tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79668681155993355792024-02-02T04:52:50.222-08:00A Traveller's Treasurebox Paying homage to life's little treasuresThe Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-73441414099325104702018-05-15T04:29:00.000-07:002018-05-22T11:27:17.276-07:00Localtrotting: Dark Sugars<div style="text-align: center;">
As I am no longer a London girl and instead situated in a beautiful market town in the East Midlands where the abundance of scenic nature marks the shortage of desserts places (holding back tears), I couldn’t help but reminiscence over one of the BEST hot chocolates I have ever had. This is the stuff of legends – pure indulgent liquid cocoa. What you envision the chocolate fountain in Willy Wonka’s factory tasting of!</div>
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Behold, I present to you <a href="https://www.darksugars.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dark Sugars</a> of Brick Lane.</div>
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This is one of those places that I’ve been meaning to go to in the longest time ever, but never quite got the chance. While the hubby could down hot chocolate pretty much every single day, I on the other hand really have to be in the mood for a hot beverage and to be entirely honest, it never is my go-to when I’m on the hunt for a delicious treat. Alas, how things change when the right hot chocolate comes into your life!</div>
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Last winter seemed the perfect time to sample Dark Sugars while the husband and I were on one of our many food excursions in East London. Since it was a bitterly cold evening and wanting to end the meal on a sweet note, we decided to take the plunge and shell out £5.50 for a cup of hazelnut praline hot chocolate to share – words of advice: this is not the type of hot chocolate that you let anyone near, let alone share.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjAiDgQm5saL5EWhwgD0-imokalgmgHSTyF8ZCBCrmVPztAjpbaKxP4ObM7Z8b1nOsBAR5NplkdusPhChiSYOtJOlvE9wzE9snz8ODZOA1GLBCN5HHiUD3YJftJ4XaUDROPE7LUUHab4Q/s1600/20171214_210346+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjAiDgQm5saL5EWhwgD0-imokalgmgHSTyF8ZCBCrmVPztAjpbaKxP4ObM7Z8b1nOsBAR5NplkdusPhChiSYOtJOlvE9wzE9snz8ODZOA1GLBCN5HHiUD3YJftJ4XaUDROPE7LUUHab4Q/s640/20171214_210346+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What really makes this hot chocolate is the crowning glory of chocolate shards that are sliced by hand and piled into the cup of molten chocolate. But advance with caution, as this influx of chocolate splinters causes the hot chocolate to erupt slightly and trickle over the cup.</div>
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It takes a moment to strategise as to how exactly it should be drunk. Realising that if I didn’t take my chance, the hot chocolate would all end up in the belly of my beloved husband, I threw caution to the wind and took a small sip, ignoring the sticky trail making its way down my hand. No words can express the sensation of liquid cocoa running down your throat other than utter pure, indulgence!<br />
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There was nothing powdery, artificial or sickly about the drink, and while the flavour of hazelnut and praline was subtle, the star of the show is definitely the chocolate – good quality Ghanaian chocolate. </div>
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Unfortunately, I do not have a single photo of this little cup of luxury, so you’ll just have to use the power of your imagination (and a little assistance from <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dark+sugars+hot+chocolate&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicmNuXzofbAhXLWsAKHQFlC7EQ_AUICigB&biw=1396&bih=690" target="_blank">Google</a>) to visualise.</div>
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I definitely recommend visiting the shop if you're ever in the area. The chocolates that are displayed are really breathtaking and far too pretty to eat, but certainly Instagram worthy! </div>
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Even five months later, the mere mention of Dark Sugars brings a besotted smile to our faces, and if anyone didn’t know any better, they would have thought me and hubby we were reminiscing about our first few meetings or our wedding day – nope, it’s hot chocolate from Dark Sugars!!</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-6768375005616312722018-03-01T07:28:00.000-08:002018-03-01T07:31:52.405-08:00Contemplations: Seeking My Worth From Others<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My recent article for <a href="https://www.amaliah.com/post/40314/seeking-worth-others" target="_blank">Amaliah</a></i></div>
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<b>How many times does the approval of others make you feel good about yourself?</b></div>
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I wouldn’t have to think twice before responding with a defiant “No way!”, but, deep down I know well and truly that a well-placed compliment puts a spring in my step. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the appreciation, admiration and confirmation from those around me are often what drives me. When I’m without this, I feel my self-worth slowly slipping away from between my fingers, leaving me abandoned in my own cave of self-loathing.</div>
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Too many times I’ve felt let down by those around me – under appreciated and undervalued, resulting in a deep-rooted bitterness. But are the people around me really to blame? Sure, our Deen encourages us to value other people’s feeling so much so that showing gratitude to those around us is an extension of showing gratitude to Allah SWT.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">“He has not thanked Allah who has not thanked people.” (Hadith, Abu Dawud 4811)</span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://www.amaliah.com/post/40314/seeking-worth-others" target="_blank">Amaliah</a></td></tr>
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We all crave some sort of acceptance – and it’s comforting knowing that we fit in somewhere – be it with a group of friends, work colleagues or even in-laws after marriage. Being brought up in a home surrounded by love and acceptance, I had become accustomed to an environment where thanks and appreciation were engraved into the walls and floors.</div>
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However, moving into an extended household after marriage really tested my own perception of self-worth, which led to feelings of being undervalued due to the lack of appreciation and acceptance from those around me. I had entered into a delusion that somehow, I thought I would be treated as every other family member where my day-to-day life, household contributions and personal achievements would be acknowledged and celebrated. When I realised this wasn’t the case, my own sense of self-acceptance began to fray. This was despite the fact that I had a husband who loved, appreciated and cherished me for who I was, yet my immediate surroundings still made me feel undervalued.</div>
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This lack of self-acceptance was not only absent in my personal life, but also within a professional capacity. At work, I often struggled to remain motivated when my superiors failed to recognise additional hours I had put in, working evenings and weekends without a simple acknowledgement. This really brought me down at times. Looking back retrospectively, I know for a fact that I had lost touch with the sole purpose of why I had joined the organisation in the first place, and as my focus shifted, so did my motivation, leaving my mind warped by a desire to be constantly recognised and valued. I had taken my eyes off the bullseye, and as a result, I became entangled in a selfish mindset, resulting in a lack of Barakah, and making my life a misery.</div>
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Maybe as a society, we have done the biggest disservice to our youth, by conditioning them to think that they are never good enough, and so we engage in this life-long battle trying to please people in an effort to feel better about ourselves. It’s not only our younger generation that succumbs to this culture of doing things for the sake of others. My own grandma, a full-time carer for two, who juggles her duties of maintaining a household, as well as cooking and cleaning while struggling with her own health is victim to this mindset. She refuses to accept any form of additional help – be it a cleaner or care assistant – to make her life just that little bit easier. What reasoning does she give? It all comes down to what other people think, and she worries it may reveal a sign of weakness.</div>
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If pressure from family and society wasn’t enough, the rise of social media has sadly meant that young people are also battling for validation from the wider public. Too many times I’ve seen young girls, barely in their teens, haunted by their appearances, applying masques of makeup in efforts to conform to the latest social media craze. When positive reinforcement is hard to come by, you make it your life’s work to gain acceptance from others in order to reaffirm your self-esteem, but the feeling is only ever short-lived, forcing one into a never-ending rabbit hole where life revolves around futile attempts to constantly please others.</div>
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<b>Revaluating our self worth through Islam</b></div>
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We want our women to be educated, courageous and independent, but yet the very thing that can push them forward is the one thing that is holding them back – self-worth. The power of self-worth can never be underestimated – feeling positive and confident about yourself can propel you to places you could only dare dream of.</div>
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Yes, we should empower our next generation to value themselves. Yes, we should shower them with encouragement, appreciation and acceptance. Yes, we should teach our girls to love themselves, flaws and all. Yes, we should push them to chase their dreams. But what about when it comes to reevaluating our source of self-worth? Your worth is not based on what other people perceive of you, yet somehow, I had led my life the total opposite. I fed off the praise and approval of others and as a result, I felt my most confident and able when the world told me so!</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">“O Abu Musa, know that pleasing all people is an unattainable goal and there is no way to be completely safe from them. Therefore, see where your righteous benefit lies, and adhere by it; and leave people and all they indulge in.” (Imam Shaafi)</span></h2>
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Time and time again, scholars, narrations from our beloved Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him) and ayahs from The Quran reveal how working towards the next life can shift our whole focus. By looking at what counts, the hereafter, we become determined to do the best we can to earn the pleasure of Allah SWT and to build our ultimate Jannah.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">“Verily in the remembrance of Allah (swt) do hearts find peace” (Qur’an, 13:28)</span></h2>
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It comes down to renewing the intention. When doing good deeds, it’s worth stopping for a moment to reflect on why exactly we’re doing what we’re doing. A useful mechanism to assess whether I was doing things for Dunya or for Akhirah was to monitor my own emotions when there was a lack of appreciation and acceptance around. If I was doing things with the right intention, then negative response really didn’t bother me.</div>
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The exercise was a real eye-opener, as I had previously never openly admitted that my intentions were insincere, and so I came to the realisation that all too often I just wasn’t doing things for the right reason – be it giving a gift to someone, keeping in contact with relatives, visiting loved ones or even doing the mundane cleaning chores around the house. My pure intentions were being suffocated by a constant need to be valued, cherished and recognised.</div>
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We have the power within our own selves to increase our self-worth and remove self-doubt without relying on those around us. By transforming a negative into a positive and placing our reliance and trust in Allah swt, we have the very means to push ourselves forward and make our dreams into a reality.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">It comes down to renewing the intention. When doing good deeds, it’s worth stopping for a moment to reflect on why exactly we’re doing what we’re doing.</span></h2>
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I’d be lying if I said the process of seeking self-worth from within myself and through the Almighty is as easy as it sounds. The path to Jannah is a challenging one and one that requires infinite amounts of selflessness, compassion, commitment and forgiveness. It would be unrealistic to say that in order to have pure intentions we have to be insusceptible to those around us – that goes against what it means to be human!</div>
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Of course, we’ll have moments where the actions of others will leave us heartbroken, disappointed, frustrated, confident or loved, but we’ll know that these moments are not the sole focus of our existence and that our worth is not dependent on what others think about us!</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-75607086683897044092017-08-28T04:30:00.000-07:002017-08-28T04:39:15.025-07:00Unicorn Party: Akeekah Shenanigans 2<div style="text-align: center;">
Bestie had another pretty little princess around two months ago <i>Allahuma barik laha</i> and where there's a princess involved, there has to be a party brimmed with unicorns, sweet treats, frosting fights, and tassel garlands doubling up as teatowels!</div>
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It seems like only a few months ago when we were welcoming bestie's <a href="https://atravellerstreasurebox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/akeekah-party-shenanigans.html" target="_blank">first little princess into the world</a> and now, nearly two years later, she has grown into the cutest interactive toddler-turned-teenager with a teeny tiny pretty sister in tow!<br />
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This time round, with unicorns blowing up on social media, we decided to adopt this fun pastel theme for the Akeekah party and create a Pinterest-worthy evening complete with a dessert table, unicorn cake and plenty of DIY decorations to welcome new bebe to friends and family. Although new bebe wasn't too well aware of what was going on and probably won't until she gets older, we 'grown ups' certainly enjoyed the unicorn party on her behalf!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>For the dessert table, I made chocolate covered strawberries and <a href="https://meringuegirls.co.uk/shop/meringue-kisses/" target="_blank">mini meringue kisses</a> while bestie made a delightful oreo cheesecake and key lime pie dessert pots! There was also candy-coloured cupcakes and the crowning glory....a unicorn cake, complete with her very own golden horn and magical mermaid-like pony tail cascading down the back. It was truly a surreal moment having our very own unicorn, and although some of the mums were trying to convince us to remove the horn, as it was a little squashed, we stuck to our principles and prevented anyone from dishonoring this precious creature!! You wouldn't dehorn a rhino or poach tusks from an elephant, so how are unicorns any different??!!!<br />
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Anyway, I was really happy with how the dessert table looked in the end. All the desserts complimented one another. Woop woop. I was a little bummed with how the mini meringues turned out – they were a complete disaster (insert emoji covering the face). </div>
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I followed a recipe from the trusty <a href="https://meringuegirls.co.uk/meringue-girls-best-meringue-recipe/" target="_blank">Meringue Girls</a> who have really put meringues into the spotlight over recent years As I didn't have a free standing mixer, I had to resort to using an electric whisk, which in hindsight probably wasn't a wise decision. I mean I managed to build the volume with the egg whites, but when I started to add the hot sugar to the stiff peaks, the electric whisk didn't have enough power to bring the mixture back to its original formation, resulting in a very droopy and runny mixture. Hence why we have more flat-topped meringues aka macarons? Then meringue kisses.</div>
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Once the kids got a hold of the dessert table, it didn't take long before a few of the cutey toddlers, including first princess, were running around with hot pink frosting all over their white dresses! One of the little girlies ran in crying after a cupcake was thrown at her, staining her beautiful cream dress with a sludge of hot pink. I don't know what was more horrifying, the fact that cakes were being used as grenades or that her CREAM dress was stained with hot pink. </div>
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To decorate the dessert table, I made a tassel garland from various shades of blush pink to hang in front of the table. Some of the kids thought it doubled up as a tea towel, wiping their hands on it after enjoying the sweet treats to everyone's amusement lool. It's all about multi-use, right?</div>
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The balloon arch, which hung beautifully above the table, had to be my favourite! I was really impressed with how it turned out, and bestie sent me photos of it a few weeks later, and it looked still pretty much intact, save a few deflated balloons! It really was a team effort, with my mum assisting me in blowing up the balloons the night before, and little brothers tying a piece of string around each one so I could arrange them together.</div>
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It was a mission trying to squeeze the garland into the backseat of the car, but we managed without popping any of the balloons. Yay, Alhamdulilah.</div>
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And the finished look!! I was so happy with how it turned out, I may be turning this DIY into a little venture...so keep your eyes peeled for all the exciting news!!</div>
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It was such an honour to assist with the Akeekah party and make some of the treats and decoration for bestie and her new princess, and I look forward to making another balloon garland real soon for the next addition!! </div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-84891773059703540942017-08-12T15:44:00.003-07:002017-08-12T15:52:46.994-07:00Street Eats – Halal Gems 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
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Being a lover of all things food related, I was so excited when I discovered <a href="http://halalgems.com/streeteats/" target="_blank">Street Eats 2017</a> organised by <a href="http://halalgems.com/" target="_blank">Halal Gems </a>#StreetEatsFest whilst <strike>browsing social media</strike> hard at work. Street food is all the scene in London at the moment, and although it isn't too difficult to find halal street food, there's nothing better than having all these vendors under one roof at Spitalfields Market.</div>
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After pestering the little brothers to join me from Luton, we embarked on an afternoon of feasting, munching, slurping and plenty of...... queuing. Sadly, there wasn't a shortage of that!</div>
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Before committing to any of the 30min+ queues, we deemed it wise to scour the stalls to see what type of delicious treats were on offer. From Khao Suey and adorable mini-Dutch pancakes to 12-hour smoked brisket and Indian fish and chips, there was something for everyone! </div>
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The best approach to tackling the theme-park-style queues was to divide and conquer, so youngest brother and I stood in line for these divine coriander chicken naan/paratha wraps dressed in mango and mint chutney whilst eldest but still younger brother stood in line for the brisket, which the boys couldn't get their eyes off, followed by a succession of excited ooohs and awwws.<br />
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The queue for the wraps was probably the fastest, which was brilliant as they didn't fail to impress! It was by far the best savoury food we ate and had a tantalising mix of sweet, aromatic and sour. We became so occupied with munching these wraps while waiting with big little bro for the brisket, that someone actually took advantage of our food bliss and jumped in front of us in the queue!<br />
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When we finally came to the brisket, I mean the meat was super tender, but the whole bun was stone cold. I mean come on, if you've waited 45 minutes for a burger, you at least expect the bun to be warm!</div>
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Our food fest ended with one of the longest queues of the afternoon to sample the Indian fish and chips and min-Dutch pancakes. By this time, if there wasn't already enough chaos, the queues were now merging into one another with people having no idea what they were standing in line for and you had to physically fight your way to get from one end of the event to the to the other.</div>
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When we finally made it to the fish, what I anticipated to be light and crispy battered fish actually turned out to be a little on the soggy side with some random cauliflower raita on the side. Yes, you heard right....cauliflower Raita!!!! Ok, so just because cauliflower rice, courgette spaghettii and beetroot cake work, but that doesn't mean plonking this Brassica in a yoghurt dip will work too. Sorry guys, it was a miss for me.<br />
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On the plus side, while waiting in line for the fish, we tasted these gorgeous tiny bites of goodness in the form of these min-dutch pancakes. It wasn't the most revolutionary food item at Street Eats, but anything drenched in Nutella and doused in strawberries has got to be good!</div>
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The advertisement of the event as a "street food festival" was a little misleading, and apart from the crowds and congestion which was down to the capacity, it didn't really resemble a food festival. The demand was certainly there. I heard that people had travelled across the country, even as far as Birmingham, to attend the event. It's a shame that it was just so small! Had the organisers booked out all of Spitalfields Market and invited more food vendors, we would have had a real food festival on our hands!<br />
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Overall, I did have a really fun afternoon with the little brothers. Yes, the crowds and queues were a pain, but it gave us the chance to digest our food, look forward to our next meal and have a good catch-up – makes me realise how much I miss their company, now that I don't live with them!<br />
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-5655666086842611322017-07-23T11:03:00.000-07:002017-08-03T06:43:36.621-07:00Localtrotting: Picnic in the Park<div style="text-align: center;">
There is no easy way to say this, but I am truly, utterly and wholeheartedly ashamed of my <strike>blogging writing </strike>habits. I really don't know how to justify the absence of posts over the last three months; however, the lack of exciting content is certainly not the case, I assure you! I put it down to discipline and self-control, something I am currently reading up on, which may be able to account for this post in particular! </div>
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So much has happened over the last year, so we have a lot to catch up on. But the best way I see this working is recounting recent events and working backwards (let's hope I've finished reading <i>The Marshmallow Test </i>by then to see this ambitious goal put into practice).</div>
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As part of my Eid gift stash (A one-month late Eid Mubarak! Better late than never, hey?), my parents and brothers gifted me with the most precious picnic basket ever. Now, if you've read my previous <a href="http://atravellerstreasurebox.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/localtrotting-tea-on-thames.html" target="_blank">posts</a>, you'll know I adore all things vintage, dainty and quaint, with a nod to quintessential English countrysides and cottages, so when I peeked through the packaging and saw the beautiful ash willow, I knew for certain that my picnicking-in-style-dreams had finally come true! </div>
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With the weather incredibly bright and breezy over the last few weeks, I've been itching to take this beauty out on a spin, so the husband and I packed a noticeably healthy and hearty picnic, with salad, olives, ciabatta bread and hummus all without a samosa in sight and decided to enjoy the outdoors at a nearby park earlier in the week.</div>
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Say no more to plastic plates and cutlery, this hamper elevates the humble picnic and advocates for dining alfresco in style! </div>
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The experience of packing and eating from a picnic basket is something I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait for our next glamnic venture – once you've savoured the hamper life, there's no turning back! Yes, there is that extra effort in carrying the hamper (which can be tactfully allocated to husbands, brothers, dads or uncles!), cleaning and clearing away the plates and glasses afterwardss, but why not? For a picnic and day out as stylish and comforting as this, it is so totally worth it!!</div>
The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-81042615101649274832017-04-23T06:03:00.000-07:002018-03-01T07:32:46.714-08:00Contemplations: Forget planning the fairytale wedding and start preparing more for married life<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My recent article for the <a href="https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-lifestyle-matters/marriage/lets-stop-focussing-on-the-fairytale-wedding-and-think-more-about-life-as-a-newlywed" target="_blank">Muslim Vibe</a></i></div>
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<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">As a young girl, I always dreamed of my perfect wedding day – the non-traditional big white dress, the pretty flowers, the carefully co-ordinated cake, background drapes and bridesmaids, but most importantly, I dreamed of the day where I would feel like a queen with all eyes on me! </span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">Throughout my teenage years right to my early 20s my fantasy evolved, and with each wedding I attended, be it a cousin’s, friend’s or a complete random stranger’s, my plans solidified, and I had put together the exact blueprints for my big day. All I needed now was a husband in order to execute my dream wedding.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">And when the time came for marriage, try as I might, no matter how hard I tried to prevent myself from getting completely engrossed with wedding preparations, all I could think about was that one day, those few hours sitting on a stage in my white dress and my long-anticipated fantasy turning into a reality.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">It’s only now, six months into marriage, that I realise how easily sidetracked I had become with all the wedding preparations.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvZbHXOB6x4umThQlYP7a152vPodGnzjlSW0JXrEV0cK1Xj5uaoxnZIagiHg4roPaCqbvGLGL-6TTmGSiPkn2JhYPZtyMmmymQZmRg1S3t4iIjrv-5tW03gEw0v0fXlcfEEy_pIcCSwrD/s1600/84a6a2e221c1ef6665bcdd135ae65ef0+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvZbHXOB6x4umThQlYP7a152vPodGnzjlSW0JXrEV0cK1Xj5uaoxnZIagiHg4roPaCqbvGLGL-6TTmGSiPkn2JhYPZtyMmmymQZmRg1S3t4iIjrv-5tW03gEw0v0fXlcfEEy_pIcCSwrD/s640/84a6a2e221c1ef6665bcdd135ae65ef0+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from the<a href="https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-lifestyle-matters/marriage/lets-stop-focussing-on-the-fairytale-wedding-and-think-more-about-life-as-a-newlywed" target="_blank"> Muslim Vibe</a><br />
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<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">With the honeymoon haze slowly dissolving, the true reality of sharing your life and personal space with someone who, to your dismay, is not as like-minded as you thought and habitually leaves his clothes on the floor to your sheer horror, can be all a little disheartening. I remember feeling betrayed the first time we disagreed, resulting in a mini strop where I refused to speak to him in an effort to shut him out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">To give my husband credit, mashaAllah he is a loving and gentle soul, but his irritating habits will drive me around the bend, making me overlook every single one of his good qualities!</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">I always assumed that the fairytale wedding resulted in the fairytale marriage. But no marriage is without trials, tribulations and most importantly, good old compromise. Even before one reaches the ripe age for marriage, mothers are overzealous in informing their offspring how compromise is the recipe for a successful marriage. For us women, marriage automatically equates compromise. I had given up my home, family, friends, town, routine and in doing so, I felt like there was nothing else left to give, resulting in a very much one-sided relationship.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">I realised you can either kill yourself trying to change him, or sit back, relax and try to enjoy the ride!</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">I imagined my spouse would seamlessly slot his life into mine, though he had led a completely different life to me in the first few decades of his life. I had my expectations, but reality presented something else. No amount of tactful persuasion or raised eyebrows could stop the Mr from doing what he wanted, and it would be unfair to assume otherwise. So I can scream till I’m blue in the face, but he’ll still only wear the one pair of work trousers for a whole month, leave his shoes in every corner of the house, or refuse to eat green beans. I was forcing a puzzle piece into the wrong space, and not matter how tactful I was in getting it to fit, it wasn’t going to happen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro"; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I realised you can either kill yourself trying to change him, or sit back, relax and try to enjoy the ride!</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">I always thought of myself as a relatively patient person, but along came marriage, dissolving all level-headedness and leaving an impatient, slightly deranged young woman behind. I remember when I was cooking dinner one day for the whole family, including the in-laws, when the Mr bought the wrong meat from the meat shop and, how in a fit of disbelief, my tongue took charge, uttering all sorts of nonsense, including how I refused to cook and how he could cook dinner instead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">It’s in that spur of the moment that always lets you down – the initial reaction after a crisis strikes when it’s about as easy to control the tongue as is it to walk across ice without slipping. But the dangers of a loose tongue cannot be revoked. Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid, and in the early days of marriage, this can either break or, with utmost discipline and retrain, make your marriage.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">Whoever said completing half of your deen was meant to be easy? The quest for paradise is enduring hardship and patience, and it is this pathway do we find the greatest rewards. Unfortunately, I had embarked on this quest with minimum preparation for the road ahead. It’s not that I didn’t put any thought into the actual marriage or do my research into rights and responsibilities, but it was about prioritising. In organising the picture perfect wedding, I had prioritised something short term over a long term commitment and in doing so I had done a disservice to myself.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro"; font-size: 16px;">A friend once told me that the key to her successful marriage was having low expectations. But with expectations so high in my wedding, it was inevitable that I would adopt high expectations within my marriage, and when these standards are not met, heartbreak follows. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">A friend once told me that the key to her successful marriage was having low expectations. But with expectations so high in my wedding, it was inevitable that I would adopt high expectations within my marriage, and when these standards are not met, heartbreak follows. </span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">And so, how does one avoid this pitfall prior to marriage?</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">In avoiding getting sucked into all things wedding related, it is crucial to start mentally preparing yourself for life beyond the gorgeous princess gown or bedazzled lengha! Think about how you would deal with challenging situations and keep track of your behaviour when these moments arise. With all the wedding prep, chances are you won’t need to look far for those high pressure environments, providing numerous opportunities to help develop your patience, making it easier to get through those eyebrow-raising, eyeball-popping, blood pressure-increasing moments in the early days of your marriage!</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">Although maintaining realistic expectations of one’s spouse is key to any marriage, appreciating the true purpose of a wedding in line with marriage also helps to keep things in perspective.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">A wedding is simply a means of unifying two people for the sake of Allah (SWT) and fulfilling the sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I had turned a ‘means’ into a ‘goal’ and in wrongfully doing so, I entered into one of life’s greatest tests without practicing the key principles – perseverance, forbearance, humbleness and patience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro"; font-size: large;">“There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience.” Sahih Bukhari 1400</span></span></span></h2>
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">Marriage, being half of our faith, promotes personal growth, allowing us to better ourselves as individuals as we’re provided with countless of situations, be it dirty socks on the floor or uneaten green vegetables in the plate, which require us to suppress our nafs (inner-self), bite our tongues and tackle the diseases of the heart such as anger, arrogance and antipathy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">If it weren’t for those hair-wrenching moments with the Mr, then when else would I come to appreciate the need for self-development?</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">No one can truly anticipate what Allah has in store for each and every one of us, and nothing can really prepare you for the trials that lie ahead, especially within marriage, but by opening your mind to the realities of life and practising patience and prayer, it can help assist in overcoming the difficult patches, and allow you to deal with things in the best manner possible.</span><br />
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #565656; font-family: "source sans pro";">Without love, respect, peace and care deposited into the marriage, the relationship will suffer, resulting in misery and conflict that cannot be salvaged by the most lavish of celebrations. It’s so easy to get swept up in the aesthetics of marriage – the wedding celebrations, but the perfect wedding does not equate a perfect marriage. There is no such thing as perfection. The wedding marks only the beginning of this journey, and it requires continual effort from both husband and wife to make it a success and turn it into that long-anticipated fairytale. Something that I’m working towards!</span></div>
The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-27706626517296279892016-11-22T03:14:00.003-08:002016-11-23T14:54:43.970-08:00Localtrotting: Tea on the Thames<div style="text-align: center;">
The great thing about living in London, or what I mean to say is that in the four months that I've come to live in this road rage capital, there is so much to experience aside from the reckless half-wit drivers you encounter every passing day who are determined to hospitalise you as you drive!</div>
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On a lighter note, as part of our Eid together as a married couple (yup, more details on the wedding to come!), my family gifted us with an afternoon tea for two on the Thames! Now, me being me, I love my cottages, remote countrysides, period dramas, Louisa May Alcott, china teacups, homemade lemonade, Wuthering Heights and most importantly....CAKES. Call me pretentious all you like, but secretly (to the knowledge of most people) I love the idea of living in a picturesque cottage in Cornwall or Devon, fishing on the weekends and running my own vintage tea shop. I often joke with my friends that I was born in the wrong era.</div>
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So, on a sunny, slightly blustery day, the hubby and I decided to take the trek to Tower Bridge and embark on our tea for two! I've always loved the concept of afternoon tea, way before it became on-trend, and always thought of it as a very delicate and appropriate way to consume treats. Taking the hubs along, I was very interested in how he, being a consumer of large 'manly' portions, would take to this, and to my amusement as our platter emptied away, he looked around casually, trying to catch the attention of one of the waiters: "Time for a re-fill," he announced!<br />
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The selection of treats really was pleasant. We had requested the halal option and so were provided cheese with pickle (school lunch favourite!) and egg and cress sandwiches accompanied by nibblets of goodness in the middle tray which I simply did not wish to share, and scones, clotted cream and jam on the top platter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubs patiently waiting to tuck into treats as wife sternly warns no munching until adequate snaps are taken</td></tr>
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As the picture dictates, the middle platter was definitely the highlight. I mean sandwiches are sandwiches really. They don't really get that exciting unless you throw in some cheese, a George Foreman Grill and dash of Worchester sauce... ta da! Grilled cheese...now we're talking! The scones were pretty standard, but the clotted cream was delish. Unfortunately, the jam was a little of a letdown, down to the lack of sugar me thinks. But hey ho, with all the rest of the goodies, you don't really need any more sugar, do you?<br />
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Sadly, due to the shortage of quantities, we diplomatically decided to split the mini-cakes and patisserie in half, allowing us both the opportunity to sample everything #MarriageEqualsCompromise<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Difficult decision: who gets the bigger piece?</td></tr>
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Upon eating eight perfectly sliced pieces of patisserie, we jointly agreed, that the macarons were our favourite. Hubs, having never eaten macarons before, was delighted at how almondy they were and even more so when he found out that macarons = almonds. Yes! A trip to Laduree.<br />
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Apart from scoffing our faces, being pleased with ourselves for drinking tea, and looking on in shock and utter disbelief at leftover treats on other platters, the sights were pretty spectacular as we cruised along the River Thames, admiring some of the top London attractions as we went.<br />
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The upper deck of the boat was also accessible to us and although it was absolutely freezing, the view was pretty spectacular.<br />
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Cruising along the Thames while enjoying afternoon tea was definitely a great experience! I can certainly see many more afternoon teas lined up in the future! So keep an eye out for more cake eating!!<br />
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-59104442372810558492016-03-13T03:35:00.003-07:002016-03-13T03:36:41.890-07:00Review: Moon Boutik- Urban Chic Abaya<div style="text-align: center;">
As much as I love <strike>loath </strike>wedding shopping. Or what I really mean to say, as much as my family: mum, grandma, aunts, bestie and all enjoy wedding shopping, I cherish the moments when I can enjoy everyday 'normal' shopping. Be it buying bread from Tescos or socks from Primark, normality is a relief when you're plunged into wedding frenzy!<br />
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So it's time out from wedding shenanigans and onto an abaya review!<br />
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Following on from my <a href="http://atravellerstreasurebox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/review-moon-boutik-marina-maxi-dress.html" target="_blank">Marina maxi dress </a>purchase from Moon Boutik, I was curious as to what else the online shop stocked. I'm always on the lookout for a good everyday abaya that's smart enough for work but still casual enough for the weekend.<br />
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So after spotting the fantastic range of colours in the <a href="http://www.moonboutik.com/store/p19/_URBAN_CHIC_ABAYA_%28_New_colors_now_available__%29.html" target="_blank">Urban Chic Abaya</a>, I had to muster all self-control from stopping myself from purchasing all 10 abayas in the same design! </div>
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I first ordered the abaya in navy blue before going ahead and purchasing the ash grey one. The great thing about this abaya is that it gives you two looks: when tied with the belt it's perfect for work and when left loose it doubles up as a great slouchy weekend abaya.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDXE8KipknbGZV5AQTD-9TPXxQE9wuGP754uCX1__4YOzw3r-ERct6uBvQHCFBx7rd5Hxwn4xKFcQ2eZK3DAt0u5BnbHOmGWrD_Ylz6ULf7rrKzZSR0VUaKhs0xRx3YRNdmWY0ZOYMIAS/s1600/P1080295+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDXE8KipknbGZV5AQTD-9TPXxQE9wuGP754uCX1__4YOzw3r-ERct6uBvQHCFBx7rd5Hxwn4xKFcQ2eZK3DAt0u5BnbHOmGWrD_Ylz6ULf7rrKzZSR0VUaKhs0xRx3YRNdmWY0ZOYMIAS/s640/P1080295+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The versatility of it also stretches to styling. You can dress it up with a blazar, clutch and elegant hijab, or dress down with flats, satchel and a floral hijab. The choice is really yours!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsbSJ_jJ5MCMRxDOV2W7MGOen9IDCNNpWCNbTEFwFeZt8l01mqaiU15gDrUIQHyIO9IXLRA1UkkcS7rM_3pj730X3SXr9yj0fh7vxH05FF3odq27UQCRAtY3OP3dc6VYwM_hAVP5hCYRa/s1600/P1080301+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsbSJ_jJ5MCMRxDOV2W7MGOen9IDCNNpWCNbTEFwFeZt8l01mqaiU15gDrUIQHyIO9IXLRA1UkkcS7rM_3pj730X3SXr9yj0fh7vxH05FF3odq27UQCRAtY3OP3dc6VYwM_hAVP5hCYRa/s640/P1080301+%25282%2529.JPG" width="492" /></a></div>
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I have to say, prior to purchasing the abaya I wasn't too sure how it would fall with the belt tied, and whether it would be flattering or result in a fabulous junk-food belly! But since the material is quite thin and stretchy, the fabric falls quite nicely, forming its own flattering pleats and skimming over any chub.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqnSGcmZj3qI03XYkj5fDWP7LLkqG8opUfcWG-O_t0Fk5ggr9sYgrfgZjvw0qGeSKL4QcY_p7Na8jhLVuWl3YXfzgdt2wr3Jr50upScxIaUAwKDdpXEgPzPtlgR0PMoFhgeFCa39YO-w2/s1600/11880441_896450087058827_8447596841985491707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqnSGcmZj3qI03XYkj5fDWP7LLkqG8opUfcWG-O_t0Fk5ggr9sYgrfgZjvw0qGeSKL4QcY_p7Na8jhLVuWl3YXfzgdt2wr3Jr50upScxIaUAwKDdpXEgPzPtlgR0PMoFhgeFCa39YO-w2/s400/11880441_896450087058827_8447596841985491707_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.moonboutik.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html" target="_blank">Moon Boutik</a></td></tr>
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However, the downside to this lovely fabric is that because it is so thin, it is a little on the clingy side, so the best option is to wear thick enough clothing underneath to conceal your figure. I mean a clingy abaya is really the ultimate juxtaposition between modesty and baring all.<br />
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The other problem I find with the fabric is that after while it tends to collect <i>boor</i> or in English stubborn lint that does not come off with no lint roller! This is a real pain, as I feel after several washes the fabric just kind of wears out :( I mean 3 months after I bought the grey one, it started gathering some serious teeth-grinding lint.<br />
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I don't know about you, but when I have a favourite abaya I expect for it to last a good two years before any signs of wear or tear! Maybe I'm just a little frugal with my clothes, but I mean in terms of price, the abaya retails for around £27.99, so it's not exactly the lower end of the market and you would, therefore, expect a longer wear? Yes? No? I've got cheaper abayas that I've had for years that have been washed regularly but are still in pretty good condition.<br />
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As much as I adore the cut, style and colour choices of this abaya, the fabric unfortunately really lets it down. But I'm sure with a thicker more durable fabric this could have the potential of being the ultimate abaya.<br />
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In the meantime, the search for the perfect everyday abaya continues!</div>
The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-61058447182453937402016-03-05T02:30:00.000-08:002016-03-05T02:31:44.787-08:00Contemplations: "My worst enemy was living between my very own ears..."<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My recent article for <a href="https://www.sisters-magazine.com/2016/03/01/are-we-preparing-for-failure/" target="_blank">Sisters Magazine</a></i></div>
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<i>When I graduated from uni in 2014, like many other graduates, I struggled to get into the job market, and this bought me really down. I wrote this article at the time to fully explore my attitudes and emotions and figure out how to turn this negative into a positive! Now it serves as a reminder whenever I think life is not going to plan!</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0_A8zYS1PwBIBs_X4bolkVmuxV2IVKouoLeW5BUYz1BFoTLIw_lYujqXmeyn7CxMKyZESbxCQgpeZCxgKfimXjflQpuzQdbZ380AhYlmGTl8jAHytajAeoDtR9JZARz4xp1hpPo361Zt/s1600/shutterstock_25758700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0_A8zYS1PwBIBs_X4bolkVmuxV2IVKouoLeW5BUYz1BFoTLIw_lYujqXmeyn7CxMKyZESbxCQgpeZCxgKfimXjflQpuzQdbZ380AhYlmGTl8jAHytajAeoDtR9JZARz4xp1hpPo361Zt/s640/shutterstock_25758700.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://www.sisters-magazine.com/2016/03/01/are-we-preparing-for-failure/" target="_blank">Sisters Magazine</a></td></tr>
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I’ve always thought of failure as the biggest flaw in life. I saw a lack of success as breaking down your credibility and exposing you to the dark underbelly of misery. Yes, my perception of failure was extremely simplistic, to the point that failure to pass my first driving test resembled a funeral procession in my mind on the way home and a B in my mock GCSE’s resulted in a classroom meltdown. But having failed my 11 Plus (primary school exam) as a child, I always felt that I had to constantly prove myself, and any failure led me back to that dark time in my personal history, when I opened that brown envelope to reveal that I would not be joining my friends at grammar school.</div>
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My struggle to constantly prove myself was not stemmed from parental pressure, as one would naturally assume from Asian parents! Contrary to popular belief, my parents always advocated the importance of trying one’s best whatever the outcome, yet I had subjected myself to internal pressure, fearing that if I did not meet my goals I would not only disappoint myself but those around me. My worst enemy was living between my very own ears. So, how would I cope in the current job climate as a recent graduate with minimum life experience, maximum enthusiasm, and a truckload of determination and next to none faith in second chances?</div>
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Admittedly, I thought I would be inundated with job offers from companies fighting to take on this English graduate, thinking there would always be a place in the world for a first class degree. I even went as far as delaying the hunt, assuming that I would receive the prize deer before I had even fired the shot. But little did I know that the fantasy I had conjured up was about as far from reality as I could possibly fathom. When I eventually secured my first interview, after completing a swarm of job applications, I was told by endless aunties that <b>“If it is meant to be, then it would happen”</b>. These words would not only help my transition from sulky student to serial-job-hunter-extraordinaire, but would also help soften the blow (as the aunties reassured me) of any job rejections that I may experience. Rejections? Really?</div>
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I always thought of myself as abiding by the philosophy that whatever is decreed for us by Allah (SWT) will come our way. However, stubbornly thinking that this job was decreed for me, I haphazardly adopted a less ambiguous approach for the interview: ‘it is meant to be’. I reassured myself that the temporary setback that I had suffered in securing an interview would not spoil my chances of this job.</div>
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Leading up to the interview, no matter how hard I tried to venture into the realms of realism, I struggled to imagine my future without this job. I even tried to critique the atmosphere, reminding myself of the possible challenges that one would expect as a Muslim, and it could play out as a blessing in disguise if I was not accepted. But the more I read into the job description, the more I sank into a hypnotic day dream, playing out my life as a professional graduate Muslimah at this wondrous job that had been created specifically for me. If any doubts remained, they were soon swatted away as I received a tour of the premise prior to my interview. I remember feeling at ease, as employees flittered through the corridors and smiled welcomingly at this newcomer. With the seal of approval and acceptance from my (future) colleagues, I was determined more than ever that this job was part of my destiny. As we explored more of the building, so did my mind, and I dangerously slipped into a daydream envisioning my everyday routine of sipping homemade hot chocolate while chatting casually with colleagues. I would not be just another employee, but an ambassador sworn to represent the greatest misunderstood religion in history. I would take my covert mission as seriously as the overt job that I would be employed for.</div>
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After the interview, no matter how hard I tried to be realistic (there were seven other candidates, including some with more experience) I was too caught up with my new imaginary working life. My thoughts soon turned to clothing, and I mentally ransacked my wardrobe, imaging the different abaya and blazer combinations that I could get away with before having to fork out for a new wardrobe. My new routine was set, and I had strategically planned my other obligations around my job. I was very enthusiastic at having a fixed routine after my overextended holiday since graduating university.</div>
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However, the day dream was short lived. A phone call three hours later established that I had not been selected to fulfil the job role. I remember the lump in my throat, as the caller tried to reassure me that my application was very strong, but my nerves during the interview and overall lack of experience let me down. It was grammar school rejection all over again! I wanted to shout, “So why give me hope!?” The wise words from aunties of old suddenly evaporated out of my head and tears readily flowed down my cheek. Perhaps the rejection would have been easier to deal with had I not felt so pleased with the work environment or job role. Or was it my own inability to prepare myself for failure? Yes, deep down I knew in my heart that there was betterment in this rejection, but it did not expel the extreme hurt and betrayal that I felt.</div>
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The rejection may have turned me into a piteous sourpuss, who thought her whole life was tragically over, but it did eventually allow me to fathom the true meaning of “if it is meant to be…”. Here I was about to embark on a new chapter, in a job where I was required to set an example and reach out to vulnerable individuals, yet I still had absolutely no understanding of one of the key principles of life: failure. I had cocooned myself in an idealistic world where I thought hard work would get you what you wanted irrespective of resiliency and perseverance. My childlike response to the job rejection had provided a clear insight into my flawed perception of failure. So how on earth could I start a new job in this profession when I strongly believed that failure was a determining factor in life?</div>
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In my case, the rejection was a wakeup call to remind me that life is not what we perceive it to be. <b>“It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.”</b> (Al-Baqarah :2163). Allah (SWT) has our best interests and with His infinite wisdom and mercy is aware that what we desperately seek is not always right for us and out of His compassion does not grant it to us. It is through our own deficiencies that we fail to understand that there is wisdom, hikma, behind everything. So yes, at first I may have gone back to being my 11 year old self clutching that brown envelope in utter despair, but it was through my own deficiency that I failed to understand that there could be a betterment in me not receiving this job. During my studies, I always prayed to Allah (SWT) that I would find a job which would be a means for me to attain the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and get closer to Him. The reality of working in this job role may have differed from my expectations and could have proved a challenging environment where I was unable to practice my deen comfortably. As a human, I can only speculate, but Allah (SWT) in His grace and majesty is all knowing– Allahu’alim.</div>
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Therefore, is our understanding of success and failure in this world tainted? Was my job interview rejection a failure in my life? Was I reliving my brown envelope moment all too often? As humans, our view on life is very much black and white– success and failure – where the lack of one indicates the presence of the other. So yes, I was warped in my very own ‘do or die’ moment, pining for a job that probably wouldn’t do me any favours, but the fact remains that I had been sucked into this tunnel vision where getting this job was the only viable way out. Allah (SWT) explains in the above ayat that our perception of what is good and bad is not always in our best interests. We may not like the fact that we did not receive a job offer, but in reality it was good for us. Similar to how we may not marry that particular person, or live in that particular house, but does it indicate failure when we do not receive what we want? It seems the contrary. Our lives, therefore, do not depend on preparing for success or failure; rather it indicates working hard and being patient with whatever outcome Allah (SWT) has destined for us.</div>
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Allah (SWT) also tells us in Surah Al-Baqarah, <b>“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (153)</b>. This ayat comforts my soul because no matter what happens in our lives, we can be certain that by putting our trust in Allah (SWT) through patience and worship, we will possess a different outlook on life, whereby we will try and appreciate the wisdom behind every so-called failure and disappointment in our lives. I can’t promise that it will be easy dealing with situations that don’t go as hoped or that I will gracefully let go of my brown envelope, but at least I know if I put my trust in Allah, insha Allah, everything that is taken away from me will be replaced with something better.</div>
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<i>“My heart is at ease knowing that what was meant for me will never miss me, and that what misses me was never meant for me.” -Imam Shaafi</i></div>
The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-74194065630986073352016-02-18T16:13:00.000-08:002016-02-18T16:14:04.472-08:00Wedding Diaries: Dress Shopping - Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Because no wedding is complete without a BIG dress!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLOx-OESOl1mQkF4iBK3Rh08QXWcH2_UdHYM3Yqso1EkxkaZb7IGLLboTnbxKukUFwDaqPPV_63_dR6m2g3vNaADdiroRvB2Y4MAW_-xomao9-3CIywfInmhhVX3sd0VzjUCj7pE0JGby/s1600/20160213_165718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLOx-OESOl1mQkF4iBK3Rh08QXWcH2_UdHYM3Yqso1EkxkaZb7IGLLboTnbxKukUFwDaqPPV_63_dR6m2g3vNaADdiroRvB2Y4MAW_-xomao9-3CIywfInmhhVX3sd0VzjUCj7pE0JGby/s640/20160213_165718.jpg" width="523" /></a></div>
What big day is complete without a ginormous 4 figure wedding dress encrusted with enough bling to make your eyes water and a 10 ft train long enough to drag all 20 bridesmaids in tow?<br />
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To be honest, I've been dreaming about my wedding dress as a little girl. But seriously which girl doesn't? I've prowled the internet meticulously saving images of glorious designer gowns dripping with everything but the kitchen sink. <br />
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As my friends and cousins started to get hitched, nothing bought me more joy than going bridal shopping and pulling out the heavy arm-wrenching yet undeniably gorgeous lenghas and dresses, knowing one day in the distant future it would be me trying them on!<br />
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And so the time has come...</div>
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And it's not how I imagined it.</div>
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When one typically goes bridal shopping in South Asian boutiques, although the outfits may be jaw-droppingly amazing, the customer service is simply pants! Now, from my years of professional-bridalwear-internet-scourging, it's a good idea to shop around to see what's out there before buying. In the world of Asian bridal wear, there is no such thing. It's all about the hard sell. Apparently, you're a fool if you need to walk away and think about one the most the important purchases for your big day.</div>
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I mean if you like it, then buy it! What you waiting for??!!??? </div>
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In all fairness, things have changed a little for the better. Phrases such as 'appointment bookings' and 'come back when you have more time' have miraculously entered into the vocabulary of sales assistances. But if you think you're entitled to your own opinion, you'd better think twice!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6mxh3jBmOLofeetthHqMIMhlQh4LGW3ghdOr-HDL0P1ASRtANi-oa_AE75D5cU8-6EeIs99kAXXgVlX7AQi8n2l67FeAO4fa2c0_8PtpH-JZ5Wloq9yYsLEr9vHKZ0zeKPJImP3FaE0L/s1600/20160213_170800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6mxh3jBmOLofeetthHqMIMhlQh4LGW3ghdOr-HDL0P1ASRtANi-oa_AE75D5cU8-6EeIs99kAXXgVlX7AQi8n2l67FeAO4fa2c0_8PtpH-JZ5Wloq9yYsLEr9vHKZ0zeKPJImP3FaE0L/s640/20160213_170800.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
When trying on lenghas in a shop in Birmingham, I specified the type of outfit I was after: white/ivory dress with a light trail, lace work and not too much bling. After trying on a stunning but crazy blinged up dress and suggesting to the assistant that it was too heavy for my likings, I was scolded by her for even daring to voice my opinion. Every time I suggested I wanted something a little lighter, I was repeatedly told to get a grip and that it was my wedding, and I should wake up to the reality that I was getting married and that my guests would outbling me if I didn't pick a suitable dress. Oh, what travesty! How could I show my face in society after being outblinged by my own wedding guests [gasp]?<br />
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And so it goes without saying that the customer is never <strike>always </strike>right in the world of Asian bridal wear. I mean sure, as someone working in a bridal shop you know what looks good and what doesn't, and I appreciate advice, but when you start dictating to me what I should and shouldn't wear, well we have a serious problem. </div>
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So, after you've jumped the hurdle of finding something that you and your entourage (including sales assistance) agree on, then comes the momentous task of settling upon a price! Never, ever, ever do you pay the RRP!! NEVER! You must throw away your hard-sough dignity and literally beg them to lower the price. Now, this seems kind of ridiculous, but the sales assistance will be expecting you to haggle, and with this in mind may even increase the price!<br />
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Shopping for an Asian dress is sadly not a relaxed and enjoyable affair as it should be. Between haggling and arguing with shop assistances, trying not to collapse with the weight of the outfits and taking sneaky pictures in changing rooms because it's strictly forbidden to take a picture in case you ship off back home to commission the dress to some backstreet, ridiculously cheap tailor, it's not that bad! Ok, so there must be some great shops out there! (not that I've stumbled across any), but I'm secretly optimistic.<br />
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In the meantime, wedding dress shopping is on hold as I focus on less problematic matters at hand: Flowers? Photography? Decor? Who said wedding planning was any fun?</div>
The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-25796344583334619482016-01-31T16:24:00.001-08:002016-01-31T16:24:17.906-08:00A Beautiful Beginning to a Beautiful New Year<div style="text-align: center;">
Ah yes, all have guessed. One has officially become two!</div>
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This mention is long overdue, and as the first month of 2016 comes to an end, it also signals 1 month since this Miss became, dare I say it, a Mrs. </div>
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Yes, I've relinquished my singleton and acquired a husband or as I really say it...hoosband (don't ask but it always comes out that way). Although we've had our Nikah - Muslim ceremony (more on that later), we've still got the big main wedding party/Walimah to look forward to.</div>
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So beware, I'll warn you in advance, as you're in for one bumpy ride, as I tackle wedding planning, husband managing, trousseau packing, honeymoon foraging all while carefully preserving my very sanity!</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-7375895094040290112015-10-04T10:34:00.000-07:002015-10-04T10:35:35.456-07:00Akeekah Party Shenanigans<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday, I attended the Akeekah Party of my bestie's first-born! Me and the bestie go way back..to the days of jelly shoes, Capri suns and Barbie dolls. We've known each other as kids and went to the same nursery and primary school. Even after my family moved away from our hometown when I was a teen, we managed to stay in contact and our friendship has gone from strength to strength since alhamdulilah. </div>
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It was amazing and a little emotional celebrating the birth of her daughter in the same room that we had celebrated bestie's fifth birthday around two decades ago! Funny enough, we somehow ended up wearing the same colours that we had worn at our first party together! Talk about fate! </div>
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With the birth of the gorgeous little princess a few weeks ago, we decided to put together a pink and sugary Akeekah party. We had started planning this party before the princess was born and had inevitably concluded that the theme would go ahead even if the princess turned out to be a little prince.</div>
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Being a Pinterest nerd, I came across the most amazing DIY fan decorations, so we gave it a go and it made quite a stunning backdrop! Although sticking the fans to the blinds probably wasn't the best idea, as they casually started to drop off as the evening went on!</div>
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Now the bestie had warned me that there would be quite a few children at this party and since it would be held at her house, space would be a little tight! Ignorantly thinking that when children got together they were somehow civilized, I completely ignored any precautions and set up a dessert table complete with sweet jars, cake pops and cookies.</div>
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Two minutes after everyone had finished eating, the sweet jars had been ransacked the cake pop stand raided save for a few broken ones and kids were running around with two cookies in both hands. Now, I have nothing against kids, I'm quite a kid friendly person. But where you're no domestic geek and have spent the best part of the evening after work and early hours of the weekend in the kitchen, the last thing you want is crazy kids running around wasting homemade treats! Call me pretentious all you like, but there's something tragic about wasted cake pops :( Anyway at least the fab ombre cake that bestie ordered in and a few other sweet treats prevented the table from looking like a complete disaster! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ransacked cake pops on the right!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bestie cutting the cake</td></tr>
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The evening was a hit with great company and food (thanks to bestie's mum!) and was a really lovely way to introduce the princess to the rest of the world! The little cutie savoured every minute of it, and enjoyed the company of everyone around. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the tornado of children struck! </td></tr>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-58765343354739440292015-09-03T03:06:00.000-07:002015-09-03T03:06:25.827-07:00Localtrotting: Barton Hills, Bedfordshire<div style="text-align: center;">
There's something really refreshing about being surrounded by sun and the great outdoors, and with the downpour of rain these last few days, it's time to look at the glorious rolling hills of England! </div>
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With it being so easy to jet off to exotic locations these days, it's easy to dismiss the beautiful landscapes that are so close to home.<br />
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Barton Hills in Bedfordshire is a prime spot for our family, as it's fairly local and has the most glorious combination of forests, fields, horses and hills! I have a mild obsession with hills. Whether they be rocky, sandy, snowy or grassy, I love them all! There is something truly magnificent about great expanses of earth that somehow mould beautifully around each other.<br />
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During the summer, we took several trips to the Barton Hills. It's the perfect spot for a family day out, and you can easily spend the whole day climbing the towering hills, munching on a picnic, running down the hills, exploring the forest while picking hazelnuts and secretly feeding the horses in the paddock.</div>
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The climb is a little steep, so beware as you'll be indulging in a good leg workout without even realising! </div>
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Before you climb the hills, you're greeted by a paddock of sleek chestnut horses. As they see people walk past their paddock, they trot over and flutter their thick lashes while swishing their manes, hoping for a bite of a sandwich or bakewell tart!</div>
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The local wildlife is certainly bustling. There are plenty of rabbit holes dotted around the hills as reminiscent of Teletubbies while birds of prey swoop in circles above. </div>
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The whole atmosphere is really relaxing and tranquil, and makes you think you've stepped into the world of Tolkien!</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-53209356968385300642015-08-17T14:52:00.001-07:002015-08-31T09:56:08.834-07:00Globetrotting: Casablanca, Morocco <div style="text-align: center;">
Let's pretend it hasn't been around 6 months since I last blogged (utterly shameful!) Well, what can I say? I got a job. Not really much of an excuse! So anyway, before I can think of another feeble excuse to pardon my extreme tardiness in blogging, let's take a trip back to Morocco to visit the ever-so charming city of Casablanca.</div>
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During our family vacation to <a href="http://atravellerstreasurebox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/globetrotting-rabat-morocco.html" target="_blank">Rabat, Morocco</a> last year, we decided to make a day trip down south to Casablanca. Casablanca is probably one of the most well-known cities in Morocco. Well in my case, I knew of 'Casablanca' but not exactly of its location! It's one of those places like Timbuktu. Everyone knows of Timbuktu, but as soon as you ask the location...utter despair. So, prior to my trip to Rabat, I alluded Casablanca as one of those mythical places like Timbuktu, Madagascar, Atlantis etc.<br />
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One of the main attractions in Casablanca is the stunning Hassan II Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Morocco and perches magnificently over the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque is right along the coast, and as you walk along the grounds you feel the salty sea breeze against your skin. We decided to head straight for mosque when we arrived in Casablanca to pray the midday prayer.<br />
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The architecture is just breathtaking. I'll let the pictures do all the talking!<br />
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After visiting such a sublime focal point in Casablanca, I was pretty much a happy bunny. Beautiful mosques like Hassan II are not just about being surrounded by alluring structures, it's a reminder of the importance and significance of humbling ourselves both spiritually and physically to God.</div>
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After the tranquil atmosphere of the mosque, we entered the hustle and bustle of the main market area and spent the rest of day being ripped off by the local shop keepers whilst shopping for gifts to take back home. Ah, don't you just love a spot of vacation shopping! We managed to find some prime markets in Casablanca, and thinking that we would not be able to find anything similar in Rabat, we went a little crazy and bought everything that we set our eyes on.</div>
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We also had one of the best meals on our holiday whilst in Rabat. There was such an amazing selection of restaurants it was a little overwhelming, luckily I found a cosy, tucked away restaurant via <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/" target="_blank">TripAdivsor</a> that served authentic Moroccan cuisine at an amazing prize! We enjoyed traditional tagines, fresh salads and the most delightful dessert known to man (woman).</div>
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I introduce you to Nougat Glace. </div>
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It's basically a frozen nougat dessert, but the combination of cold creamy nougat with the raspberry sauce is tantalizing! Definitely a gem of a dessert and something worth looking out of if you happen to find yourself in Morocco. Nougat is a staple in Morocco and can be found in giant blocks on every street corner. You tell the nougat folk how much you want and they carve scrumptious mounds of the most amazing nougat that you will ever taste! </div>
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Let's have another look, in case we missed some glorious chunks of praline (drool)</div>
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It's one of those meals that is so nostalgic that just thinking about it takes me right back to the dusty streets of Casablanca!</div>
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For a day off breathtaking sights, swifty swindlers and delish cuisine, Casablanca is the place to be, and between you and me...it really is a real place. </div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-11928021620748582732015-01-25T09:08:00.003-08:002015-01-25T09:13:03.646-08:00Review: Moon Boutik- Marina Maxi Dress<div style="text-align: center;">
Being a dedicated abaya gal, I rarely go for maxi dresses; although technically speaking abayas do kind of count as maxi dresses? Yes? No? Maybe? I always find it easier sticking with abayas, as you are guaranteed the perfect fit without having to fuss whether something is too clingy or transparent. However, a while ago, when I was shopping for holiday essentials, I saw this gorgeous all in one top and skirt look by <a href="http://www.moonboutik.com/store/p59/MARINA_MAXI_DRESS.html" target="_blank">Moon Boutik</a> and thought how fabulous it would look with some large oversized sunnies, a bright scarf and golden tan on holiday in sunny side <a href="http://atravellerstreasurebox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/globetrotting-rabat-morocco.html" target="_blank">Rabat</a>. </div>
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The dress consists of a stripey black and white top with an elasticated attached skirt, which is- available in 6 different colours. I have to admit I wasn't too keen on the whole elasticated waistband or the fact that the dress was only available in one for all size. Elasticated waistbands are great for cinching you in at the waist, but unfortunately the same effect is not always achieved elsewhere- aka upside down muffin tops. But admits these concerns, I decided to go for the standard black<a href="http://www.moonboutik.com/store/p59/MARINA_MAXI_DRESS.html" target="_blank"> Marina dress</a>, as holidaying in Rabat did not seem the same with an alternative. </div>
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Once I received the dress, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The elasticated waistband did not resemble over risen baked goods, but sat comfortably on the waist, allowing the soft chiffon of the skirt to flow naturally. The top was very soft and made from a stretchy cotton with cuffs on the sleeves. The material of the dress makes it perfect all year around, you can layer up in winter with cardigans and woolly ponchos finished off with some suede wedge boots, or keep it very minimalist for a summer with just a bright handbag and gladiator flats. It's a really versatile piece of clothing that you can dress up or down. </div>
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What I love most about it is probably the chiffon material for the skirt (yes it is fully lined!), which makes it uber flowy and perfect for convenient swishing around in cornfields and orchards. Since the dress is one for all size, I did have to get it shortened, as it was far too long even for wading through fields. But apart from the length, the fitting was perfect and just what I was hoping for! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiQ7CG_GXKRAp3Ca2nIEtf84v_yBBneWxsW1gYqpT43wLae0NbMxvx0mdHqb9TQsuuK_o7-rurbpFcDtICLoL8bydAxURiziS66I80yVx6iS98v-LGWwMonlz1lH7L3gHeaVx5QaW_Z29/s1600/P1070160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiQ7CG_GXKRAp3Ca2nIEtf84v_yBBneWxsW1gYqpT43wLae0NbMxvx0mdHqb9TQsuuK_o7-rurbpFcDtICLoL8bydAxURiziS66I80yVx6iS98v-LGWwMonlz1lH7L3gHeaVx5QaW_Z29/s1600/P1070160.jpg" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahoy there! Now where is my boat?</td></tr>
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The only downfall I would have to say is the sizing. It would be great if they branched out a little in terms of sizing, so it would accommodate all sizes and shapes. I can't see how one size could really fit all! Even having S, M and L would be a lot better. But overall, I am impressed with the quality and style of this piece.</div>
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<b>Heads up: </b>It's actually reduced at the moment from £27.99 to £24.99, so I would definitely recommend snapping it up!</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-70902153876719421672015-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:002015-01-24T12:32:43.808-08:00Globetrotting: Rabat, Morocco <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S5C13tdgdYF43vXXH37bPV3OYooC-7mgI9um3-l2Kb0TQfeVcN0qrm6Pr646i9JC_o8FOKEuTQu-kNpcOJcXObMn6siugTbZ1-o0jqaXbrcscoxzEwtcOBkiEklVYMU7wVZYBxqlU4z7/s1600/P1050465+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S5C13tdgdYF43vXXH37bPV3OYooC-7mgI9um3-l2Kb0TQfeVcN0qrm6Pr646i9JC_o8FOKEuTQu-kNpcOJcXObMn6siugTbZ1-o0jqaXbrcscoxzEwtcOBkiEklVYMU7wVZYBxqlU4z7/s1600/P1050465+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ahoy there!</div>
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Apologies for the long absence. No I haven't forgotten about blogging (ok so maybe I did)<br />
Anyway, I'm back! And it only seems appropriate to reminiscent about sun drenched family holidays (sigh) while we enter the thick of the winter here in the UK.<br />
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In September of this year (ehem last year), I was fortunate enough to visit the capital of Morocco- Rabat for a a family holiday. Yes, I know you're thinking the same. Rabat, what's Rabat? Rabbits? NOO, Rabat! Isn't Marrakesh the capital? I'm afraid not. Not to worry, let's take a minutes to blame our geography teachers and tourist brochures for misleading us into thinking that the souk filled, vibrant city of Marrakesh was actually the capital. Shameful.<br />
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So, once I got over the initial shock of my terrible geography, I decided to do a tad of research to know exactly where I would be holidaying! When I mean research, you know I really mean run a quick search through Google and read what Wikipedia has to say. I was pleasantly informed that Rabat is situated right on the coast overlooking the Atlantic ocean. That meant plenty of sand, sea and endless sun! We decided to hire our own house/riyad fully equipped with the necessary essentials including two kitchens, a rooftop balcony and mini water fountain for indoor paddling.<br />
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And so, we spent a week long holiday in the
coastal capital, enjoying the beaches, avoiding rabid dogs and using over
dramatic hand gestures to haggle with the locals. This was my second trip to
Morocco, the first being a visit to Marrakesh, and although Rabat is not as
lively (no snake charmers to be found here I'm afraid) as Marrakesh, it
certainly has a lot to offer with plenty of interesting activities and historical monument. The atmosphere is more laid back and
relaxed, with a lot less camera-crazed tourists (except moi) lurking
around. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The great thing about spending a holiday along the coast is that you can spend the whole day everyday lounging around on the beach and be content with blue skies and yellow sands. When we weren't building sandcastles with our fabulous Rabat Hello Kitty bucket and spade set or looking for wifi, we decided to venture around the top attractions as recommended by the most reliable travelling companion known to man– TRIPADVISOR! This site is a savior to all globetrotters. We explored a few interesting historical monuments, which certainly proved a treat for taking some pretty photos. My favourite had to be the Kasbah des Oudaias, which looks like your standard medieval wall but once you go inside, you discover a whole new world equipped with the most quaint gardens aka Andalusia gardens, plenty of feral cats, an overpriced minuscule museum and beautiful Greek style whitewashed houses that wind upwards and accommodate the locals.If anything, the architecture and design are simply breathtaking! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She didn't. She didn't! Oh yes she did....she photobombed the Kasbah</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4TAsHkf-UVtYbGE3mJiJvdy7JDsmfmF5jcDts09_iTQq4ynpiXtIfFOPfIB7OHkdkMVTZ-UklUBeEzCDr633v6VfEr-zjDWiCweacz1aAy3f3TccECIjiE0sFaRBHW4GWa06Wcnauo-E/s1600/P1050240+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4TAsHkf-UVtYbGE3mJiJvdy7JDsmfmF5jcDts09_iTQq4ynpiXtIfFOPfIB7OHkdkMVTZ-UklUBeEzCDr633v6VfEr-zjDWiCweacz1aAy3f3TccECIjiE0sFaRBHW4GWa06Wcnauo-E/s1600/P1050240+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A single yellow lemon amidst the <strike>limes</strike> unripe </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U1G9XM3cknHuES1RXvgaOM_ZPZEx2m3bS8ThHc7yX2G_o4dyO6T6mjxc5KzEeiL4W8XkxyB2KjR8y04b1meIyunKGZsQbbqhT5qp7XGHXgBLokGLmA_qKDR0XDI_e-Ou6bj3xG8es-kp/s1600/P1050205+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U1G9XM3cknHuES1RXvgaOM_ZPZEx2m3bS8ThHc7yX2G_o4dyO6T6mjxc5KzEeiL4W8XkxyB2KjR8y04b1meIyunKGZsQbbqhT5qp7XGHXgBLokGLmA_qKDR0XDI_e-Ou6bj3xG8es-kp/s1600/P1050205+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andalusia Gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPJUoEcIS99U-Uvf174Rno75xf3g9O2cvFHr2n_TW_UgdO89WptNtFQahFYxPRlYKd3-znMgLqa0BvAM12iOYV-O5TEi-VRi7t0twFHR7GBAHUoXCv0qRuPcKl7n6ijsQiaLBYYfaLT0A/s1600/P1050236+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPJUoEcIS99U-Uvf174Rno75xf3g9O2cvFHr2n_TW_UgdO89WptNtFQahFYxPRlYKd3-znMgLqa0BvAM12iOYV-O5TEi-VRi7t0twFHR7GBAHUoXCv0qRuPcKl7n6ijsQiaLBYYfaLT0A/s1600/P1050236+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Kasbah</td></tr>
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Ideally, I would have liked to spend a little longer in this hidden realm. Maybe sit down with an estate agent and find out whether any vacant properties were available. I mean you've got the sun, a historical entrance, pets, gardens, fresh lemons and a coastal view. What more could one want? It seemed only sensible to at least consider settling down in the Kasbah. Before I could discuss the relative prospective with my family, we were heading promptly out of the Kasbah and into our car. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances (or in other terms foreigner's sickness) we were unable to fully explore or even consider settling down into the Kasbah. Oh well. There's always next time? <br />
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On our last full day in Rabat, I was in a bit of a frenzy and decided that I would get up at the crack of dawn to say farewell to city and squeeze in a little bit of last minute shopping and sightseeing. On our way back from the beach, we decided to visit the Hassan Tower, a minaret of an incomplete masjid that intended to be the largest minaret in the world. Google claimed that this was one of the top tourist attractions; however, in all honestly it was a little bit of a let down. Sure the architecture was sublime, but where was the masjid? You can't have a minaret without a masjid! Apparently (according to google sab) the Hassan Tower is an international heritage site, and I assume that means it can't be built on. So unfortunately, it doesn't seem like a masjid will follow any time soon. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez9FBr0Hw4KFykVAZSRP08gThP93LxtMbp8FLruooGa2C4kHbJAJzYqve-JRibm_HPFHWAcp5vrpuWZrIu7xen12hEWFLestNaXM6IWlELGfUqqOeb0iqMZbA1OpcYXGNEPCwnjdyPWXM/s1600/P1050616+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez9FBr0Hw4KFykVAZSRP08gThP93LxtMbp8FLruooGa2C4kHbJAJzYqve-JRibm_HPFHWAcp5vrpuWZrIu7xen12hEWFLestNaXM6IWlELGfUqqOeb0iqMZbA1OpcYXGNEPCwnjdyPWXM/s1600/P1050616+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hassan Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQXxllJ6PucwHcNyPFgxawlW7tNByiBxVl-tasYI6JEIV1AaxLAr5HfmTGURW92hrlYzL0chDJvVKmi41snupJkw11zDmpUxF5bcG2CNyCtQUItAvB-RotwVRzXxopsvdwId1QN75KRKa/s1600/P1050628+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQXxllJ6PucwHcNyPFgxawlW7tNByiBxVl-tasYI6JEIV1AaxLAr5HfmTGURW92hrlYzL0chDJvVKmi41snupJkw11zDmpUxF5bcG2CNyCtQUItAvB-RotwVRzXxopsvdwId1QN75KRKa/s1600/P1050628+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal pony guard decked out in state-of-the-art armor and matching headdress </td></tr>
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In terms of cuisine, I have to say I was a
wincy bit disappointed. When half of your family and you spend the best part of
a week clutching your stomach in pain after every meal aka foreigner's sickness, you soon realise that
you're not as Moroccan as you always imagined yourself to be. Having said that,
we did have the most amazing meal in Casablanca, but overall the food was
pretty much satisfactory. I think the main problem was actually locating the
restaurants in the first place! Apart from a roast chicken and chips place down
the road, there were not many places to eat within our locality unfortunately. Actually that's a little harsh, let me reiterate, we couldn't actually find any places to eat. Sorry Tripadvisor, but that was a major letdown. And so, since we had a whole house/riyad to ourselves, we took it upon
ourselves, to self-cater and cook curries/tagines served alfresco on
our rooftop balcony. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All in all, Rabat itself is an interesting
mix between old and new. Modern trams and slick city workers mingle freely with
hand-held rubbish carts and maze-like souks. What particularly struck me was
that even though Rabat has adopted modern day city standards, it stays true to
its heritage and is not ashamed of that. A lot of old colonial style forts and
walls occupy much of the city, and although they probably don't serve on a
practical basis, you can't help admire the way they still protectively envelope
the city as they would have done hundreds of years ago.Yes you have the typical
fancy pancy restaurants and glistening glass hotels that cost more a night then
a plane ticket, but that doesn't define Rabat. When I think of Rabat, I think
of dusty streets, white foamy waves and majestic sandy forts.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-16240557272588275532014-12-01T11:03:00.001-08:002015-01-24T12:33:54.328-08:00Haul: Smoky Not Smudgy 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
So....onto the haul!</div>
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I have to say I find it a little puzzling that I only have two main purchases to share from SnS! It's always the case that when I empty my purse on a shopping splurge, I cannot pinpoint for the life of me what I actually bought. Well let me see...if you add everything up: a scarf, bottle of olive oil, jade bracelet, maxi cardigan, a crusty cupcake, biryani, sweeties and a calligraphy class, it does actually equate to a nice enough sum.</div>
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Before we decided to part with our cash, my chums and I made an executive decision to scour the entire bazar section of SnS meticulously in order to find the best picks of the day ( hey, no judging! We're students/recent graduates, we don't wanna be fobbed off!). I was constantly drawn to a sweet little stall selling beautiful silk bouquets, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomBouquets" target="_blank">Cherry Blossom Bouquets</a>, and had to resist the urge of actually buying my own little bouquet. Forget jilbabs, scarfs and sweets... its a bouquet that I actually want! The owner also sold handmade jewellery, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RomeesaLondon" target="_blank">Romeesa London</a>, with semi-precious stones, and although I knew I could not possibly return home with a bridal bouquet in tow, the same couldn't be said about the jewellery pieces!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I selected a bracelet with a pretty red jade stone encased in filigree style pattern. Although the bracelet is very much a statement piece, it has a beautiful delicacy from the overlapping gold pattern. I love how you get hints of the red from the jade stone. I'm kind of going through a faze of collecting jewellery with precious (semi) gems, so I was thrilled when my friend discovered these pretty pieces. The customer service from the stall was great, and the owner was so lovely and kind enough to adjust the bracelet so that it would fit my wrist. The price is very reasonable, coming in at £12 and packaged in its very own Cadbury purple gift box complete with a luxurious ribbon. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for further stunning pieces from Romeesa London. I believe they will be launching sterling silver and gold plated pieces in the future. Something definitely worth watching out for!<br />
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I also purchased a pretty ombre scarf from another stall. Ombre has been very much on-trend for a while now from ombre hair and cake to even eyebrows and lipstick! Hence, it was only natural that hijabs jump onto the bandwagon and embrace this ongoing trend. Throughout the bazar, there were no shortage of gorgeous ombre hijabs, but sadly all coming in at a heft price! My apologies, but no way am I going to pay close to a tenner for one scarf when I could buy 5! Upon our second round of scouring, I noticed some ombre scarfs with more reasonable price tags. I quickly snapped up a scarf with a summery blend of peach, blue and green, as the event was coming to a close.<br />
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I have to say I'm really impressed with this hijab; it's lightweight and gives plenty of coverage. And best of all it was only £3! It think it would look perfect in spring/summer; although that doesn't stop me from wearing it in bitter cold November.<br />
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So overall, Smoky not Smudgy certainty proved to be a nifty place to purchase some gorgeous gems. Although it did take a little scrounging around to find the best deals, it certainly was worthwhile! As for these treasures, they'll be heading straight to the treasurebox! <br />
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-70228331572928475822014-11-21T17:21:00.000-08:002015-01-24T12:35:06.785-08:00Smoky Not Smudgy 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is an overview of my experience at the 2014 annual Smoky Not Smudgy charity event at Imperial College London. Inshallah I will be uploading more pictures of the fashion show and all the goodies that I somehow accumulated later on. So keep an eye out for more upcoming details!</div>
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So, last Sunday I hopped onto a train with some chums and headed to the extremely well-known Smoky Not Smudgy event in Kensington. This was my first time at Smoky Not Smudgy, and leading up to the event I was really excited as it's built quite a reputation for itself, being promoted on various hijab blogs and vlogs, and featuring a great mix of stalls, bloggers, workshops and fashion shows, showcasing modest yet stylish clothing. I've been following the event for a few years now and have been impressed with the commitment of the volunteers and the variety of stalls and activities that the event itself offers.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The turnout was pretty amazing, so much so we endured our fair share of tight squeezes and claustrophobic moments! It's nice to know that an event of this caliber is supported by so many women and still going strong in its seventh year. It's wonderful that SnS provides women, from all walks of life, with the perfect opportunity to get together in the name of charity and celebrate the beauty of a way of life, which has empowered women for thousands of years. It was inspiring to see women with various visions promoting their own businesses while often sharing their talents and skills with the rest of world. Handmade cosmetics and skin care were very popular amidst the sea of scarf stalls, which was great as people really seem to be a lot more conscious about taking care of their skin. The fashion show in the evening was a great finale to the day and showcased some gorgeous semi-formal and formal outfits, including sparkly Asian outfits that would be perfect for a special occasion or wedding. The work and efforts of the volunteers is really commendable, and there were plenty of friendly faces around when we needed assistance or directions.</div>
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<i>A polka dot skirt! What more could a girl ask for?</i></div>
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<i>Gorgeous designs from </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MODIIISH?fref=ts" target="_blank">Modiish</a></div>
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In terms of the event itself, I have to say I was a tincy wincy bit underwhelmed. Knowing the reputation that the event has built up for itself, I was expecting a lot more, something with a bit more shabban?! Fireworks? Fire eating bears? One a serious note, SnS has built up such a strong brand that I was expecting that in the deliverance of the actual event itself. The overall vibe I got from the event was very much like a community bazar, and to be fair the event does advertise itself as having a bazar; however, I somehow expected it to be a little different? I imagined the event to be on the same league as Good Food Show or Ideal Home, in terms of space and vendors. Although there was some fabulous variety in terms of stalls and vendors, I think having more open space would have made a huge difference and presented the goods in a more appealing fashion while providing a more relaxed atmosphere. You could easily walk past so many stalls without actually noticing their goods! <span style="text-align: start;">I remember coming home and realising while flicking through some business cards that I had walked straight past (twice in fact) a great upcoming designer that I'm a huge fan off. Yes! The sheer horror on my face when seeing their business card in my handbag and realising that I had missed them!</span><br />
Having said this, I can appreciate the difficult of organising a charity event in addition to keeping head costs down by restricting space in order to sustain maximum profit.<br />
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<i>Cupcake towers!</i></div>
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There were lots of sweet treats and cupcake stands to keep the sweet tooth ladies (including moi) happy. I only noticed one stand selling actual lunchtime food – vegetable and meat biryani. I think more selection of savory food would have been greatly appreciated by everyone, certainly by me, although saying that the veg biryani was simply divine! It was the perfect blend of spicy, aromatic rice with the the right amount of sweet/sourness. Way to go TKC!<br />
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Overall, it was a great day out with plenty of activities and entertainment, providing women with a fab opportunity to get together. It also allows innovative and upcoming businesses and designers to network and show off their wares to the public while providing women with the opportunity to shop! However, I think space wise, a larger area would have provided a more relaxed environment and the opportunity to display the goods in a more aesthetically pleasing way.</div>
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<i>A quick inspection to check what it is.</i></div>
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<i>Who can resist gorgeous, handmade silk bouquets from </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomBouquets" target="_blank">Cherry Blossom Bouquets</a><i>?</i></div>
<br />The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-63894131675335688782014-11-15T13:42:00.000-08:002015-01-24T12:38:11.872-08:00Let's Bake: Candlelight Caramel Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the perfect cake if you're looking for a real winter warmer pud. It's a really </span>straightforward cake to make and doesn't take long to bake.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Two layers of super light caramel pecan cake </span>sandwich a creamy caramel buttercream before being draped in a flourish of more caramel buttercream and a garnish (or mindless scattering) of pecans and chocolate bits. Caramel cake has been on my mind for a while now, and after an endless struggle to find a recipe that didn't contain an ounce of salt (i'm afraid salted caramel doesn't quite cut it for me) I ended up adapting a fabulous recipe from <a href="http://www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk/2010/08/caramel-cake.html" target="_blank">The Pink Whisk</a> and added pecans to give the cake more substance. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of decorating, I tried to go for effortless chic, but to be honest I just really wanted to eat the cake so I quickly slathered on some buttercream, aimlessly threw on some pecans and chocolate, and dribbled some caramel on the side. My peeps seems to like the whole look, but to be honest I think they were just grateful that a cake had been baked, so I went with the whole messy-but-so-</span>totally-2014-vibe. I've seen this look a lot recently, where the poor cake is left to fend for itself beneath a pile of sweets, fruits or whatever else may lurking in the kitchen cupboards.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk/2010/08/caramel-cake.html" target="_blank">The Pink Whisk</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Cake:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>300g butter or baking spread</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>180g dark muscovado sugar</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2/3 397g tin Carnation Caramel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6 eggs</b></span></div>
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<b>handful of pecans</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Buttercream:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<b>125g unsalted butter</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>250g icing sugar</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>4-5 tsp remaining Carnation Caramel</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i>To Decorate:</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b>Any knickknacks lying around.</b></div>
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<b>I used pecans, some chocolate from the back of the cupboard</b></div>
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<b>and a swirl of caramel. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Instructions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas mark 4. Line two 8" </span>sandwich tins with baking parchment. This batter is enough for three layers, so if you happen to have an sandwich tins lying around then by all means line it and just divide the batter in thirds.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Cream the butter with the dark muscovado sugar until light and fluffy. I prefer using baking spread, but its only </span>personal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> preference. Either will do just fine, but do make sure that whatever you end up using is at room temperature. This goes for eggs as well. Room temperature eggs reduce chances of any nasty scrambling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Add the caramel and mix together until combined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl until frothy then add to the mixture slowly a little at a time. I find it best to mix the eggs in a mixing jug, as it's easier to poor without any eggy dribbles on the worktops. </span>If the mixture starts to separate then add a spoonful of flour to stabilize the cake mix.</div>
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<b>Warning: Do not panic if the mixture resembles scrambled eggs. I repeat do not panic! Once you add all the flour, the mixture looks more civilised. I promise.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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5. Sift in the flour, leaving a tsp or so to coat the pecans. Fold the flour gently into the mixture. Avoid over beating at this stage otherwise you'll end up with a tough cake.</div>
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<br /></div>
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6. Coat the pecans in the remaining flour before gently incorporating into the mixture. If the mixture is quite thick, you may want to add a splash of milk to loosen it up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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7. Divide the mixture into the tins and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.</div>
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<br /></div>
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8. Leave the cake to cool before turning it out of the tin after 10 minutes. </div>
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<br /></div>
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9. For the buttercream, beat the butter (argg brutal) until it is creamy and pale.</div>
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<br /></div>
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10. Add the icing sugar and beat together for as long as you can. Seriously! You want the buttercream to be smooth and luscious and not stodgy, so I suggest either use a stand mixer or a brother/dad/random man for added brute force. Add 4-5tsp of caramel to the buttercream. I suggest tasting as you go along (cook's privilege) to ensure you have the right amount of caramel flavour. </div>
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<br /></div>
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11. Once the cakes have cooled, arrange the first layer on a serving dish before adding a dollop of buttercream and spreading across the cake. You could also add a spoonful of caramel for added ooziness. Place the second layer on top of the buttercream and then frost the entire cake in buttercream. </div>
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<br /></div>
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12. For the grand finale, add a flourish of pecans and chocolate bits before dribbling some caramel across the cake.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Ta daa</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwslul97IkLgBm0mPr_h4QOkVNFS6Km91nYgwb4uqXCBZ_Wo_BeUw_szJk1R2XF1kBAFGLF-VFAjooubOKPgDLVwmx3_mjhFNIB2Pbt6SYfp8rM1__NJKJ_VT1cCR5Mz1m59CJSYCStaf3/s1600/P1050915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwslul97IkLgBm0mPr_h4QOkVNFS6Km91nYgwb4uqXCBZ_Wo_BeUw_szJk1R2XF1kBAFGLF-VFAjooubOKPgDLVwmx3_mjhFNIB2Pbt6SYfp8rM1__NJKJ_VT1cCR5Mz1m59CJSYCStaf3/s1600/P1050915.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<i>Say goodbye to crusty old shop bought cakes.</i></div>
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<i>There's a new cake in town.</i></div>
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</div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966868115599335579.post-88289492549908040152014-11-14T12:22:00.000-08:002014-11-14T15:04:16.233-08:00The Shackles are Released<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>In the name of God,
most Gracious, most Merciful<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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I’ve been meaning to write a blog for a while now, having silently
scoured the blogging scene for a jolly good few years and since the last time I
shared my personal musings were back in the uniform days (aka school...eek).
So with the encouragement of a few special people, you know who you are,
I’ve finally managed to park myself down
and compile this long overdue blog crammed with my over-zealous thoughts,
passions and a few snazzy photographs courtesy of moi. And so the shackles of my
very stubborn self have been prised open, allowing me, and anyone else hovering
around, to indulge in the small treasures of life that I have encountered along
the way. Whether it’s travelling the globe, stuffing your face with cake or
hijabi fashion, I hope to reignite my love for writing and explore the wondrous
delights of this world.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to <i>A
Traveller’s Treasurebox</i> </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKSKIBU5KF4mCZztGoXZxME8zye-N6HBC40Dj7G1M8U0VXutbACR3qj_xX48MJ7fppbF1DFhmrdn9TZsHm9-SNRH90ZbcR1k4JhCyCPy8_bchCF8Ytfyub6NnC5etWp4k0AXCnsPyEBah/s1600/IMG-20130818-WA0033+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKSKIBU5KF4mCZztGoXZxME8zye-N6HBC40Dj7G1M8U0VXutbACR3qj_xX48MJ7fppbF1DFhmrdn9TZsHm9-SNRH90ZbcR1k4JhCyCPy8_bchCF8Ytfyub6NnC5etWp4k0AXCnsPyEBah/s1600/IMG-20130818-WA0033+(2).jpg" height="400" width="365" /></a></div>
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The Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04216882966920742531noreply@blogger.com1