eid mubarak

Today, I and many (I say many because some celebrated yesterday and others will tomorrow depending on the sighting of the moon where they live) other Muslims around the world celebrated Eid-ul Fitr. This is the celebration that commemorates the end of the holy month of fasting a.k.a. Ramadan. To any fellow Muslims reading this, I wish you a heartfelt Eid Mubarak. I pray that all had/will have the opportunity to spend this blessed time with the ones they love.

The end of Ramadan, and especially Eid day brings to me a mix of sentiments. On the one hand, I realize that I will have my pre-Ramadan routine back. But, with the return of that routine, I fear I may lose that increase in spirituality I had worked towards achieving over the past thirty days. So, tonight as I sit here typing away, I resolve to spend these next eleven months preparing for next Ramadan. I want to reach a point where I don't have to feel like I am doing so many extra things to be better during Ramadan. And perhaps, this is the point of Ramadan. Yes, it is a special blessed month. But, apart from the fasting, the remaining practices are things we should be focused on all year long, not just for one month. So, I end with this. I give myself credit for the areas in which I improved this month. And, I resolve to keep these new practices alive, so that I can improve even more next year instead of starting from the same place I did this year.

Now, in the spirit of celebration, let me tell you about my Eid-ul-Fitr 2015.

Last night, my mother, sisters, and I had a chand raat party at our new home. And since I am the sentimental type, I would also like to document that last night also marked our first meal at the new home. We have not moved in yet, but we did our eid prep there just for fun. I did my own nails and henna and I was quite pleased with the results. I painted my nails black and accented them with silver studs. My mother picked up the henna cones for us from the Indian Bazaar and the color came out so nice! I will share some photos at the end of this post.

Eid morning was great as well. I went to bed pretty late the night before, but it was easy to wake up because of the excitement of the day! I woke up at four and thought it was time to get up, but that was just my dad getting ready to drop someone off at the airport all the way in Chicago. So, I actually woke up at six to get ready. I wore a beautiful dress with a lot of delicate embroidery. I was very happy to have gotten it as an early eid gift from an auntie at the masjid, so I could wear it today. I thought that was sweetest gesture and I truly loved the dress on me. I won't be sharing an outfit shot, but you can see some of the embroidery in the henna picture :)

Once we got to the masjid, I got to see everyone all dressed up and wish them a mubarak eid. We exchanged hugs, compliments, and conversations. It really was a lovely day.

In the afternoon, my cousins and sisters played Monopoly at the new house and I just chilled out at home. In the evening I went out to dinner with my parents, siblings, and cousins. We went to my favorite restaurant in the city. It's an Indian place with the best South Asian food I've ever had. I may also be slightly biased because we are good friends with the family who owns the restaurant and they are also the nicest people ever. The food was phenomenal as always. And, as always, we topped off the night with their special chai and mithai (sweets).

All in all, today was a wonderful day because I got to spend it with my "masjid family" and my "family family". The delicious food and beautiful clothes didn't hurt either. And of course, at the end of the day, reflecting on the true meaning of eid is essential. I pray that everyone is happy about eid as I am and that we all derived benefit and blessing during Ramadan this year.

Lastly, I also want to express my gratitude for being able to celebrate eid freely in my country and for being given the resources to celebrate in this way. All Muslims in the world do not have the luxury of amazing food and new/clean clothes to celebrate this day. I have to remember them and be grateful for being one who is afforded these comforts. So, let's enjoy this time with our families, be grateful, and reflect on the holy month that has passed.

Oh and one last time, Eid Mubarak!

xo Aneela

The Look for Less // Tory Burch Espadrilles

Tonight, I come to you bearing good news. Drum-roll please...I found the perfect pair of wedges that could be mistaken for the Adonis wedge espadrilles by Tory Burch by someone who has only casually dabbled into the world of Tory Burch.

So, here's Exhibit A, the Tory Burch's. They retail for $225 and are reduced to $175 currently. A little much for a baller on a budget such as moi. 

image via bloomingdales.com

But, who needs those when there is a VERY similar (and more affordable) pair by Kenneth Cole Reaction out there? Not me! The Kenneth Cole wedges are available on Zappos for a 69 buckaroos! Ummm, sign me up, right?!

image via zappos.com

So I know they don't look exactly alike, but, they have the same elastic detailing that is super comfortable and they are probably easier to wear as they are lower than the Tory Burch's. And, for $69, I'm not complaining.

HOWEVER, sad story, I actually ruined them the first time I wore them last week. I was walking downtown, which I do very rarely so I am not caught up on the unfortunate state of the post-winter pavement. There was about a 2 inch height difference from one sidewalk panel to the next and I very dramatically and ungracefully face planted the ground right in front of Central Library. I banged up my knees pretty badly, but more importantly, I scraped the front of my shoes. I know, so sad...

Whatevs, I'm over it. Still going to be wearing them ALL SUMMER LONG.

I hope you guys liked this look for less. I can do more because I always find items similar to higher end ones that I pine over. I would love to share them here.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend :)

xo Aneela

2015

image source: tableforoneministries.com

Please Note: Yes, I am yet another blogger who has chosen to write (although 12 days late) a piece about the new year. But fear not, I will not put your eyes through the misery of having to read through yet another list of resolutions :)

Well, here we are. Yep, we've survived another year on this planet; all praise belongs to God for that. We are now almost two weeks into 2015 and I’ve been doing some serious thinking these past days about what it means to me that I’ve made it here and how I can thank God for giving me the breath to see the turn of another year. I mean, I consider myself lucky to be here as I think about the horrible things happening around the world and the innocent lives being lost to senseless acts of violence, natural disasters, disease, etc. A recent stand out in my mind is the loss of the angels of the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan which is still a fresh wound in my heart. And, while I believe it is important to grieve and honor those who have left us, I also think it is equally important for all of us to continue living in a way that shows our gratitude for being given another day, another breath.

Not to put down anyone’s lifestyle, but I feel, especially here in the United States, many TV shows, musicians, and other sources of entertainment encourage our youth to waste their best years away in the pursuit of temporary enjoyment like alcohol, drugs, material wealth, etc. The message I see being thrown at us day in and day out is to simply exist for short term fun rather than live to our maximum potential and have concern for our future past Saturday night. Even this year, concerning New Year’s Eve, my university friends’ three major concerns were 1. which smaller subset of friends to party with, 2. what to wear, and 3. which destinations to hit up worth a full night of celebration. And once a night of bar-hopping through the city had ensued, they would decide where to go for late night/early morning pizza, I learned during post-celebratory conversation. 

When I look beyond what seems to be a glittering lifestyle sans a dull moment, something about imagining people who truly have a special place in my heart spending their New Year’s Eve/Day in this way really saddens me because I know that their celebrations won’t do them any good past that one night of enjoyment. It makes me grateful for the way Islam teaches me to spend mine, in prayer and reflection on the past year. I wish that my non-Muslim friends could try out New Year’s Eve our way and see how enjoyable and calming it is. No pressure, no insane expectations to have the best night ever. Just you, God, and the thoughts you share with Him. It really makes for a magical night.

Well, these have been my two cents. I hope I was able to offer something that resonates with you in some way or at least gives you something to think about. 

Here’s to a year of happiness, health, and spiritual advancement! And, as this blog turned 3 years old on December 1^st, I want to thank all you from the bottom of my heart for another great year! Thanks for reading! 

xo Aneela

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Today, I want to have a little heart-to-heart with you. Shall we? So, I have a few things to say about life and social media.

Now, I know you may be thinking how strange it is of me to put social media on a high enough importance level that I am grouping it in with a conversation on life. But, I really feel like we have made it this important as a society.

Personally, the social media app that I keep up with most is Instagram. For me, it’s fun to see what my “real life” friends are cooking, where they are traveling to, and who they’re hanging out with. It’s just something I consider enjoyable. I also follow people I don’t know personally (i.e. fashion bloggers, famous journalists, artists, and companies) because I find their posts to be creative, inspiring, and entertaining.

But, what I have found to be true in many cases through talking to friends is that many people use Instagram as a way to determine the fullness of their lives by comparing themselves to the pictures that other people post. Oh, your friend from high school is always “instagramming” from exotic locations? Her life must definitely be better than yours. (Please note the sarcasm in the previous sentence.)

The truth is, everyone has moments and days that are less than perfect. It doesn’t mean that they are lying by only posting the happy moments. They are just showing the positive instead of dwelling on the negative. I mean, honestly, would you want to see people posting about all the things that go wrong in their lives? I know I wouldn’t. I actually find Instagram to give me the opposite effect in that even if I am having the worst day or am super worried about something, seeing a friend post from a wedding or share something special makes me feel happy…not envious.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself feeling down that someone’s life on social media seems happier, prettier, or easier than yours, just know that everyone goes through low points. And, hypothetically speaking, let’s just imagine for a moment that there is someone out there who has the perfect life. There is still always something to be grateful for.

If you are reading this post right now, you have an internet connection. Now, there’s something to be grateful for! Ok, but all jokes aside, now that we’ve established that you have internet access, chances are you also have a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat. With these basic things (that A LOT of people in the world do not have), how silly must it seem to God that we stress out over things like Instagram?!

If you’ve never played the comparison game, congratulations. You’re on the right track. But, if you have, I really hope that what I’ve said above hits some spot for you and resonates with you. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Fully enjoy the life you are given and the special people in it. After all, #YOLO.

xo Aneela

h-h-hello

That salutation up there was me "trying" to say hello while shivering. It is suddenly freezing in our house and the wind has been howling for a bit. Also, I worked out today after a long hiatus and ma knees be achin'! Does anyone else get really achy knees after running? I only get them the first few days, but boy oh boy....they HURT.

So, lately I've been super domestic and cooking every night. Sometimes, I get lazy and make one of my signature dishes that I could make with my eyes closed (ie. butter chicken, lentils and rice, stir fry, basic curries). But, a lot of days I have been trying new recipes because of my close relationship with pinterest. I have been pinning and cooking everything under the sun! Today, I made tandoori chicken and zucchinis with naan. I know, weird combination, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. I made the chicken in a wok-type pot and I wanted to combine bell peppers into the curry mixture, but we were out and the aforementioned windy weather/knee situation forced me to improvise with zucchinis. I got good reviews all around, if I might add!

I will finish off this little post with this ADORABLE wittle guppoo!! Did your day just get a little brighter? Mine sure did!

xo A

image via mokkasin.blogspot.fr

Fall Food Realness

I have been trying to write a blog post declaring my love for the fall season for quite a few days now. The one I have saved in my drafts highlights the fall-time activities I believe everyone should try. You know, the typical pumpkin farm, hot apple cider, baking with loved ones shenanigans. Groundbreaking. It didn't sound like something I had written or like something I would personally enjoy reading (even though it was embellished with some pretty spiffy photographs I took). So, using my disappointment in that post to my advantage, I am going to write in my usual style...typing whatever comes to mind. Can you tell I don't do well with structured writing? I don't know, it just sounds a bit insincere when I do it on the blog.

In place of reciting off all the reasons I love fall, I'm just going to share some things I find exciting as they come to me. Let the journey through Aneela's scattered thoughts commence...

Lately, I have been enjoying cooking/baking dishes that taste a gajillion times better during the colder months. Last week, we hosted a tea party and I took a short cut with some Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies. They totally tasted like they were made from scratch. I truly believe that with a few tweaks here and there in terms of ingredients you can make packaged desserts taste like you've been slaving away for hours. Case in point: I was just in NYC over the weekend and the lovely person I was staying with baked the most delicious brownies. They were so rich and had a generous amount of almonds and walnuts in them. When she told me she just used a brownie mix and added lots of nuts, I couldn't believe it! They tasted sooo good! Now, before you accuse me of trying to turn people to the dark side, give boxed baking a try. You might win over a few hearts and never look back ;)

Now, I know a lot bloggers are into doing everything from scratch. I enjoy both methods and I think it really depends on how much time I have and what kind of mood I'm in. Personally, I love cooking from scratch on the weekends when I have hours to spend in the kitchen. So, I have been collecting (and using) recipes that I think will be extra delicious as the trees outside become bare and a blanket of white settles in.

First of all, in case you haven't been looped in, sea salt + caramel = the solution to 99% of the world's problems. In honor of this delicious equation, I am going to link some of my favorite fall-time salted caramel recipes. Here is how to make simple salted caramels via Barefoot Contessa. Or, you could opt for a fun salted caramel pudding recipe via Portuguese Girl Cooks. And, of course, no fall gathering is complete without cupcakes, so try your hand at these salted caramel cupcakes via Tidy Mom.

image via Tidy Mom

image via Portuguese Girl Cooks

Now, this next topic, I am hoping to dedicate another post to as well, but in the meantime, I will just give you a quick synopsis here. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the goodness that is...THE CHEESE BOARD?! It's sweet, it's salty, it's fancy, it's casual, it's whatever you want it to be. I personally like one that is actually made on a wooden board...add those cute little chalkboard labels for the cheeses and we're talkin' par-tayyyy. And this is coming from someone who doesn't even particularly like cheese. Which, I know is embarrassing for someone who lives in America's DAIRY LAND, but I can't even remember the last time I craved cheese...UNTIL the cheese board. Here is 'The Perfect Fall Cheese Platter' via Honestly Yum. Get on it, people! More to come on this in a future post ;)

image via Honestly Yum

Well, I wanted to share some fall fashion trends in this post as well, but it is getting insanely long. Honestly, congratulatutions if you're still reading this. So, I'm going to end this post with the "it drink" of the moment. Make it. Try it. Love it. Here is how to make Rosemary Hot White Chocolate via Golubka. You're welcome:) Also, this girl has some mad manicure game (see below).

image via Golubka

Happy Monday!

xo Aneela

The 20 Questions Tag

So, I was tagged to answer these questions by Lorraine like forever and a half ago. We're talking years, people. Better later than never, eh? Well, I hope this tag is fun for you to read and lets you get to know me a little better. If any of these questions "speak" to you, leave your response in the comment section! I would love to see your answers! I hope you all have a great weekend :)

1. Thing you cannot leave the house without?
Car keys because there is nothing in walking distance of my home. Oh and my phone. We are basically joined at the hip, literally.

2. Favorite brand of makeup?
As much as I love the higher end makeup products in my life, most of the products I reach for EVERY SINGLE DAY are by e.l.f. They are high quality products at the most affordable prices out there. Yeah, they don't come in fancy packaging, but they get the job done and I will always love them. 

3. Favorite flower?
This question is a hard one one because flowers are kind of my "thing". I narrowed them down and it would have to be an (almost) tie between orchids and peonies. The peonies win by a hair. I imagine a peony could cheer me up no matter what. 

(image via Zsa Zsa Bellagio)

4. Favorite clothing store?
Lately, the Nordstrom Rack has been hitting the nail on the head. That said, there's nothing like Pakistani clothes. I will always choose them over going to American shops. I love Gul Ahmed and Generation. They both have high quality materials, are always on trend, and are available online :)

5. Favorite perfume?
Hands down, the Betsey Johnson one that looks like a bottle of kajal (w/ the hot pink top). I know it's quite the teeny bopper choice for a favorite, but I have been through several bottles since high school and I love it even more now! 

6. Heels or flats?
On an everyday basis, always flats. Although, I like to wear heels sometimes and then I feel like a tree. One heel-wearing day gets the bug out of me for a few months lol.

7. Do you make good grades?
Well, I am not currently in school (graduated a few months ago), but when I was, yes, I made VERY good grades. I am a perfectionist when it comes to academics. Ain't nobody tryna be thousands of dollars in debt AND not do well in school, right? #gunner

8. Favorite colors?
I cannot answer this question. It depends on so many things. How can I put limitations on my color preferences? Never understood how anyone can be expected to answer this accurately lol.

9. Do you drink energy drinks?
Nope. Never have, never will. Nobody needs to drink those. Kids need to learn how to better manage their time and go take a nap. 

10. Do you drink juice?
Not really. 

11. Do you like swimming?
Swimming is one of those important skills that I am embarrassed to admit, I never learned. 

12. Do you eat fries with a fork?
Nah, do people actually do that? Unless you're the queen, put that fork down...

13. Favorite moisturizer?
bebe Zartplflege. I stocked up on this when I was in Germany. I got them from the shop, DM if anyone is interested. IT. IS. THE. BEST.

(image via meindm.at)

14. Do you want to get married later on in life?
Can this be the one place where we chill out about this question? K, thanks.

15. Do you get mad easily?
No, unless I am hangry. Hungry, therefore angry, therefore, hangry. 

16. Are you into ghost hunting?
Hahahahahaha

17. Any phobias?
I used to have many, but I conquered every single one. I can't think of anything I am afraid of now other than the obvious things, like murderers.

18. Do you bite your nails?
Nope.

19. Have you ever had a near death experience?
No, thank God. 

20. Do you drink coffee?
Yes, but for the taste and occasionally. I don't need coffee. Does the fact that I felt the need to make that clarification say anything? Hmm ;)

Well, that was kind of fun! Until next time, toodles!

xoxo Aneela