Salaams…dear readers…sorry haven’t written in a couple of days, I was really busy with a fundraising banquet we had for my son’s Islamic school, Genesee Academy. This was 4th Annual fundraising banquet, and each year we have had a different theme. The theme was the Royal Mughal fashions, and we auctioned off many thing among which were some beautiful Pakistani dresses, which were in the latest style which were in keeping with the theme of the event. Some of the girls put on an amazing fashion show, and there was some put together a wonderful desi dance routine. The best thing I love about our community is that there is a lot of unity. And many people are very open to trying new things, and it was amazing to see girls and ladies from different backgrounds dressed up in desi clothes. It was also nice to see ladies and girls dressed up in their own royal type outifits.We were raising money for microscopes for the science class. I hope we raised a good amount, because me and my friends put a lot of work into the event. Since most of our community wear hijab, I couldn’t take any pictures, but I can tell you something us ladies who wear hijab love the opportunity to get our hair done and get dressed up, and everyone was looking awesome. I did take some pictures of the cake, my friends Naila and Afsheen had made in honor of the event, and a couple of some of the centerpieces we used. And also I have included pictures of some the outfits we auctioned off! Enjoy!

THIS IS THE DRESS I WORE

I finally made my purchases from the new Zeena Collection and just like always, they shipped it out right away, and three days later I had my order.  The first shirt I wore was the   Zeena Pearl Tunic  in steel blue, and I love it!  Now, I’m not slim like I use to be, and in fact I’ve even put on a few extra pounds, (For some reason since Thanksgiving I can’t seem to conince my stomach that feasting time has been long over), so I usually order the Zeena shirts in XL, but this time I went out on a limb and orderd L, and it worked!  The material is mostly polyester and a bit of spandex, and I love the feel of the fabric.  Even though it is stretchable, it doesn’t stick to me or make my bulges prominent.  The color is glorious, the design of the buttons on the bottom side is very chic and the length is simply perfect.  I wore it with skinny, but not so skinny jeans, and magenta colorcoat, and a scarf from Target, and I felt really good.  You know the most important thing is how you feel.  I try not to focus too much on what others say, except for a couple of my closest friends and my husband, because I think the major thing about anything you wear, or do with you hair is how it makes YOU feel.  If you feel good and confident, you will be confident, which will lead to a happier and healthier life.  And on those grounds Zeena made this Desi Muslimah very very happy, mashAllah!

While most are followin the long shirts with churidaars, or shirts with side panels, or farshi type shirts where the back of the shirt which is extra long. And while i love all these styles..I am so in love with the really long gowns. While they are not as common as the other trends, I am so liking this style. I find that since I like the gowns/maxis on myself the best, especially since putting on the extra pounds, this style still manages to make me feel elegant. Check out the pictures of some of the beautiful Pakistani evening gowns/maxis below!

I ordered this one from Nashiz Trend-setterz

I ordered this from Sumera's Designs

I ordered this one from Nashiz-Trendsetters also

“And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and As-Sabirun (the patient)”

Surah Muhammad Ayat 41

My friend Muna Jondy shared this article and comments…and I just had to share it on the site!  Can you believe the ignorance!

“So I heard this yesterday.  He added a new criterion – to be ‘modern’.  I’m used to the ‘anti-sharia, loyal to this country, non extremist/fanatic’ prerequisites, but ‘modern’ is a new one.  I’d love to hear his definition, just for fun really.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/newt-gingrich-muslim-president-sharia_n_1211521.html

Newt Gingrich told a South Carolina town hall audience on Tuesday that he would be open to seeing a Muslim-American run for president, as long as the candidate denounced Sharia law and didn’t seek to impose his or her views on others.

At a town hall meeting in West Columbia, S.C., a man asked Gingrich if he would ever “support a Muslim-American running for president.”

“Would you endorse…a Muslim-American, [who] could possibly be running for president, given that we had a woman running for president in Hillary Clinton, and we had a Jewish-American, in Joe Lieberman, running for vice president?” he asked.

“A truly modern person who happened to worship Allah would not be a threat,” Gingrich replied. “A person who belonged to any kind of belief in Sharia, any kind of effort to impose that on the rest of us, would be a mortal threat.”

In the past, Gingrich has repeatedly decried Sharia, a legal code derived from Islam, and called for a federal law to pre-emptively bar its use in any U.S. courts. He didn’t soften his position on Tuesday, saying his support would be contingent on a candidate’s willingness to denounce Sharia.

“I think it would depend entirely on whether they would commit in public to give up Sharia,” he said, referencing his support for the bill and drawing cheers from listeners at the event. “If they’re a modern person integrated into the modern world, and they’re prepared to recognize all religions, that’s one thing. On the other hand, if they’re the Saudis, who demand that we respect them while they refuse to allow either a Jew or a Christian to worship in Saudi Arabia, that’s something different.”

He pointed to an acquaintance as an example of a “truly modern” Muslim.

Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain said he wouldn’t be comfortable appointing a Muslim to a judgeship or cabinet position. He later apologized.

Yes I am crazy about maxi dresses…and I was so happy to learn that just because its winter doesn’t mean that maxi dresses are out!  Now all I have to do is lose some weight so I will actually look good in a maxi dress!  LOL! That is in the plan, (upcoming post about my losing weight plan)iA.  In the meantime I enjoy looking at all the lovely maxi dresses out there this winter, and share them with you too!  Tell me which one you like!