Books I've read recently...
1. The Qur'an (English translation, of course)
2.
3.
4.
Songs or albums I listen to all the time...
1. "Secret Codes and Battleships" Darren Hayes
2. "Vices and Virtues" Panic! At The Disco
3. "Thank You, Allah" Maher Zain
4. "The Remedy" Native Deen
5. "Not Afraid To Stand Alone" Native Deen
6. Anything by Josh Groban :)
7. Anything by Selena
8. Anything by David Bowie
I love...
1. ALLAH
2. my family
3. my cats!
4. my friends
5. Books!
6. food of most types -- leave out the fish/seafood, please.
7. a good night's sleep : )
Things I've learned this year...
1. More patience, lol.
2. How to readjust to life in the US post-deployment.
3. How wonderful my family and friends are.
4. Allah is always there for me!
5. That I eat too much bad food. :/
6. And it makes me gain weight. :((((
7. That I am a good person, despite my flaws, and I'd want to be friends with me!
New recipes I want to try and make...
Vegan neatballs with spaghetti
Vegetarian "chik'n" shawarma
Pizza crust that isn't all soggy and yuck (from scratch)
Favorite online hangouts...
1. Blogs
2. Facebook
3. Amazon
4. Yahoo
5. eBay
Projects I need to work on...
1. cleaning house
2. working more :/
3. organize my books
Monday, November 7, 2011
Islamic quizzy survey thingy. : P
1) Are you a convert or born Muslim? How about your parents?
I'm a convert (converted in April 2011, alhamdilullah). My mom is a practicing Christian, my dad is not a practicing Christian, but practicing Pentecostal -- these are two separate things in my family. If you knew them, you'd understand why. X/
2) What's your ethnicity and how did it relate to how you were raised?
I'm white, lol. Irish or Scottish and German on paternal side, I think, and Southern of English descent on the maternal side. :)
3) Where are you from, and if not the Middle East, have you been there? For how long and why?
I'm from the South in the US. If being deployed in Afghanistan counts, then yes, I've been to the Middle East.
4) What's your favorite Arab/Middle Eastern dish?
Hummus and pita bread, and chicken shawarma is a huge favorite.
5) What's the most interesting or funny Islam/Arab related saying you use day to day?
I don't really use anything on a daily basis except perhaps for "salam aleikum".
6) What's the most attractive and unattractive thing you find toward a Muslim or Arab man/woman?
I like open-minded people who respect others' free will and individuality. I loathe people who expect me to act like some wilting flower just because I'm Muslim. I have a big mouth, plenty of opinions, and don't appreciate control freaks.
7) What's the thing you love most about Islam? What do you dislike the most?
I love the Qur'an and the new understanding it has given me of Allah. It answered so many questions for me that the Bible just didn't. I don't like the hadith, the way some people put Prophet Muhammad on a pedestal and nearly worship him, or the insistence in reciting the Qur'an in Arabic instead of reading it in your native language.
8) What's the most interesting/embarrassing/funny thing in your house that's related to Islam or Arab culture, excluding the Quran?
Ummm... I have two shelves of books about Islam and the Qur'an, and I have a little wall hanging with the shahada/kalima -- wish I had one that just said "La illaha il Allah" and left off the rest.
9) Do you speak Arabic? If you do, then say something.
Only the most basic stuff: the salams, inshaAllah, mashAllah.
10) Name of all the Islamic Prophets you can remember at the top of your head. No Cheating!!
Adam, Jesus/Isa, Abraham, Noah, Muhammad, Lot, Ishmael (was he a prophet?).... Wow, I can't think of any more! I fail, lol!
Feel free to copy and fill out yourself!
I'm a convert (converted in April 2011, alhamdilullah). My mom is a practicing Christian, my dad is not a practicing Christian, but practicing Pentecostal -- these are two separate things in my family. If you knew them, you'd understand why. X/
2) What's your ethnicity and how did it relate to how you were raised?
I'm white, lol. Irish or Scottish and German on paternal side, I think, and Southern of English descent on the maternal side. :)
3) Where are you from, and if not the Middle East, have you been there? For how long and why?
I'm from the South in the US. If being deployed in Afghanistan counts, then yes, I've been to the Middle East.
4) What's your favorite Arab/Middle Eastern dish?
Hummus and pita bread, and chicken shawarma is a huge favorite.
5) What's the most interesting or funny Islam/Arab related saying you use day to day?
I don't really use anything on a daily basis except perhaps for "salam aleikum".
6) What's the most attractive and unattractive thing you find toward a Muslim or Arab man/woman?
I like open-minded people who respect others' free will and individuality. I loathe people who expect me to act like some wilting flower just because I'm Muslim. I have a big mouth, plenty of opinions, and don't appreciate control freaks.
7) What's the thing you love most about Islam? What do you dislike the most?
I love the Qur'an and the new understanding it has given me of Allah. It answered so many questions for me that the Bible just didn't. I don't like the hadith, the way some people put Prophet Muhammad on a pedestal and nearly worship him, or the insistence in reciting the Qur'an in Arabic instead of reading it in your native language.
8) What's the most interesting/embarrassing/funny thing in your house that's related to Islam or Arab culture, excluding the Quran?
Ummm... I have two shelves of books about Islam and the Qur'an, and I have a little wall hanging with the shahada/kalima -- wish I had one that just said "La illaha il Allah" and left off the rest.
9) Do you speak Arabic? If you do, then say something.
Only the most basic stuff: the salams, inshaAllah, mashAllah.
10) Name of all the Islamic Prophets you can remember at the top of your head. No Cheating!!
Adam, Jesus/Isa, Abraham, Noah, Muhammad, Lot, Ishmael (was he a prophet?).... Wow, I can't think of any more! I fail, lol!
Feel free to copy and fill out yourself!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Love and diversity.
Salam aleikum, everyone. Hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend.
I was just thinking earlier today about how awesome the diversity of religion and people are. To paraphrase the words of a favorite song of mine, the idea that God "might love you, but I'm His favorite of all" just doesn't do Him justice. I can't imagine the extent of His love, mercy, and forgiveness for all of us who love Him and strive to obey Him, whether we're Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, or whatever.
I think we need to give God more credit than that. But we'll all see Him one day. If He's not the generous, forgiving, loving God that I believe in, then I don't want to serve Him. If He is, then our faith is totally justified, whatever form it may come in.
Peace.
I was just thinking earlier today about how awesome the diversity of religion and people are. To paraphrase the words of a favorite song of mine, the idea that God "might love you, but I'm His favorite of all" just doesn't do Him justice. I can't imagine the extent of His love, mercy, and forgiveness for all of us who love Him and strive to obey Him, whether we're Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, or whatever.
I think we need to give God more credit than that. But we'll all see Him one day. If He's not the generous, forgiving, loving God that I believe in, then I don't want to serve Him. If He is, then our faith is totally justified, whatever form it may come in.
Peace.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Ramadan.
A belated Ramadan mabrook (or kareem, if you prefer) and assalam aleikum, everyone.
I made it home safely, alhamdilullah. I'm enjoying a quiet life of staying home with my cats and working at my friend's book store. I have to look for a "real" job soon.
Ramadan started four days ago. I nearly made the first day's fasting (had just 10 minutes to go), but was quite ill after working an 8 hour shift and not eating or drinking all day. Cold sweats, severe headache, the works. It actually took me an additional 30 minutes before I could eat. Since then, I've only been fasting half days (from 5:30 am until between 12:30-1:00 PM (since I've been going to work at 1 and getting off at 7). I think that, if I slowly lengthen the amount of time I fast, by the last week of Ramadan I should be able to fast all day (without the unpleasant side effects, inshallah).
I think Allah (SWT) knows that I do want to fast the whole day but that I'm not at the point where I can do it yet without making myself ill.
Did any of you have to do it segments at first?
I made it home safely, alhamdilullah. I'm enjoying a quiet life of staying home with my cats and working at my friend's book store. I have to look for a "real" job soon.
Ramadan started four days ago. I nearly made the first day's fasting (had just 10 minutes to go), but was quite ill after working an 8 hour shift and not eating or drinking all day. Cold sweats, severe headache, the works. It actually took me an additional 30 minutes before I could eat. Since then, I've only been fasting half days (from 5:30 am until between 12:30-1:00 PM (since I've been going to work at 1 and getting off at 7). I think that, if I slowly lengthen the amount of time I fast, by the last week of Ramadan I should be able to fast all day (without the unpleasant side effects, inshallah).
I think Allah (SWT) knows that I do want to fast the whole day but that I'm not at the point where I can do it yet without making myself ill.
Did any of you have to do it segments at first?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Fashion LOVE.
Now, I'm not much of a girly-girl. I hate shopping for clothes with a passion, especially in the last couple of years, since I put on -- it hurts to type this -- 50 lbs. But I found this tunic and... I. Love. It.
It's the Summer Goddess tunic from World Market. They cost $19.99 and a L/XL quite comfortably and loosely fits an American size 14/16. It may even work for a woman who wears an 18.
This is the lightest, airiest, most comfortable shirt I've ever worn. If you don't mind the 3/4 sleeves, it works quite well with hijab and jeans. The fabric is surprisingly thin, but it's also opaque -- no showing more than you want to show. : )
I have two -- one has a blue and green floral motif, the other is blue/light purple -- or pink, I can't decide -- and white. They're both gorgeous. Sorry I couldn't find photos online... I'll post them when I can.
Best of all? When it gets worn out I'm going to rip out the seams and use it as a pattern to make my own tunics. The only difference is that I'll make the sleeves a little longer.
It's the Summer Goddess tunic from World Market. They cost $19.99 and a L/XL quite comfortably and loosely fits an American size 14/16. It may even work for a woman who wears an 18.
This is the lightest, airiest, most comfortable shirt I've ever worn. If you don't mind the 3/4 sleeves, it works quite well with hijab and jeans. The fabric is surprisingly thin, but it's also opaque -- no showing more than you want to show. : )
I have two -- one has a blue and green floral motif, the other is blue/light purple -- or pink, I can't decide -- and white. They're both gorgeous. Sorry I couldn't find photos online... I'll post them when I can.
Best of all? When it gets worn out I'm going to rip out the seams and use it as a pattern to make my own tunics. The only difference is that I'll make the sleeves a little longer.
Friday, June 10, 2011
It won't be long....
Assalamu aleikum, everyone! ^_^ I hope you're all well and that God is blessing each and every one of you in your lives.
I'm getting excited about going home VERY soon. I can't say when... but it's soon. LOL I went shopping yesterday and bought 4 scarves (light pink, bright pink, light purple, and blue), so I'll have some hijabs to wear when I get back. I'll have to go shopping, though.
Ramadan is coming up! Who else is excited?
I'm getting excited about going home VERY soon. I can't say when... but it's soon. LOL I went shopping yesterday and bought 4 scarves (light pink, bright pink, light purple, and blue), so I'll have some hijabs to wear when I get back. I'll have to go shopping, though.
Ramadan is coming up! Who else is excited?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A little of this, a little of that...
Assalamu aleikum, everyone!
I'm in the process of getting ready to go home right now. With any luck, God willing, I will be in the US again in a few days. My family is excited about it, and so am I. My cats are thrilled too, of course. : P
Just finished doing laundry so I have clean clothes for tomorrow. Still mildly annoyed at the person who took 2 of my tan t-shirts from my laundry, reducing me to 4 t-shirts.
I've read the first 7 books of the Southern Vampire mysteries by Charlaine Harris this week. I can't get myself to call them the "True Blood" books because, well... the books predated the show by many years. And I can't call them the "Sookie Stackhouse" books because, sorry, but I think her name is ridiculous. Yes, I know that Southerners, particularly rural ones, come up with some odd names, but I can't read that without thinking "WEIRD!!!!" every time. At least the character isn't hopping in the sack with every gorgeous man in the world madly in love with her for no good reason and developing a new power every book. Plot, you are refreshing indeed. : )
And I'm packing and filling out inventory sheets for each duffle bag. It's a lot of work, but if anything ends up missing out of all this over-priced stuff (95% of which I never even used), I won't have to pay for it. :D
And life goes on....
I'm in the process of getting ready to go home right now. With any luck, God willing, I will be in the US again in a few days. My family is excited about it, and so am I. My cats are thrilled too, of course. : P
Just finished doing laundry so I have clean clothes for tomorrow. Still mildly annoyed at the person who took 2 of my tan t-shirts from my laundry, reducing me to 4 t-shirts.
I've read the first 7 books of the Southern Vampire mysteries by Charlaine Harris this week. I can't get myself to call them the "True Blood" books because, well... the books predated the show by many years. And I can't call them the "Sookie Stackhouse" books because, sorry, but I think her name is ridiculous. Yes, I know that Southerners, particularly rural ones, come up with some odd names, but I can't read that without thinking "WEIRD!!!!" every time. At least the character isn't hopping in the sack with every gorgeous man in the world madly in love with her for no good reason and developing a new power every book. Plot, you are refreshing indeed. : )
And I'm packing and filling out inventory sheets for each duffle bag. It's a lot of work, but if anything ends up missing out of all this over-priced stuff (95% of which I never even used), I won't have to pay for it. :D
And life goes on....
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