Followers

8:10 AM

Job Jumping

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

As I look through my CV (resume) I find a funny coincidence. Every March through May I'm getting a new job and I never planned it this way. When I first moved to UAE I was pregnant and about May I couldn't handle working anymore. Magrudy's laid off dozens and dozens of staff in March last year. And now this year, my job environment at an English language institute I was working at became unbearable. Literally having to beg and plead just to get my hard earned salary.
 No, I don't think so. Allah didn't create me to have to beg for my sustenance when I'm already working hard. If I want to be a beggar I'll go sit on the streets. The staff are all miserable and making drama and even the Director ran away. So I did too.

My parents were planned to come in the end of March so this was the perfect time to switch jobs as I needed a mini vacation. Now financially it's not been easy but I've managed to break all ties with my former company and switch to a new and much better institution for English teaching. But the classes cancel easily and they aren't loading me up so it's difficult.

But YAY my parents did arrive and it's so nice to have time with them! I haven't seen them for 6 years and it's just amazing to see how they've changed and for them to see how much I've changed and my family. Really I could write a whole blog post about their visit and probably will later when i have more time.

ALSO on the horizon I have the chance again to become a designer. The CEO of a design company took interest in my art and is challenging me to show him new work and designs. He is very exacting about quality and basically wants a 3DMAX quality HAND DRAWING. Not easy. My first design was 60% of 100%. My next attempt was 85%. I'm hoping the one I'm working on now will reach 100%. INsha'Allah.

So I'm putting my whole effort into being a designer which is my dream and getting out of the teaching field for now. I'll always love teaching but design is my blood and soul. If he decides he doesn't want me for his company there are thousands more out there or maybe I could start my own..... hmm this is Dubai, where dream can come true with the right connection.

Yalla off to work!

3:02 PM

APRIL SPRING SKY

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

My Beloved Month of my Birth has arrived again. APRIL!
Normally I feel like Yellow when this month comes (see last year's post) but this year I just have the aching for BLUE! A lovely light fresh blue like the gorgious spring sky.
I found myself some lovely internet cakes and sugar flowers.
I'd love to get these dresses one day!

It just a refreshing color, the perfect start to a new year of renewal and figuring out things for my life.

I have my work cut out for me.  Trying to find a new job which has been tough.
Trying to sort out opening a new business and finding an investor.
Homeschooling, mommy stuff, wifey stuff, exersizing, dieting, friend stuff.
Want to get another book published this year insha'Allah.
New idea for another book plot to write in November's Nanowrimo.
Gotta just get stuff done this year and not let it pile up!
AS soon as I get a job I also wanna get rid of old things in my house like my couches and re-do them or get new ones.
Also hoping to travel to Lebanon and USA this year.  It all depends on what Allah gives me o work with this year. Insha'ALlah it will go smoothly.
I really can't beleive I've reached 27! I keep thinking really 27!?!?! Like almost 30?!?! What happened to 22? 24? oh yes, children..... hmm.... LOL!
I feel weird because I thought 24 would be my healthiest and now at 27 I'm getting much more healthy. Loosing a lot of weight and trying to keep it off.
I'm trying to reach 60kilos or under by July. Insha'Allah.
I wanna finish organizing my papers. As a writer I have boxes and boxes of papers. I decided that to get rid of them I'm going to just scan them all and save them on my external harddrive but finding time to scan has been the hard part.
Also wanna go through my closet and get rid of all those ugly enormous clothes I've had for years. Just get rid of them all and then slowly start a new collection. Much better styles now I can fit into better clothes.
Insha'Allah.
So a lot to do this month and take stock of and deal with but I'm looking forward to it. I love the number seven and I had a great year in 17...hehehe.  So enjoy this beautiful month and take stock of your own lives.
Have a slice of internet cake on me ;)
Love and Hugs!

10:35 AM

It's good to be outraged

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

A fellow writer mentioned this site and her dismay at seeing these objects.  Clicking the link I too grew outraged and you should be too.
Nationaism put behind us and talking about these pictures not a symbol of Saudi or Iraq but the WORDS that are being used.

____________________________________________________________________________
Words used:


ALLAH
MUHAMMAD
SHAHADA - LA ILLAHA ILLA LAH MUHAMMADUR RASULLULLAH, There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger(Prophet) of Allah.

The items on display are shoes, Footballs (soccer ball), T-shirts, Skateboards, Bumper Stickers, and yes, even Dog's Clothing.
All bearing the words above.

Now starting with the shoes. Is it right to put the word for God on a shoe so that it steps in all sorts of filth and dirt and perhaps even gets kicked by other players as they have a game. IMagine a player does one of those awesome moves and does this flying kick in the air in Soccer and then lands hard dragging his shoes through the mud as he falls.... yeah lets smear mud across the name of ALLAH!!! NOOOO!!!!!!

Would the same poeple buying these shoes go up to a masjid and smear mud across a sign saying Shahada!!!





Moving onto the soccer ball. Again is it right to smash your foot or other appedages into the words of Shahada that incude our beloved Prophet and the name of our More Beloved God? NOOOOOO!!!!










Now T-shirts, come on, you might say, T-shirts are harmless!  Are they now? Where do you go with a t-shirt? At somepoint after eating and drinking fluids all day you're going to have to relieve yourself in a bathroom.  Unless your willing to take off your shirt and flip it inside out or fold it nicely and hide it from sight then you're going to be entering the bathroom with words of Allah and Muhammad on your clothes.  All clothes: hats, shoes, shirts, pants.  Even jewelry! If it says Muhammad or Allah on it, it should not enter a bathroom.  It is disrespectful.  Those that wear necklaces always tuck them into their shirts or hijabs so they aren't displayed.  What would you do with your clothes?









Skateboards! I dont know if you've seen much skateboarding but I have. The board is repeatedly slammed across railings, steps, dirty streets, not to mention the feet always stepping on it. Here the sacred words are written to be used in such manners.  And have you seen boards that have been used fo a long time? They get roughed up and worn off so imagine these boards in like 5 years from now how messed up they'd be from use.  Should we tatter up the most beautiful words? NOOOO!!!!







Also with Bumper Stickers, OK if you wanna use the stickers in a proper way in your house for your kids to learn from and for decorating the hosue these would be awesome for that but what do they call them? Car Bumper Stickers! As in stick them on the front or back of your car where most cars bump (hense the name Bumper) into each other leaving the chance for it to get mangled or dirtied quite probable.  What if you put it someplace safe though like a window on a car? I see stickers with Masha'Allah on them all the time on cars here reminding people not to give their cars the evil eye. But still what if something happens to your car and you're responsable for the damage of such precious words?




Moving on to dog's clothes: Yes dogs are allowed in Islam under certain conditions, but their saliva is deemed as impure.  To cleanse yourself of the impurity you must wash your hands 7 times with water and the first time must contain dirt. So sticking a clothing on a dog is a bad bad idea. What if it irritates him and he turns to lick it or bite at it? What if he's playing and rolls over on it sticking the words of Allah and Muhammad onto the dirt? What if God forbids, another Dog comes over to him and pees on him? Or licks him? What if the dog licks himself and then licks his clothes?!?!?!  NOOOO!!!!!!

BAD IDEAS People to buy these things.  BAD IDEAS product makers. I know you're trying to be COOL and all and offer Nationalistic things for people in the region but take into consideration all the protesting done by Muslims for other offensive things and learn from it.



Go to these sites and Protest, where you can, for their removal and get the companies not to sell them.

Protect your Religion from the Disrespect ignorant poeple wish to do to it.









9:34 AM

BURJ DUBAI KHALIFA

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

This past weekend I actaully spent the whole day feeling like I was being partially brainwashed except I liked it.



The opening and commemoration of the World's Tallest Tower happened on January 4th.  The event took place on the same day as the aniversary of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum taking assenssion to the Throne as Dubai's ruler 4 years ago.


To celebrate this mighty occassion they spent the entire day from sun up til probably about midnight on all local Dubai TV channels covering different aspects of the day and how the Burj Dubai was built. Inbetween talking about the Burj there was extensive coverage of the Sheikh himself. How he helps humanity and how humble he is to even sit on the bare dirt while speaking to an Elderly Emirati man who is also just sitting on dirt.  He built the man a brand new house and a whole community of houses in four months.  Masha'Allah.  He enjoys supporting the sports and camel and horse racing events.  BUT my particular favoritism for this man has to do with his involvement in the Literary world.  He largely supports Poetry and Literature.  His foundation has made the goal to translate 1,000 novels into Arabic language in the next three years, more than one novel translated in a day.  That is pretty awesome!  He is a poet himself and always attends literature events.  Now I'm not all googly eyed or anything like that as I'm well aware all people have flaws especially Rulers.  But as far as rulers go he's a lot better than MANY.

So in the evening we all watched on TV the show they put on for the opening of the Burj.
 The famous Dancing Dubai Fountain danced itself to the Emirati National Anthem and many other fabulous songs. There were parashute jumpers jumping off the 828METER skyscrapper and landing in the crowd below.  AND THE FIREWORKS OOOOH the FIREWORKS! They had fireworks out the wazoo! LiTeRaLly!!!! FIreworks shot out of every floor of the tower up and down the entire length of the building in time to the music.  IT was amazing! I have never seen anything so cool in my life. Fountains spinning and fireworks all in time to rousing themes.  Made me almost wish i was there in person lol.  SUPER COOL! I'm sure YOU TUBE has some video on it all if you want to check it out.
One of the weird things though was in the middle of Opening the tower Sheikh Mohammad RENAMED the Tower!!!  I was stunned.  There went years of advertising revenue aimed at imprinting the NAME of BURJ DUBAI into people's minds.  it is NOW BURJ KHALIFA.  Named after the Ruler of UAE, based in Abu DHabi.  So me and Hubby speculated why the name change and the best we could figure is because ABuDHabi just bailed out Dubai finacially and thus they are grateful?  AS I said it is speculation, don't sue me. I'm sure the real reason is out there if I wanted to take the time and google it... erm which i don't.....
But it's another excuse for me to go to Dubai and see something new.  I'm definitly going to go to the top someday and see the world.



Although the whole time I'll be fearing Allah's Wrath on the city where Sin and CORRUPTION is RISING!!!  Although NewYork is still standing.....and L.A. ...... and London.....  perhaps the Burj "formerly Dubai" Khalifa will be spared?


So this is what's been on my mind for the past month, erm you people did miss me right? I could tell by the lack of comments how much i was missed ;)
But it didn't hurt really to be forgotten in blogworld because I hadn't really been on blogger to do more than check comments (lotta spam whats up with that!!!) and see if my best buds had posted anything.
But I have been on the Computer almost 24/7 the last few months.  Imediatly after NaNoWriMo in November ended (whew!) I completly ignored my story and turned to business.

I have been seraching for the perfect business project for ages now.  It's always been a toss up between Interior Designing, Landscape Designing, or actaully I can't remeber half the ideas that used to float in my head anymore. But everytime I made istikhara for it things would seem to go in the rigth direction but just "put on hold for now" and evertime this happened something else would enter my mind as soemthing better to do. Well after Nano I was really cracking down on figuring out if I wanted to do Interior Designing Firm.  But meanwhile in the Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA) message boards I was absolutly happiest when dealing with IWA matters and talking with people in this industry.  My heart longed to do soemthing meaningful with Books and Literacy.
After sending a hesitant question in my discussions with an American Muslim Publisher and hearing her enthusiastic response it was solidified in my heart.

I NEED TO OPEN A BOOKSTORE!!!! An ISLAMIC bookstore.  There are PLENTY of bookstores here catered to the masses of secularism.  AND although I enjoy Harry Potter and even Twilight as much as the next Fiction enthusiest, the community needs more. MUSLIMS need more.  We need our own chain of bookstores promoting Islamic Fiction and Islamic Written works, writen of course by our fellow Brothers and SIsters.  If that is not supporting the Ummah I don't know what is.  These writers spend years working on their books to only get them sold perhaps half MAXIMUM to 1/5 the amount as say Harry Potter. YET HOW MANY MUSLIMS ARE IN THE WORLD!?!?!?! 1/5 of the world is MUSLIM! HELLO MUSLIMS! Wake up and realize we have quality books of our own that are just as entertaining as Harry Potter.
SO upon realizing what I really want to do most is a Bookstore I immediatly set up work to make out a Business Plan.  WHEW what work are they!
Meantime though I still gotta keep up the house, kjeep off the weight, Homeschool, help friends, etc.... so that is why the month is now almost over and I haven't had time for blogging and haven't even finished my Business Plan.  But yesterday I got a lot of free time in so I worked hard and got a lot of good statistical figures about the industry and demographics of UAE.

I really feel the hardest part is the Business Plan. Getting it right and making it work and doing all the research.  Finding an investor i believe will happen with the Grace of Allah. He will either send me one or not. End of Story.

SO my store is thus titled so far Crescent Pen Bookstore & Cafe. Whatcha think?
I may have a logo contest in the future so stay tuned.
The inside of the store will be white with blue edgings very calm and comfortable place to read and learn and grow in Islam. Hmm that is a catchy motto I like it.... *enter that into Business Plan*  I'm hoping to have beautiful Islamic Arches

 over each section and the sections sectioned off like a mihrab nitche. Not curvy but like a nook filled with books....we'll see how the design stage goes.
I'll be posting a questionaire for everyone to chime in on ideas in another post and will be bringing back polls to my blog (I miss those don't you?).

It is weird thinking of myself in the Business League. I never thought I'd be wrapped up in Cost of Sales and Profit Margins and all that "biz talk" but here I am wading through it all.  It's liek a sea of info out there and I'm a little fish swimming hard against the currant.


Not only I want to do this business for finacial purposes (hey I gotta eat just liek the rest of the world) but also as my life goal to promote Islamic Literature. Its like a personal Jihad to get Muslims Reading.




6:47 AM

Layout: Bandwidth Exceeded

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

Thank you very much whoever made this layout and exceeded their bandwidth... just messed up many of my blogs!!!! And I LOVED this template!!!! arG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta find a new one NOW!


Masha'Allah isn't this design jsut so elegant and classy. Talented Ange on Hegab-Rehab made this set. The shoes are just awesome with the dress. I might add a cloth style purse and a gold or white jewel to the red hijab. Thanks Ange for letting me feature this!

2:25 AM

Shape of Raindrop

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |


It is not perfectly round as it falls. Even a short distance it makes the classic raindrop look. Rounded bottom, pointy top. Reflecting the world inside. Can there be something so fascinating besides water and how it moves? It's the stuff poems are made of. I can hardly describe the feelings I get looking at this wondrous creation of Allah. La illaha illallah!

2:09 AM

The SUN

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |


One of the most important things that we take for granted every day is our source of warmth and light. It also is a source of other things like gravity, seasons, etc... but it is there for us everyday and it will be until the end of time. Just imagine that close to the last day the sun will rise from the West. Can you imagine how fearful and awe inspiring that would be! Everytime I see the sun set I try to imagine how I would feel to see it rise up again from where it just set. Allahu Akbar! What I love about this picture above is that Sun Flair is so HUGE. Sometimes while going about our day we forget how HUGE and HOT that sun is. Those that live in Tropic regions feel it more but I think those that live in cold regions appreciate it more. To thaw the snow and their moods. Can you clearly see how easy EASY it would be for us to be crushed by the power of the sun yet every moment of every day Allah keeps it in check. How easy it is for Him too! One who worships the sun should think hard about Who keeps that sun in check.
Look even harder at that little earth. One human (you) is not even an ink dot on that picture.
Makes you appreciate the big picture doesn't it? The Sun, such Beauty.

1:59 AM

Pearly Ring

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |


The grace and elegance of Pearls cannot be denied. A beautiful way to display one is to admire it in it's singular form. A ring provides this as a center setting. Pearls come in different colors but for rings the classics are the Black Pearl or the White Pearl. Pearls go well with any skin tone and are more eye catching than regular jeweled rings. The only downside I can see to a Pearl ring is it must get scratched or dirtied often and in need of cleaning. But to wear it now and then I'm sure would be wonderful. Pearls are one of the strangest made items that we wear as jewelry. Most jewels come from rocks but Pearls come from Oysters in the sea. A true gift from Allah.

1:49 AM

Blue Butterfly

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

Here are two pictures of my favorite color of Butterfly. Blue Morpho. The versatility of different patterns in remarkable! Look at these two beautiful examples. The first is set against red flowers naturally offsetting it's beauty. It has a large area of blue with those cute white spots just on the upper edge. The second is from Scotland and has an amazing array of blues. Light blue to turquoise blue and dark blue on the inner wing. White spots dot the entire length. The best part is the black lines striping it so perfectly. Unlike the first one which looks more veiny this one looks like it was painted on by hand. Straight even rows. SubhanAllah!

10:12 PM

Red, White, Grey Room

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |


I could look at this room all day. I could LIVE in this room all day! Which is why I chose it as the top of my Blog Photo and the first thing to admire!
Isn't that triangular shelf interesting! I'd put a red triangle candle on the top.
What is with the magazine on the floor though? I don't like that part of it.
I'd also place something red on that back right table. Perhaps a thin tall red vase with large white flowers.
Enjoy!

9:07 PM

Welcome

Wrote: American Muslima Writer |

Allah has created Beauty for us to reflect about the Creator.
I would like to post a few things now and then that I find beautiful because Allah allowed it to be created.

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