A-Z Tag

Salaam alaikum everyone, long time, no write, yes? I bet you're all used to it by now though...

Anyways, I thought I would make another post just because it's been a while. I saw this tag over at sister Yara's blog (go check her out if you haven't already...mash'Allah I love her blog, and her YouTube channel!) and thought I'd give it a go...

Age: 22

Bed Size: Almost a Queen...the mattress sizing here is so weird...

Chore you Hate: It has to be a tie between cleaning the dishes and mopping the floor.

Dogs: I love chows...they look like giant teddy bears :)

Essential start of your day: Something I've been trying to make an essential start of my day would be praying fajr on time. Unfortunately, I'm a bad fajr riser, astighfirallah, but I try :( As of right now, I would have to say kissing my hubby goodbye before he goes off to work.

Favourite Colour: purple

Gold or Silver: I prefer silver

Height: just under 5'5", or 164cm if you want to get exact

Instruments I play: I used to play the cello in elementary school. I gave it up to take more ballet lessons (I was very serious about classical ballet).

Job Title: Muslimah and a house wife...and soon to be...MOMMY insh'Allah :D

Kids: my little boy is due to make his appearance in JULY insh'Allah...I can't wait to meet him!!

Live: Casablanca, Morocco

Mum's name: I don't think she'd appreciate me disclosing her name here, so I'll just say "Mom" or "Mommy"...it depends, I call her both

Nickname: Everyone calls me Ayah here, my husband also has an affectionate name that only he uses with me, but I won't say what it is.

Pet Peeve: when people chew with their mouths open...or when they chomp on their gum obnoxiously...it drives me up the wall!

Quote from a movie: I like movies, but I'm not that into movie quotes.

Right or left handed: Righty

Siblings: one sister, one brother

Time you wake up: it varies...sometimes I'm up at 7:30am for good, and sometimes I just wake up to say goodbye to my husband and continue sleeping until 10 am ish. Most mornings I am up by 11. Yeah...that's all gonna change soon XD

Underwear: umm, I wear it?

Vegetables you dislike: I'm not too fond of steamed zucchini, but I'll still eat it. I'm also not a huge fan of raw tomatoes (even though they're technically a fruit, not a vegetable)...I can't eat them by themselves, they have to be mixed into a salad with some sort of dressing, or on a sandwich. I used to not eat them period.

What makes you run late: if I'm having a bad hijab day...that always makes me run late

X-rays you've had done: my teeth, my chest, my left knee, my right wrist...I've never broken a bone though, alhamdolillah

Yummy food you make: most of what I make is at least edible...but I make really good home-made mashed potatoes from scratch, and I make great spaghetti sauce from scratch too...I'm still getting better at Moroccan cuisine, even though I have tagines down fairly well. If I'm following a recipe, it generally turns out well.

Zoo animal: I like penguins, but you usually find them at aquariums, not zoos. Emus are also pretty cool.

I Guess I'll Do It Too...

Salaam alaikum everyone, insh'Allah you're all doing well, enjoying your Ramadan, making the most of the time left (can you believe Ramadan is already half way through, subhan'Allah!), etc. etc.

I saw this over at Amal's blog and thought I'd do it too, because I feel like, so there, heh :P

A
– Available: Married, alhamdolillah!
– Age: 21
– Animals: love them (me too, me too!, here here!)

B
– Beer: I have no idea what it tastes like, but I know that it smells gross because my Dad likes to drink it
– Best friends: my husband <3
– Body Part on opposite sex: meh, I don't look at men any more, I'm happy with what I've got lol
– Best feeling in the world: feeling at peace with yourself and everyone and everything around you
– Best weather: sunny, mid sixties, with a gentle breeze, and a few puffy clouds in the sky (does it freak anyone else out when there are no clouds in the sky?)
– Been in Love: yep and still am, alhamdolillah
– Been on stage: I used to be a dancer, so yes, lots
– Believe in Magic: yes, but stay far far away!
– Believe in Santa: LOL, I figured out "Santa Clause" was my parents when I was like nine or ten...I can still remember the conversation very clearly...and my parents telling me not to spoil it for my little brother and sister XD
– Brand: I don't care about brands

C
– Candy: york patties...man I haven't had one in forever :(
– Color: purple (me too!)
– Chocolate/Vanilla: Strawberry. Hah.
- Chinese/Indian/Italian: I have had such strong cravings for Chinese food lately...
- Cake or pie: Cake
– Cheese: I love cheese. Mozarella cheese here is a special treat for me because it's so expensive.

D
– Day or Night: Night
– Dancing in the rain: I've done it. It's over-rated. I just ended up cold and wet and wanting a hot shower and a cup of tea. I hate getting wet when it doesn't involve a shower/wudu.

E
– Eyes: I have a pair, alhamdulillah :D (ameen to that)
– Ever failed a class?: yes, in fact I failed out of college, despite graduating with honors from high school
– Enemies: shaitan...but he's locked up right now, hahahaha! XD
– Exercise: I like to take walks, dance by myself (lol, that sounds so lame, but really, it's awesome, trust me), and I'm planning on getting an exercise bike for Eid insh'Allah...I used to be so much more active

F
– First thoughts waking up: it depends...but usually it's something related to my hubby
– Food: is delicious (yes, yes it is!)

G
– Greatest Fear: that I won't get to see Allah(swt) in the akhira
– Get along with your parents: yeah, I do, but I barely ever talk to them any more because they're so busy :(

H
– Hair Color: for me to know, and you not to know
– Happy: for the most part, yes
– Holiday: looking forward to taking a trip next month to the mountains with hubby, insh'Allah!

I
– Ice Cream: I like, I like!

J
– Jewelry: I used to wear a ton of jewelry, but I don't really any more
– Job: I don't have one...the last real one I had in the states was in retail (for almost 1.5 years), and I'm still recovering from it. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do about a job, or if I even want one. There aren't really that many opportunities for me here. I might go work for my FIL's friend in his office, but it depends.

K
– Kids: Insh'Allah, please keep me in you du'ah
– Kickboxing or karate: Karate all the way! I'm a second degree black belt :P
– Keep a journal?: does this blog count? I guess I kind of keep one in my head too because I'm weird like that XD

L
– Love: is amazing and worth it
– Laughed so hard you cried: yes

M
- Milk flavor: skim milk...I miss skim milk so much
– Movies: help the time pass, and keep the bad thoughts away
– Motion sickness: only at amusement parks on certain rides...oh, and tire swings

N
– Number: um, I dunno, seven?

O
– One wish: to have Allah(swt) say "salaam alaikum" to me in jannah

P
– Perfect Pizza: my Mom's meatball pizza!
– Pepsi/Coke: ew. neither
– Perfume/Cologne: Perfume

Q
– Quail: what?!?

R
– Reason to cry: I cry a lot sometimes, and sometimes I don't know why I'm crying
– Reality T.V: Project Runway and America's Next Top Model, oh yeah, trash t.v.!
– Radio Station: I don't listen to the radio that much...but I like listening to the Qur'an station when we're taking a trip in my FIL's van

S
– Song: I have "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars stuck in my head right now...it's really funny because I used to hate it when it first came out, but it's kind of growing on me now. I haven't actually listened to it in maybe about a month, but I just have an insanely good musical memory. Seriously. My brain is like it's own radio station. It can be a good thing and a bad thing.
– Shoe size: 37 wide...if I can't find it, I have to go up to a 38, but they end up being a little too big for me
– Salad Dressing: olive oil and vinegar
– Skinny dip: I think I'll pass
– Strawberries/Blueberries: both
– Sport: karate
- Sex: being married during Ramadan is difficult sometimes

T
– Tattoos?: nope...I wanted one when I was 15/16 but luckily I converted before I was 18 and could get one without my parents' permission :P
– Thunderstorms: I find them relaxing. When I'm inside, that is.

U
– Unpredictable: I guess people could say that about me

V
– Vacation spot(s): doesn't really matter, I just like a change of scene every now and then

W
– Weakness: I sabotage myself
– Who makes you laugh the most: my hubby <3
– Worst Weather?: when it's disgustingly humid and over 80 at the same time, and there's no breeze. EW.

X
– X-Rays: had them for my mouth, my left knee, my right wrist, and my chest

Y
-Year it is now: 2011
-Yellow: is a color I don't like to wear because I think I look awful in it?

Z
–Zoo animals: I like to see animals that I otherwise may never have been able to see in real life, however, I believe that the vast majority of zoos are quite cruel because the animals have NO space :(

Muslim Tag

Salaam alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh everyone, insh'Allah you're all well and in the best of health and the highest of iman! ***Just a little reminder before I begin, and I remind myself above and before anyone else, Ramadan is LESS THAN A MONTH away! If you still have fasts you need to make up from last Ramadan, you should make them up VERY SOON insh'Allah***

I've seen this going around on YouTube, and I'm so glad that Elisa over at Before Sunrise decided to adapt it to a blog tag format! So, here it goes:

1. Are you a convert or born Muslim?

Well, since everyone is technically born a Muslim, I guess I'm both, alhamdolillah :P I took my shahada August 18, 2007 at the age of 17, the summer before my senior year of high school. I was raised Presbyterian by my parents (I think that my father was actually raised Anglican but I'm not sure...he later switched churches for convenience). When I was younger I enjoyed going to church and actually was fairly involved at certain periods of my life. It wasn't until I was older, and a year or so after I was confirmed (at 14) that I really started asking myself what it was I believed and why I believed that way. I was always very interested in world religions, but had never really studied Islam all that much until I was a junior in high school. It was in a history class that focused on current events...I wasn't really thrilled that we had to spend the entire year learning about and analysing politics in the Middle East (not a huge fan of politics...and I would have loved to move on to other regions as well, which we did...in May -_-), but I was very interested at the begining of the year when we focused briefly on Islam. Insh'Allah when my fourth anniversary comes around I'm planning on doing a more in-depth post on my choice to become Muslim.

2. What's your ethnicity, and how does it relate to how you were raised?

I am half Czech, and the other half is mostly English with a bit of French. However, both my parents are third or fourth (can't remember/be 100% sure) generation. Sometimes my mom would cook Czech food for us, that she learned how to cook from my grandma (I think?), but other than that I had a traditionally "American" upbringing.

3. Where are you from? If not from the Middle East have you ever been there, and why?

I'm from the New England region of the United States. I've never been to the Middle East (Morocco is NOT the Middle East, it's in North Africa!), but insh'Allah I'd love to be able to make hajj one day with my husband.

4. What's your favorite Arab/Middle Eastern dish?

I'm going to have to talk about Moroccan food...mostly because that's what I've been eating for the past eight months, but also because it's very tasty ^_^ Some of my favorite dishes are: kefta with cucumber, mint and yoghurt sauce, couscous (I like all kinds of couscous, but my favorite is plain couscous with melted honey and butter sauce, yeah, not too healthy but very YUM), and lemon chicken with olives and harissa. Oh, and don't forget the tea!

5. What is the most interesting or funny Arab/Islam related saying you use day to day?

Well, I say "Salaam alaikum," "Peace be upon you" a lot...but something funny that I say when I need a tissue (which is quite often, for some reason my nose does not take kindly to the climate here), I say "ana mukhnoona!"...which basically means "I'm full of snot!" I could say "bgheet kleenex" but the former is much more amusing :P

6. What's the most attractive/unattractive thing you find towards an Arab/Muslim man/woman?

Attractive (for both): Someone who sincerely strives to follow their deen, is polite and respectful, but still has a sense of humor and doesn't take themselves too seriously

Unattractive (for both): Someone who likes to make people think they are very religious/pious, but in reality they're not...and also people who have the "holier than thou art" attitude

7. What's the thing you love the most about Islam? What do you dislike the most?

The thing that I love the most about Islam is that it has the answer for everything. If I have a question about something, and I look, I will always eventually find an answer. When it's practiced as a complete way of life, it really gives you peace of mind and tranquility within your heart. Dislike? There's nothing that I dislike about Islam, just the way that certain people view Islam is something I don't like. Oh well, everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

8. What's the most interesting/embarrassing/funny thing in your house that is related to Islam or Arabic culture, excluding the Qur'an?

Not really anything...we have two prayer rugs, and some wall hangings that have "Allah" and the shahada in arabic script on them...oh wait! We have a tagine! If you don't know what a tagine is, click here: http://mosalyo.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/tagine.jpg I can't believe I almost forgot that...I use it almost every day to cook -_-'

9. Do you speak Arabic? If you do say something!

Ana smiti Ayah, wa nbgheek bzef! Bgheet nakul alftar dabba! (My name is Ayah, and I love you a lot! I want to eat breakfast now!) lol...its almost 2pm and I still haven't eaten breakfast...yay for sleeping in! (btw, this was Moroccan dialect; most other Arabs can't understand Moroccans)

10. Name all of the Islamic prophets you can off the top of your head, no cheating!

Adam, Idris, Nooh, Hud, Ilyas, Ibrahim, Ishaq, Ismail, Yaqub, Youssef, Younes, Salih, Harun, Moosa, Lut, Sulaiman, Dawud, Yahya, Issa, Mohammed (Alayhum Salaam)

I tag everyone reading this who wants to do it!

TAG: My Favorites

Salaam alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh everyone, insh'Allah you're all in the best of health and the highest of iman ^_^

Alhamdolillah my stomach has been feeling better since taking the medication and altering my diet...insh'Allah it'll be 100% healed soon, because ulcers aren't that fun :(

Anyways, I saw this over at Elisa's blog "Before Sunrise" and thought it would be fun to do ^_^

My Favorite:

1. FOOD: Salmon! I miss eating it so much...over here in Morocco it's kind of out of our price range :( Couscous is also delicious.

2. COLOR: PURPLE. Hands down.

3. ANIMAL: CATS. Again, no question there ^_^

4. SPORT: Karate...I'm a second degree blackbelt! :P

5. DESSERT: Mango gelatto

6. SHOES: Bilgha...they're traditional Moroccan slippers and I love them!

7. OUTFIT: My slim-sleeved, super A-line cut abaya made from saloona crepe that I got from a sister while she was living in Saudi paired with a large colored/printed scarf. Also, pyjamas for wearing underneath and inside the house XD

8. BRAND: Pshhht, brands are overrated. If I see something I like that's not too expensive, I buy it regardless of what it does or doesn't say on the tag.

9. PERFUME: Anything by Escada...stupid me I left both of my nice Escada perfumes at my parents' house...oh well, they were almost empty anyways lol (and just a side note ladies...perfume around non-mahrams is a no-no!)

10. ACCESSORY: Gotta have my earings! I have four piercings in each of my ears...oh, and I had them all before I was 15...my parents were very lenient with ear piercings...my Mommy has double piercings in each of her ears <3 And no...I never got anything else pierced...although I did want a nose piercing and an eyebrow piercing once upon a time...but I grew out of that wish before I turned 18 :P

11. CITY: This is difficult to say...I really don't have one. I like my hometown for obvious reasons, I like Casa, where I am now...I also like Washington D.C. because of all the awesome museums, monuments, and restaurants!

12. HOBBY: I enjoy knitting and sewing...but I haven't done either in forever! So, I guess stalking people online will have to suffice for now...(JK PEOPLE, JK!)

13. BEAUTY PRODUCT: I'm going to have to say it's a tie between lip balm and talcum powder...lol yeah I'm really boring when it comes to beauty products...Ayah doesn't wear makeup, even for hubby (hubby doesn't like it anyways) :P

14. SNACK: I like slicing up a cucumber and putting some vinegar on it and eating that as a snack (can't do that anymore now though because of the ulcers, boo!)...it reminds me a bit of eating salt and vinegar chips, which I used to be addicted to. I also really liked mochi ice cream when I was living in the U.S., but they don't have it here in Maroc :(

15. HOLIDAY: Ramadan...I look forward to it every year, alhamdolillah, especially this year! FYI everyone, only about 3 MONTHS UNTIL RAMADAN STARTS! :D

16. MOVIE: It's a three way tie between Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro

17. SONG: Mountains of Mecca by Zain Bhikha

18. GUILTY PLEASURE: Watching America's Next Top Model and Project Runway...I'm still annoyed that Mondo didn't win last season >:(

Anyways, I'm too lazy to actually tag people...so if you read this, and you feel like doing it, consider yourself TAGGED!