1. Start Young

This is the most important way to get kids, even toddlers in the Ramadan spirit. If you don't start young, you can't expect kids to just know how to fast, pray or know their Deen. Expose them to Quran as soon as they are born. When you pray, lay them down in front of you. As they get older, they will be already familiar with it. I know sometimes it is tough especially for us moms to focus on our prayer if there is this super cute baby in front of you. Sometimes my husband and I would take turns so we could focus on our prayer. Honestly, after a while you just get used to it. Safa only at 18 months old will take out her small prayer rug and stand and even do the hand motions when saying Allahu Akbar. She's learned how to say Ameen and make dua. And whats one of her favorite fruits? Dates! She loves them and asks for them all the time. We didn't start in Ramadan though, we started as soon as she was able to chew them. As a child I did not like dates because I wasn't exposed to them till Ramadan so it was really unfamiliar. I wanted to change that for Safa. We didn't do anything special. We just exposed her since she was a baby!

2. Read

Find as many Islamic books as you can and read to them! Again, from a very young age. Last year we got many books as gifts for Ramadan and Eid and those are her favorite ones. Especially the Golden Lanterns. She's memorized every page. My favorite part about reading this book is when Safa points to the page with a mom wearing hijab and says "Mama!" It's so heartwarming that she can find herself and her family in a book. Something, that we didn't have as children. Here are the books we have so far! 

The Shapes of Eid, According to Me

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

It's Ramadan, Curious George!

Rashad's Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr!

Lailah's Lunchbox

The Little Girl says Alhamdulillah

3. Decorate the House

During Ramadan and Eid, decorate the house! Get them excited for Ramadan and Eid. As a child, I always loved how pretty Christmas time was because of all the beautiful decor everywhere. I'm sure we all secretly wanted a tree to decorate. I definitely see families now decorating for Ramadan and Eid. There are more companies now that have specifically decor for Ramadan and Eid. Safa is a little young to get excited for Ramadan but I still love to decorate. As she gets older I'll definitely be adding a 30 day calendar with rewards to encourage her to fasts. But we have a while for that!

    

Some of my favorite companies: 

Hafsa Creates, Karama Company, Norisa Designs 

4. Take them to the Masjid

My parents made sure to bring me to the masjid since I can remember. Quran classes, Sunday school and Jum'ah are all a part of my childhood memories. When we moved form New York to New Jersey, the first thing I did was go to the local Masjid and find YM. It was my safe place, it's where I made my first friends in NJ and who, I still hang out with 12 years later! You want to make the masjid your childs' community. You can't take them when they "have to go" and expect them to love it. Like I said, start young!

5. Be a Role Model. 

 

The most important tip of all. Be a role model. Kids learn all through example. No matter what you say or how many times you say it, they will follow exactly what you do. If you show your love for Ramadan and worship, your kids will too. Always remember though, they are kids. Make it light and easy for them. You want them to want to pray and fast because they love to not out of fear of being punished. 

Hope these tips were helpful. 

Ramadan Mubarak!!

As time passes by my style has definitely evolved. I sometimes like prints and sometimes I love color and sometimes I like everything. As fashion changes, of course so do I. Lately, I all I want to wear are neutrals. I love mixing different neutrals and having more a muted look lately. I'll add some color sometimes with my lipstick or bag but for the most part I mix up colors like black, nude, gray, taupe, tan and white. Here are some ootd's that all I wore were neutrals! I'm also starting something new on my blog by listing not just where the items are from but also the prices of each item. I mostly shop for a bargain but sometimes I splurge so it does vary. I hope this helps when you look for those items yourself:) Also check out some awesome finds I got from the Zara Sale! If you have a chance definitely check it out!

Maxi: Zara (sale) 19.99
Taupe Hijab: Zara Man 17.90
Leather Jacket: Target 39.99
Handbag: Zara (sale) 59.99
Infinity Scarf: H&M 14.99
Booties: Target 24.99

Sequin Top: Francesca's 29.99 (splurge)
Taupe Cardigan: Forever 21 19.99
Tube Skirt: Zara 15.99 (SALE!)
Heels: Call it Spring 29.99

Fur Vest: Cotton on 29.99
Pants: Zara 25.90
Striped Top: Zara 15.99 (SALE!)
White Scarf: Forever 21 9.80
Heels: H&M 24.99

Fur jacket: Marshalls 29.99
Necklace: Zara (sale) 9.99
Handbag: H&M 19.99

Neutrals may sound boring but as you can see there are so many inventive ways to pair different types of neutral prints, textures and styles together. My favorite neutral is that cogniac/tan color. I could buy anything in it! 

with love,

sania 

As Hijab's we've become pretty snazzy at 'hijabifying' fashion trends and styles. Whether it is dressing up for going out, work, school, parties and even our own weddings, I have to say we've made it work. But there is one event, that I still find difficult today... GRADUATION! Alhamdulilah I am graduating in less then 2 weeks with my Masters and even though it is my 3rd graduation ceremony, it is still so difficult to come up with an outfit! It's just honestly so hard to work with that cap and gown. Usually I get inspiration from runways and celebrities since modesty is in lately but with graduation everyone just wears a short dress or skirt. Anyways as I struggle to make my own outfit, I am going to try to help everyone else too. There are many ways of doing this but these are the following tips that I think will help us look our best!

Tip # 1: Pick a Neutral Hijab Color

First thing first, Hijab! When choosing your outfit first look at the color of your gown. If you have black (like me) consider yourself super lucky. We all love black and it gives you a lot more options with your outfit if you have a black gown. If you don't, it's okay! We'll make it work. Anyways, for hijab I suggest choosing a neutral color such as black, white, nude or taupe. If you have a colored gown, I would say go with black! Some subtle floral prints may work, but the safe choice is definitely black. If you do have black like me, you can definitely take more risks with different colored hijabs but still keep it simple. I made the mistake of wearing a red hijab on my golden gown in high school...and let's just say my nickname was McDonald for a while!

Tip # 2: Don't Volumize your Hijab

I know we all love this trend, believe me I do too. But graduation is not the place to do it. The hat is already difficult as it is to wear and it just does not look good with a huge bun. I usually wear a volumizer scrunchie but definitely wont be for graduation. When putting on the cap on your hijab, make sure the front of it isn't resting on your forehead but more tilted back. I also suggest wearing an underpiece so your hijab is not constantly moving around. And lastly, utilize those hijab straight pins to keep your hat in place!

Tip # 3: Simplicity over Flash

Keep it simple! The key to a graduation outfit is simplicity. This isn't a wedding or your actual graduation party. It is a semi formal event to celebrate your degree! Also, remember you'll have your gown on most of the time anyway. I would say stick with light colors like pastels, neutrals and simple prints like florals and stripes. Also when picking an outfit, keep the hijab tips in mind. Although an outfit may look cute with a red hijab but it definitely won't if your gown is some funky color. Keep your hijab in mind! If you do decide to go with a floral hijab, make sure the outfit consists of only neutrals. Don't have too much going on. The gown sometimes has many colors on it and you'll just end up looking like a rainbow.

Tip # 4: Dress Light

Make sure to dress light. Don't wear too many layers. I would suggest just wearing one underneath. I know we love cardigans and blazers and all but for your top get a full sleeves blouse, shirt or dress. Even if it is inside, it can get pretty hot in these gowns. For bottoms, I would suggest skinny's or loose pants. The gown already is a lot of fabric and you don't want a dress or skirt making it more complicated. Whenever I wear a dress or skirt, I always trip going up the stairs. That is something you want to AVOID during graduation. So dress light with minimal fabric as possible.

Tip # 5: Wear Comfortable Shoes

Do NOT wear super high heels. I know heels look better so as an alternative I suggest wedges or short heels so you are comfortable but still look cute. My absolute fear is tripping while walking to or up to the stage while getting my degree. I'm clumsy as it is, I don't need something else making me trip. If your graduation is outside make sure to wear wedges, platform heels or even flats. Otherwise you'll constantly be getting stuck in the grass!

Here are some outfit inspirations from myself and others :)

Look 1

Pants: Forever 21 // Top: Forever 21 // Sandals: Forever 21 // Necklace: H&M

Look 2

Dress: Dor L' Dor // Necklace: Forever 21 // Scarf: Ebay

Look 3

Pants: H&M // Sweater&Shoes: Forever 21 // Scarf&Necklace: Zara // Bag: Aldo

I hope that helps. I'm still trying to decide what I want to wear but will be a combination of the above picture. If you have other requests for what to wear at a specific event, comment below!

with love,

sania :)

Dress: Urban Outfitters // Shirt, Tights, Sandals: Forever 21

I am loving these ethnic prints everywhere! From paisley and floral mixtures, to traditional native american prints and eastern inspired pieces. I recently found this amazing maxi dress online at Urban Outfitters. I couldn't resist mainly because it was on sale for $19.99 and was originally $99.99!! How could I say no? I'm digging slits in dresses and skirts, of course not too high but makes great room for comfort. I wore it to the beach all day and it is the perfect lightweight material for those hot summer days. Urban Outfitters is notorious for these ethnic type prints but can sometimes be steep in their prices. That's why, I always wait for their sales. They have amazing online sales and usually have most sizes too. I also purchased a blue/green paisley mixture jumpsuit as well. Since these prints are so loud, everything else should remain neutral. These prints are usually short term trends so I don't like to spend too much on them. They can found on maxi dresses, jumpsuits, trousers, tops, sweaters, and even on clutches. I personally don't wear them as hijabs as they are a little too wild for me but I've seen some pull it off well. Here are some of my other looks with ethnic prints :)

Ethnic Top: Love Culture // Sandals: Forever 21

Ethnic Jumpsuit: Urban Outfitters // Cardigan: H&M // Sandals: Forever 21

Here are some celebs wearing ethnic inspired looks.

I am in love with how these bloggers styled these ethnic bottoms.  

Hope your inspired to get your own ethnic piece now :)

Similar pieces:

Forever 21: Tribal Dress, Pants, Cardigan

H&M: Blouse

Urban Outfitters: Harem Pants, Jumpsuit 

Zara: Harem Pants, Blouse

with love,

sania

My new obsession! If I can find palazzo pants in different colors, prints and designs--I will buy them. Okay maybe not all of them, but I will at least try them on. They're just so funky and flattering. The best part is that they're so Hijab friendly, especially for this hot weather. Maxi dresses are fun and all but I've been trying to find some alternatives for the summer time. I have a few pairs and here are some ways I've worn them. 

Beach Ready

Pants: Forever 21 // Sleeveless Button-up: Cotton On

I bought these floral ones almost a year and half ago from Forever 21. I was surprised that they fit my waist my perfectly but were still loose fitting on my legs. Even though I have a small top frame, my lower half is a bit bigger so its difficult to find pants that fit on both my waist and thighs. I probably would have a lot more palazzo pants if I didn't have this issue. These pants were a little tight on my rear so I decided to pair it with a sleeveless button up from cotton on and a full sleeves shirt underneath. Since the pants are such a crazy print, I topped it off with a plain nude scarf. 

Soft Leather

Pants: Love Culture // Jacket: Forever 21 // Hijab: H&M

These are a recent purchase from Love Culture. It's an interesting hybrid of Forever 21 and Joyce Leslie. Some things may be a little out there, but if you look hard you can definitely find some unique and simple pieces like these pants. I was ecstatic when I found these partly because they fit at the waist and were actually loose on not just my legs but my rear too...Its like a hijabi's dream! I wore it with an edgy but structured leather jacket to balance the look. These are definitely more versatile then the floral ones. If you're going to purchase some, I would suggest either this nude or obviously, black. 

Night Out

Pants: Boutique // Blouse & Clutch: Forever 21

It may look like a pleated skirt, but its not. These are also an older purchase from a small boutique in Red Bank. Definitely for more of a fancier look. I wore this to my husbands graduation banquet. I kept it real simple with a white button up and taupe Hijab with a pop of this beautiful beaded clutch.

I definitely recommend getting a pair for summer, I can feel it is going to be a hot one! They're really airy and comfortable at the same time. To top it off, they give a modest yet elegant vibe.

Similar Ones!

 Striped 1, Printed, Black or Cream, Striped 2, Zara

with love,

sania 

Salaam everyone!! I know it's been quite a while. I was consumed with finals but alhamdulilah am now free for the summer and will be posting a lot more, yay! So since everyone loved the One Skirt, 5 Looks post I figure I make it a series. In this one I'll be using a chambray/jean shirt. These are perfect for spring/summer. They can be found in different shades, lengths, and even now with prints like polka dot and ombre. They're super easy to pair with really anything and definitely a basic to have in your closet!  

1) Chilly Nights

Chambray Shirt/Hijab: Forever 21 // Cardi: Blue Sky Boutique //  Pants: H&M 

This outfit is a little older but can be easily worn in spring as well. The boots can be replaced with loafers or even ballet flats. Even though its spring, it's still a little chilly especially during the night. A chambray shirt is a perfect layering piece and here I used it as a buffer between the mixing of the two prints. 

2)  Casually Comfy

Maxi Dress & Chambray Shirt: Forever 21 // Hijab: Express

Here I paired it with a bright orange maxi and cheetah hijab. It can be worn without the belt for more of a relaxed feel. I definitely would wear this out on a casual day. You can even open the buttons and wear it to the beach. Chambray shirts are neutral pieces that can be paired with so much!

3) Effortlessly Simple

Chambray Shirt, Skinny Pants, Headband: Forever 21 // Sandals: Target

My favorite combination, as you'll see in the next outfits, is chambray shirt, black and cognac accessories. Here I wore all black with a chambray shirt and cognac colored sandals from target with a floral headband. I wore this to class and would probably wear it on an errand day!

4) Minimalist

Maxi Skirt, Neon Bag: H&M // Chambray Shirt: Forever 21

Like I said, I love this combination! I wore a nude hijab (I've been really trying to avoid black hijab lately!) and added a pop of color with this neon bag from H&M! I wore this to my friend's graduation yesterday. I also kept the jewelry simple with a gold watch and some gold rings. 

5) Floral Fun

Harem Pants: Cotton On // Chambray Shirt, Scarf: Forever 21 // Loaders: Aldo

Last, but not least, my favorite: harem pants! They are back this season and they are everywhere!! For now, I've only bought black ones since they're so easy to wear with everything but definitely will be getting some more prints and colors. I love all these loose trends (palazzo pants, maxi skirts) cause they're so perfect for modest clothing. My main problem is the hip area so even in some pants that have a loose fit are tight on me. Harem pants are just the perfect solution. Again I paired with a chambray shirt and a simple floral hijab.

Since a chambray top is more of a casual piece, all of the looks are more casual and day time. It can be dressed up with a statement necklace and a pleated maxi skirt, but still more of a day look. I definitely recommend getting one or two for your closet ;)

Forever 21: Dark Shirt, Light Wash, Ombre Shirt, Studded Shirt
Urban Outfitters: Light Wash

with love,

sania 

This is definitely long overdue! About a month ago I took an amazing trip to San Diego, California. My family was going on a family vacation and coincidentally went around the same time as the Fashion Fighting Famine Show! Here some of the places I went and all the outfits I wore:

San Diego
This was my favorite city! The views, the weather, the people--absolutely everything was beautiful! There was a certain warm breeze in the air that I've never felt anywhere else. I'm wearing the same outfit in few of the pictures because we just took one day and went to all the scenic views in San Diego all in one day.
Mt. Soledad:

La Jolla Cove:

 

Balboa Park:

Sunset Cliffs

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset at sunset cliffs! It was a little cloudy but we caught a quick glimpse of it before it set. 

Treasure Island, Laguna Beach:
Right before we went to the airport on our last day, we visited this beautiful beach. This was the most breathtaking beach I have ever been too. It was so clean, the people were so friendly and it was not crowded at all. We even saw a wedding take place on the rocks along with a photo shoot for a girl's Quincenera.

Los Angeles:
We visited LA for a day. It was fun visiting and can definitely take it off my bucket list but don't really plan on going there again. It was pretty crowded, hot and a lot of traffic. Nonetheless, we had a good time. We first went to Universal Studios and also went to go see the Hollywood Sign. 

 

Fashion Fighting Famine:

Last, but not least. I was so excited to have attended and been a part of Fashion Fighting Famine Show! It was so nice being surrounded by like minded Muslim Women who want to maintain a balance between fashion and faith. I bought a beautiful floral dress from Inayah Boutique which I will be featuring very soon! They had an amazing bazaar with the items from the fashion show and from some other designers as well. All the pieces were modest yet fashionable as well. My favorite was a black jumpsuit by Abayah Addict that had spiked shoulders (It is not on their website but available to email by order!) Check out all the other designer on the Fashion Fighting Famine website and the runway pictures as well! It was lovely meeting Yuna and other fashion/makeup bloggers such as Winnie Detwa, YaztheSpaz, Nura, Hani Hulu and many more! 

  

  

 

                          Photo credit: Hani Hulu

Lastly, my favorite picture of all!

Featuring: Rayan Designers, Yaz the Spaz, Sana Rashid, Winnie Detwa, Owner of Nisaa Boutique, Hani Hulu and some other fabulous girls I met!!

with love,

sania