has felt like one big game of expectation vs. reality. Well, come to think of it, motherhood feels like that often, it seems. You plan and prepare and then plan some more, and somehow, life still has a funny way of teaching you to just roll with the punches.

So, in honor of life not always going to plan (and being completely okay with it, don't get me wrong!), I thought it would be funny to recap Khizar's first Eid by documenting my expectations vs. the reality that was our Chaand Raat (the night before Eid) and Eid day. God willing, Khizar will enjoy reading this account when he's a little bit older!

Chaand Raat

Expectation: I had a lot of (perhaps overly ambitious) plans for Chaand Raat. I had already taken into account that applying mehndi (henna) would be too difficult since I wake up to feed Khizar about 2-3 times during the night, so leaving it on to wait for the color to develop would just get messy. So, I decided to do a face mask and a manicure/pedicure. Easy enough, right?

Reality: I wrapped up dinner, helped clean the house for the following day, and mixed up the clay face mask, a gift from my good friend, Sunna. I made enough, so my whole family used it (including my dad!) and we had great fun laughing about how funny we looked with them on. I had just started washing my mask off when Khizoo woke up hungry. I rushed to wash all the clay off (harder than it looks) and fed Khizar...and knocked out because I was just that tired. I forgot to moisturize after the mask, so my face didn't feel the best in the morning, but the mask itself was good. Just don't forget to moisturize, kids! I didn't get a chance to do my nails. It's the one thing I slack on since becoming a mom. It's so tricky to find that perfect window of time when I won't have to tend to Khizar for long enough to let my nail polish dry properly. I spent most of the following morning convincing myself I look better without polish anyway haha.

mask makin'!

Eid Day

Our Eid day consisted of going to the mosque for Eid prayer in the morning, staying for lunch, and hosting our extended family at my parents' home in the evening.

Khizar wore a white shalwar kameez (traditional Pakistani outfit) that my mom got for him from Pakistan and brown dress shoes, a gift from my lovely friend, Khaula.

Khizar all dressed up and ready to go to Eid prayer.

I wore a cream colored dress with not a lot of embellishment, so that my little Khizar wouldn't be uncomfortable when I held him. I decided I would wear something fancier in the evening for our family party at home (more on that later). Khizar did great during Eid sermon and prayer, but as soon as it ended and people started socializing, he got really overwhelmed and fussy. I also think he sensed that it was a special day because he had naturally woken up early and hadn't taken any naps, which made him a not-so-happy camper for the remainder of our time at the masjid. I didn't really chat with anyone because I went to a quiet place to try to put him to sleep, which never happened, so plus side, Khizar and I played with his Eid goodie bag and got ample time to take photos :)

Khizar playing with his first Eidi ever, a goodie bag from my cousin, Tayaba.

Expectation: I had planned two outfits for Eid, ironed them, and set aside the matching jewelry for each days in advance. I would wear a comfy dress to the mosque and then change into my fancier one at home where I could easily change if Khizar got uncomfortable.

My Eid outfit, worn with my wedding jewelry :)

Reality: The second outfit never happened. Khizar's sleep deprivation and ensuing fussiness made for one tired baby and one very tired mama. By the time we got home, I was exhausted and hot and still had so much to do to prepare for the party. I changed into my pajamas and got to work. By the time the guests were to arrive, Khizar still hadn't been able to take a proper nap and wasn't very happy. I heard the doorbell ring, quickly changed back into my mosque outift, and decided to let Khizar play with the guests while we set up dinner, hoping he would tire himself out enough to fall asleep.

The dinner spread

Khizar did finally fall asleep with the help of Gogo Khala (my little sister). There's your shout out, happy? We had dinner. I got to put out the amazing dessert spread. Thanks to my sisters and cousins for working on the amazing strawberry cake.

Reality: Not a single person touched the cake because literally everyone is on a diet out here. So double thank you for providing me with three square meals for the next week.

Cake decorating was a family affair!

The dessert spread: kheer, cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and jalebis

Oh and homemade kulfis made by my cousin, Shaista!

Following, I helped clean up. The cousins/siblings all played telepictionary as I watched from my parents' massage chair because energy levels were at an all time low by the end of the night. But, I was happy. So, so happy.

Everyone left around 11:30 pm. Khizar woke up soon after and I got to spend the rest of Eid, just me and my baby, cuddled under the Eid moon's glow.

Khizar, if you're reading this (wayyy in the future, of course), I want you to know that none of this is me complaining about how our Eid went. I just documented our day.  Expectation or reality, I wouldn't have it any other way! Even though you were so tired, there were many moments you laughed for me and let me hug you and kiss you. You did a great job wearing shalwar kameez for the first time and staying completely quiet during Eid sermon and prayer. You were the only baby that sat in the main prayer hall with the adults and didn't make a sound the entire time. Good job, Khizar!

Thank you if you read this entire post even though it was written so late. You guys are the real ones!

Please tell me one exciting Eid memory in the comments below! I would love to hear about your Eid!

xo Aneela

P.S. I always read my blog comments. I was a bit behind on responding, but, rest assured, I have responded to each one now. So, thank you to those of you who comment, I appreciate each of you so much. Your words make me realize that there is actually someone on the other side, that I am not typing into an empty void. God bless!

A Public Service Announcement Re: The Best Decision You Will Ever Make

PSA, guys: Get out of your seat. Grab a loved one. Locate your nearest IKEA. Now, drive to said IKEA with said loved one in tow.

Walk the exhausting distance from the main entrance of the store to the cafeteria while exploring the display rooms that have been strategically placed to trap you on the way to what you actually came for, all the while imagining yourself to be a person you really aren't.

i.e. "Ooooh, all-white bedding! My infant totally isn't prone to diaper explosions slash I never eat snacks in bed, so that sounds like a SUPER IDEA."

Daim cake aka a little slice of heaven

Now, that you've reached the cafeteria after playing plenty of make-believe and collecting some more fake plants you don't need, therefore, making your aforementioned loved one wonder why they came in the first place, make it up to them by ordering two cups of coffee and ONE slice of Daim cake to share (because let's be real, I don't know a single person on this planet who isn't on a diet) and because sharing food with loved ones is actually fun, try it!

In case you're wondering what part of this story is the "best decision you will ever make", it's the Daim cake (too darn good!!) that will have you wanting to make it a regular tradition.

My husband and I have partaken a few times now and I can't say I know a better way to forget about our problems (aka furnishing our whole dang house with nearly impossible to assemble IKEA furniture).

Thanks, IKEA...for selling Daim cake...not the bed my husband has to build from scratch using a manual with no words in it and 4,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces!!

I'm not going to write a detailed description of what Daim cake entails. I'll let your taste buds make that discovery on their own. But, you don't have to take my word for it. After a bit of googling, I discovered I'm not the only one going gaga over this delicious treat. Read here.

Scroll to the end for some cute pics of Khizoo's IKEA adventures!

Do you have any food traditions? Share them in the comments below! Also, PLEASE let me know if you've tried Daim cake or if you try it after my recommendation and what you think of it!

xx
Aneela

Khizoo trying on some sofas for size

Same chair in adult and baby size :)

Khizar and his daddy, tired after a long day of walking/being carried through IKEA

My Sardai (Natural Energy Drink) Recipe

This post is dedicated to the dear reader who commented on my blog today. I promised I would write something today, so here I am, delivering on that promise right before midnight, albeit a bit forcefully!

Today, I want to share my recipe for sardai with you all. Sardai is basically a natural energy drink, almonds being the star of the show. It is a frothy, cool, and refreshing treat that I think would be a perfect Ramadan (fast approaching!) drink.

After I had my son (exactly 4 months ago tomorrow!), I completely lost my appetite for food for a long time. One of the things that helped me get my strength back was this drink. I totally believe in it as an energy drink as it is chock full of calcium, protein, and healthy fat! It is super filling and fulfilling! :))

Back then, I used to take the easy way out and use store bought almond flour, but now I make it the traditional way. I don't drink it nearly as often anymore, just when I'd like a treat, but I do prefer the taste of making it the "old-fashioned way".

So here it is, how to make sardai! Please note that I have not listed quantities. Honestly, I don't measure my ingredients to make this. The key is to taste as you go and you will eventually learn exactly how you like your drink.

You will need:

• almonds
• sugar
• milk
• ice
• cardamom powder (optional)

1. Soak almonds in water overnight.

2. Peel almonds and grind in blender with ice, sugar, and a splash of milk. The milk will help the other ingredients blend more easily. You want to blend for a while until the almonds are ground to your liking. I do like my almonds a bit chunkier as it adds a nice texture to the drink.

3. Add the rest of your milk and blend again to incorporate all of your ingredients. You can add cardamom powder at this stage if you like that flavor. If you don't have cardamom powder, you can make your own at home by removing the seeds from whole cardamoms and grinding them in a food processor.

4. Pour yourself a tall glass of sardai, drink up, and go use up all that energy you just gained!

P.S. I literally just had sardai tonight in place of dinner. It's the perfect meal replacement/dinner+dessert in my PERSONAL OPINION aka I am not a nutritionist, so follow my lead at your own discretion.

Let me know if you're interested in trying this recipe out or what you need that extra kick of energy for in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you! In the meantime, take care!

xo Aneela

Broken Hearted Gratitude.

I sit in my mosque with my 4 month old son playing and cooing on the prayer mat in front of me. The melodic sound of the call to prayer makes him giggle audibly. I want to encourage his laughter by giggling back, but I refrain out of respect for the blessed occasion. As I listen to the Friday sermon, focusing on the message of peace and moral training passed along from my beloved imam, I think only of how grateful I am. To be here, to be able to bring my baby here, to feel safe in this place, and to have the freedom to practice my faith in this country.

My heart is broken for those who are killed for their faith. Sometimes the world cares, and other times no one speaks up. Having my own child now, my heart breaks for the children who cannot go to their places of worship because they aren't safe, and for the parents who can't take them there.

I have nothing enlightened to say about this, apart from: please allow this blog post to be a call to action. Let us wear our faith proudly. If we have the freedom to go to our places of worship, let us go often to the house of God.

We all have days when we're tired, when the to-do list is too long and the only reasonable solution seems to be to remove visiting the mosque/church/temple from the list.

I vow to go for those who cannot. I vow to proclaim my faith for those who are afraid.

Do you?

#prayfornewzealand

DC Guide: Dupont Circle Farmers Market

Since moving to the heart of Washington D.C. a little over a month ago, I have been absolutely itching to go out and explore the city, but the mental weight of my (now completed!) master’s thesis was keeping me away from venturing out.

Now that I am done with thesis and grad school, I have been a) researching things to do in the city before it gets too cold to go out easily and more importantly, b) I am finally mentally free to get back to my beloved blog! Oh, how I missed this little space of mine!

So, one of the first places I had to visit was a recommendation from a new friend I made in D.C., the Dupont Circle Farmers Market. The market opens only on Sundays from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM. So, this weekend, my husband and I walked the convenient half mile to check out the market. I did read online that it is much easier to take the metro as parking at the market is not super reliable, just a heads up for any of you that plan to go one day.

I was pleased to find that the market was not too small and not too large. It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk through the entire thing. Also, I personally believe this is the perfect time of year to visit. If you are anything like me (a complete autumn fanatic), you will appreciate all of the pumpkin spice, apple, soup, and coffee oriented products. And the crisp fall-time D.C. air makes the perfect backdrop for the entire experience.

If you’re looking for farm fresh produce, organic eggs, freshly baked goods, flower arrangements, or a fun Sunday atmosphere with live music performances, make sure you add the Dupont Circle Farmers Market to your “must visit” list!

xo Aneela!

Get In or Get Out (GIOGO) #1

art via Luci Everett

Hello readers! 

I have been itching to post something, anything on my blog for the longest time and today I have finally obliged to reward myself for meeting two very big grad school deadlines yesterday. 

So, here I am doing an in/out type of blog post where I talk about things I am enjoying vs. not lately. Except, that I am calling it, *drum roll please…* get in or get out or GIOGO for short. I’ve done ‘The Desi Knot Loves’ (⬅️read them all by clicking there) posts over the years, but I feel it’s a bit unfair to only talk about the good, so I decided to switch up the format and name. Seriously, what if I want to warn you guys of a fashion trend I despise?! See? It is crucial to talk about both “get ins” AND “get outs”. Without any further ado, here we GIOGO! ⬅️Get it? I crack myself up ;)

Get In! 

Clementines: I don’t know why clementines were the first thing that came to mind when I was thinking about things that I have been loving. They must be in season (?) right now because they have been striking the perfect balance between sweet and tart. And they’re so cute and tiny, it really just feels like I am eating candy.

Fuzzy blankets: I have one of those super soft, fuzzy microfiber blankets and lately, I have been laying it over my pillow when I sleep. And let me tell you, that extra furry feeling on my face strangely puts me to sleep like a baby most nights. And, that’s saying something considering I have insomnia problems.

Green Olives: I don’t have too much to say about this. Just that I have been obsessed with eating green olives lately, especially those spiced ones from the deli. Yum.

Summer excitement: I am REALLY into this one, like get in already! After experiencing a glimpse of warm weather while in Spain, I am now so stoked for the warmer months. No matter where the summer takes me, I am looking forward to a few constants: warm sunlight, wearing sandals, reading for pleasure, and having popsicles. These excitements all seem so childish, but I actually miss the simple delights of summer so much. I can’t wait to put my socks away for a while :))

Get Out! 

Stating opinions as fact: This is likely one of my biggest pet peeves in life. We see it on the news, in magazine articles, and in “real life”. Sometimes I will hear someone telling a story of something that happened to them. And, they will make some odd statement like, “I know she was thinking something negative about me” or “He was looking at me funny because I am X”. X might be a race or a religion, for example. Like, how do you know what he was thinking? Are you a psychic? Not only are you spreading negativity about the person you are talking about, but you are also stressing yourself out about something you don’t even know is true. Some friendly advice: life is MUCH easier when you take people at face value, without making assumptions.  

Leaving out an entire side of a story: I have a confession, I have watched a lot of crime documentaries in my time here on earth. I don’t really do it much anymore because I’m not allowed on account of my frequent nightmares, BUT…to the point, have you ever noticed how people present a person as this monster and never try to delve into why the person became the time to commit such brutal crimes. I am not saying it in a sense to justify the person’s actions. Instead, I am proposing the sharing of both sides of the story because it could help prevent future crimes. Many people who commit horrible crimes were extremely neglected or abused as children. Maybe we should be talking about some of the telltale similarities or trends criminals tend to follow, so this information can be used to be more aware about red flags. Instead, we just talk about how horribly monstrous the person is. The convicted criminals either end up in jail or dead, there is literally no benefit I see in spreading hate about them on TV. Who is that helping?

I hope you enjoyed reading my GIOGO piece? What are some of your “get ins” and “get outs” of the moment? Be sure to share in the comments section below!

With much respect and affection, ⬅️my favorite professor signs her emails like that! 

Aneela

Mood Board Monday + 3 Dressing Tips

Today, I come to you bearing some Monday morning fashion inspiration! I designed this layout using fashion pieces that I have been loving lately. Thick stripes and bright pops of color never go out of style. And of course, coffee is an obvious part of the equation! 

Here are 3 style tips for you:

1. When in doubt, black is your friend. Layer black on black for a look that is understated and classic. 

2. Plan out your outfits the night before. Trust me, it really speeds up the process of getting ready, so you can spend your brain power on the important tasks of the day. And you'll probably dress better this way, unless you work well under pressure ;)

3. Only buy it if you love it. I get it, sometimes you find a piece in your size for a really good price. But if you don't absolutely love it in the store, it will likely get pushed to the back of your wardrobe and never get its moment to shine.