Dry skin from wudu?

We all have to make wudu or ablution before we pray or else our prayers will not be accepted. Some of you are lucky to have skin that bounces back to its normal state and for some of you it might help to have that extra water on your oily skin, but  others have to deal with the dry/ashy skin like me. I remember when I would always break my wudu and I would have to do it again and again before prayer and I could tell it took a tole on my skin. By all means I am not saying it is bad to make ablution. I mean I can go on without anything on my skin, but I prefer to keep my skin somewhat healthy for my own sake. So I put together some of different moisturizers for different skin. If some of you do not know your skin type wash your face until it is clean and pad it down. If you face feels tight and dry then you have Dry Skin, if it feels normal and its not dry or has oil than your skin is Normal Skin, if your skin is dry in some areas and oily on other areas than your skin is Combination Skin and if you skin feels like you have to wash it more or it has shine or oil than your skin is Oily Skin.
There are many different moisturizers for you skin type and if these don't work, don't worry! You can get free samples at your Sephora store or other places that have samples: Macys, Bloomigtons or Nordstrom.
Go to your drug store and try those and if it doesn't work pass it on. Other stores you can return them or online.
Remember to think of what your skin needs and what chemicals in the moisturizers help your skin. This also goes for cleansers and toners or exfoliaters. 

So here are some moisturizers that I found:

Sephora instant moisturizer

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Clinique moisture surge intense moisture

Neutrogena healthy defense daily moisturizer

Shop Hijabs!

 Where can I get some hijabs from?

 That is one of the most usually asked questions I get. Hijabs, where do I start! They are so many different kinds of hijabs; long, short, square, pashmina, sparkly, embedded, silk and way more.
I am personally am lucky because of the area I live there are many local stores that sell scarfs. If you have any Somali, Arabic or Muslim clothing stores near you they should have some in stock!
So go! Run! Hurry before they sell out! BUT WAIT!
Finish reading first :)
If you are more in an area where they're not that many stores that sell hijabs you can actually find them at stores like H&M or Forever21. They maybe aren't the best, but its a start.
I have seen numerous of randoms scarves at malls that you can buy that are actually cute, but they aren't legit.
You might have a hard time wrapping them or pinning them and they come in odd shapes too...
Other times they might have been a bargain and you might want to wear it the whole week!
(Hey! It was only one time...!)
And if you just don't have many places to go, you can buy it from the Internet! Yay! I have had many bad experiences, but yay!
Some of my favorite places to buy scarves are:

http://www.starscarves.com/

http://www.pearl-daisy.com/

http://www.hijabonlinestore.com/

http://www.velascarves.com

Those are just some stores that I usually check out all the time, but you can find many other hijabs online. Make sure you check it out first. You don't want your money disappearing like mine did!

Back Biting?

I have found that this is a re-occurring matter that somewhat destroys out sisterhood. I have definitely seen this first hand and I have been a part of it, sadly. Not only does this hurt the person your talking about, but the worst part is, your actually hurting yourself worse.
I am really not sure why people make up things about other people. One thing that specifically comes into mind is jealousy. Why do we have to be jealous of each other. Why can't we admire each other.
No matter how mean or rude that person is, don't talk dirty things about them. It's like giving your good deeds to them and taking bad ones.
If we only knew that some of you would have stopped right?  Islam is the religion of peace and love, not hate. It is actually one of the most major sins you could do.

Stated in the Quran:

O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (49: 12) 

It might slip out or it might just come out of anger, either way hold back your tongue, because shaitan wants us to use our tongues to create conflict and hatred.
If you use the person as an excuse because they might be mean or show off or do numerous of things just remember what it will cost you to say what you want to say.


Allah says, “ You considered it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.” (An-Noor 24: 15)

My Muslim sisters, we need to stick to one another and help each other. Make the best-est of friends because you might not know when you need them. No one likes a person who is mean and it shows other people what your character is about.
Its as simple as giving compliments, helping one another, learning from each other and much more. I know, I know you heard this many times from other people, but you don't even realize how great of a person you'll feel and how much it'll pay off! And this is coming from a 17 year old! 

Random Ramblings 3/3/11

Ahhh...don't you just feel at peace when you finish praying your salah and reading a few hadith and quran?
Well I feel so good right now! Its an easy remedy for stress or things going on in your life. You just need that reminder of why your here and what your supposed to do. What your goals are in this life.
Oh and I totally cleaned out my room, it was really cluttered and I just couldn't breathe! Literally!
Do me a favor, if you don't have anything to do then try cleaning out your room or closet instead of watching t.v.
It won't take that long! Trust me. You'll reward yourself afterward.
Take some deep breaths after that and....drink something hot, that always seems to work and you'll look cool :)
So enough about stress remedies I started to read a book called "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hooseine (I think that's is how you spell his last name), but anyways so far so good! I have heard a lot of good reviews about it and my librarian said 'Its a really good book' so I am sure I won't have any disappointments.
I will definitely get back to you on it when I finish.
 Officially 13 days until Spring Break! I think that is the only motivation that I have to make it through school (until spring break)

Hence, the picture up there is for my friend Khayrto its her birthday. Other birthday shout outs are Nawal, Happy Birthday girlies.

Hijab Scarf Tips

So maybe your beginning to wear the hijab or maybe you have been wearing it practically your whole life, but sometimes we all have the same problem: discomfort.
I remember when I started of wearing my hijab so tight that I would end up getting headaches and my eyes hurt and the hijab was rubbing on my neck and it made some dark lines on my neck.
It really hurt and I was somewhat embarrassed about how my neck looked like.
So then I learned a few tricks or two to help me with that situation and I'll share it with you!

I have bad headaches when I wear my hijab, what should I do?

Well, I recommend that you should try washing and combing your hair before you put it on or when you take it off. It really does help a lot to make room for your hijab to not be so tight. Then try not to tie the hijab tight because we all need oxygen in our heads and you end up getting headaches because of that. When you wear the more thick or layered hijab, do not tie it to tight or you might want to start eating an aspirin or two.

Why do I get dark/red looking scars on my neck?

Its because you're tying you hijab to tight and you keep fixing it and that is what happens when you repeat that action. I recommend not to tie you hijab so tight and try pinning it loosely on the top or side of your head, that way you won't pull, tug or fix it all day. 

I feel so hot in my hijab, like I have no air, why is that?

It is simply because you either are wearing a bigger thicker hijab and you are not getting air or its wrapped around to much or its tight. When you have a scarf tie it around once or twice, not three times, it'll discomfort you or more. If this problem occurs to you very often or you live in a more warmer area, then get a thinner scarf or try some styles that are more loose and breezy.

So there you go. Those are the most asked questions about hijab problems. You just simply need to know these words: Thinner, looser then pin!
If you like layering by all means layer, but for some of my sisters out there that have these common problems, try my tips and you'll feel it immediately!

*Also remedies I try before taking any pills are drinking water, get a little air and exercise.   

How to wrap a hijab: Basics

Many of you might already know how to wrap a hijab since you're already wearing one. Many of you might be starting to wear the hijab and you might be confused on how to wear it. I know you might have some friends who are already it and that is a good source to get information from, but if you don't have any muslim girlfriends available I can help you get started off with the basics of wrapping the hijab. As you might see in some of my pictures I don't like doing all the fancy wrappings simply because I really don't have time for it, but when I do I go to the extreme! Alright lets get started:

1) Take the hijab (preferably a long rectangle hijab, I can show you how to wrap a square hijab later) and place the hijab on your head with one side noticeably longer than the other. It depends on your choice what side you might want longer. I like mine to be longer on the right side since I wrap mine to the left side.

2) Take the longer side of the hijab and wrap it around your head while holding the shorter side of the hijab.

3) Once you have the hijab wrapped on you head you can either tuck it in your chin or pin or wrap it around one more time if its long enough and pin it with a hijab needle.


If my explanation didn't help you, there's a whole lot of hijab tutorials on the internet and Youtube.
My favorites would have to be:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Amenakin

http://www.youtube.com/user/YazTheSpaz89

And many more that I forgot! Hopefully I'll do some more tutorials myself including pictures or videos. As long as you have imagination you can wrap it any way you want. I will post some of my favorite place to shop for hijabs later.

Can you be fashionable and a muslim?

Of course you can! No one said that you have to take away your fashion sense! Yeah, you might have to tweak it here and there, but It is still a beautiful and modest fashion sense.
I personally love the long dresses with some jeans underneath. Its cute and it covers the right places. If really like wearing tank tops or long dresses simply take a long sleeve undershirt and wear it under and put some jeans or pants underneath. If you want to wear jeans go ahead!, but just make sure it isn't to tight and or you can cover it.
Some common questions are 'Do I have to cover my arms?' Well, yes you have to cover your arms all the way to the elbows. I know those hot summer days you'll want to show you arms, but you'll be fine!
I love to wear summer dresses and cardigans during hot summer days and to spice it up ad a belt and some bracelets! It'll keep you cool during those days. Be sure to cover your neck though. Trust me I have had many bad experiences with that.
You can never go wrong with a long cardigan. Its always my go to piece of clothing...other than my hijab!
Ok, not funny.
So you can absolutely be fashionable and make a statement with your clothing. Be sure to be modest and magnificent! ( I tried to do the whole 'm' thing, but I guess...never mind)