I'm hungry!

This morning for suhoor my family had Oatmeal and peaches. It was delicious! I'm feeling a little hungry now though, but I think it's because we went out to visit Grandparents today and my aunt was cooking. So now I feel a little weak and hungry, but I only have three hours left! We read a few more pages of Surah al-baqarah after Fajr in both English and Arabic. My reading is getting better, alhamdulilah. Little bro still needs some help, but he reads very well.

I think my family is doing an amazing job of keeping good temper. No one seems irritated at all, and I know that I'm doing my best to avoid argument. That's probably one of my worst traits, quick tempered. Last night we attended Taraweeh prayer again at the masjid and we had Iftar there. I ate Moroccan cous cous, fried chicken, russian salad, Spanish rice, spiced chicken, and mixed rice. Oh, and a piece of chocolate frosted cake. When we came home I had some ice cream, a chocolate donut, and some pistachio nuts. Believe it or not, I did NOT eat as much as it seems. It all tasted /really/ good though. I mean, really.

So insha allah we will probably attend taraweeh prayer again. My Dad is making chicken enchiladas tonight for iftar. I truly do love Ramadan. May allah bless and reward us all - Nisa

Taraweeh Outfit: Summer Grass Green

If you attend taraweeh after Isha at the masjid on iftar nights, you want something nice, but not too formal to wear. I usually wear a nice skirt or slacks with a long, long blouse. The outfit I created below is a beautiful green, perfect for summer and beginning of fall wear. Please sisters, do not forget to bring socks with you to the masjid. Your feet must be covered so that you can make prayer.

I am so in love with that brooch and hijab! I am still trying to find the perfect green hijab because it goes really nice with the color of my skin. The only green hijab I have is a really dark green, but it's way too thick. I like hijabs that are thin, and easy to wrap. Oh, from the conference that we went to so that we could give out speech I bought two hijabs. One is a pale pink, and the other is a hot pink and black color. Both were really cheap, and they're really nice! In fact, I'm wearing the hot pink & black one to iftar at the masjid tonight insha allah. :) May allah bless and reward us all! -Nisa

Ramadan Mubarak Everyone- From Nisa's Family to yours!

Alhamdulilah, Ramadan is finally here! Last night I attended Taraweeh prayer at the masjid last night. It was really nice, but my feet started hurting half way through the prayer. Insha allah tonight we will attend it again, and we will have Iftar at the masjid. This morning for suhoor my family had pancakes, eggs, milk, and fruit. Yummy! It was a filling breakfast, and I'm not really hungry. After Fajr we sat down and read surah al-fatihah, and a few lines of surah al-baqarah.

It's not really hot outside today. I was a bit nervous about it being hot and fasting. I fast on Monday and Thursdays, so I should be used to it. Alhamdulilah, the weather is really nice today. Insha allah ladies I will try to blog everyday of Ramadan so that I can keep you updated. I seriously can't believe Ramadan came around so quickly this year! May all of you have a blessed Ramadan! - Nisa

The big day/Ramadan preperations

Tomorrow is the big day of our (my friends and I) big speech at a bigger masjid. I believe I told you ladies before that we will not be going to the really big masjid where we were supposed to go, but a doctor will be speaking so the people who asked us to speak switched it to a masjid smaller than the original, but bigger than ours. Alhamdulilah, we will have the honor of speaking either way. We will be speaking about the Wives of the Prophet instead of hijab. Everyone else speaking at the conference will be lecturing on Ramadan. Insha allah, I really hope everything goes well. I'm nervous, but super excited. We also have to cook something to bring, and we have no idea what to cook! Oh nooooo! Insha allah, I will probably wear my blue abaya to the conference because blue looks really nice on me. :D I love blue and pink clothing!

Have any of you begun preparing for Ramadan in any sort of way? The most that my family has been doing is preparing breakfast/dinner menu's for the four weeks of Ramadan, switching around schedules, deciding what to do for Eid gifts, and fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. We will probably be going to Iftar nights on Saturdays and Sundays at our local masjid. Everyone will have to cook something and bring it. Or, we can send something to the masjid for those that will be there. Either way, I'll be spending time with my friends and family during the holiest time of the year! Alhamdulilah! My family and I will also take turns reading the Qu'ran in the morning while we are cooking breakfast so that insha allah we will finish the entire Qu'ran before Eid day. I am knitting a scarf as a gift to give to someone, and I have plenty of other things on my list that I need to start knitting! I also need to find an Eid outfit, and I have no idea what it will be. So, how does your family prepare for Ramadan? Insha allah I will try to blog everyday of Ramadan, because I love documenting these things. It will be something to go back and read during next years Ramadan. Let the count down to Ramadan begin, I am fully prepared to bring myself closer to Allah, to finish the Qu'ran, and to spend time with family and friends! May Allah bless and reward us all! ~Nisa

Around the house style: Pink Slumber Party

If I could walk around my house freely, I would definitely wear this style. A short pajama-like shirt with a pair of flip flops. It is so comfortable! I personally love flip-flops especially because they are like slippers without covering the whole foot. I hate wearing socks or traditional fluffy slippers in the house. My feet need to be free, but protected. So flip-flops are the best alternative for me. As for spaghetti strapped dresses, they are so comfy to sleep in, and hang around in the house in...especially in the summer time. May Allah bless and reward us all! ~ Nisa

All Natural Hijabi: Kitty Litter Mask!

Ladies, today I have an new all natural face cleanser that will blow you away. You may use this on a daily basis if you have a few tinkling kitties around. Yes, kitty litter. I am not talking about the kind that has deodorizer in it or the clumping kind. All natural clay kitty litter. It MUST say 100% all natural ground clay. Alot of the times, these all-clay kitty litters are the "cheap" brands of litters, which is fine for a economically thinking hijabi! A big bag will usually last months, because only a small amount of litter is required when using it as a mask. The mask is a great acne treatment, and I have read that it gets rid of acne within a few weeks of usage. The litter is basically the same ingredients used in the expensive spa facial treatments...only it's cheaper.

You will need:

1. A bag of ground 100% clay kitty litter. NOT litter that has deodorizer or clumping ingredients. It MUST say clay only! DO NOT USE KITTY LITTER THAT HAS BEEN PEED OR POOPED ON BY A CAT!

2. A bowl and spoon
3. Water
4. All natural moisturizer

Take a tablespoon of kitty litter and place it into the bowl. Add a tablespoon of water and mix it with the kitty litter. Once the water looks brown and cloudy apply only the watery part of the mix. Do not put on the paste it makes because it is way too rough on the skin. Leave the mask on until it dries or for 15 minutes. Wash all of the clay from your face in a circular motion. Pat dry your skin, and apply your favorite all-natural moisturizer. May Allah bless and guide us all! ~ Nisa

References:
1. http://beauty.about.com/od/fragrance/r/catlitter.htm
2. http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/02/kitty_litter_facial_poll.php
3. http://www.ehow.com/how_2122981_make-cat-litter-facial.html
4. Michelle Phan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-x6hCI9X0g

For more All Natural Hijabi skin care tips and recipes, please click on the tags below!

Reporting live: Nisa!

I'm sorry sisters about the lack of posts, I've been busy this week! On Saturday my family went to our Muslim family friends house. It was really fun, but we didn't get back until a little late. Then Sunday was family, but we didn't go but I still didn't have access to a computer. It has gotten a little hotter here now, but I can't complain because alhamdulilah; I've had a cool, breezy summer so far! It's just a bit humid now, and always thundering. I like thunder anyway. Insha allah I will have another All Natural Hijabi post for you all tomorrow. May Allah bless and reward us all! ~Nisa