RECIPE: Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Count my family among the obsessed when it comes to shortbread cookies- (and desserts altogether). I have to admit, that the holiday season with its plethora of articles dedicated to holiday cookies kind of inspired me to bake! I've always enjoyed cooking new recipes, but as far as desserts went- I only had my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe to rely on! During the past month, I tried making a chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips (not as successfully as I had hoped!) and a shortbread cookie (which was delicious!). I scoured websites searching for a recipe that would best mimic the Walkers brand of Shortbread, and I may have come close!

Some recipes suggested using confectioners sugar (beneficial for its corn starch proportion), while others suggested granulated white sugar. I read that the latter would heed a better cookie texture, so I went with the white sugar!

Some recipes also suggested adding vanilla. I think you could easily skip this and still end up with a delicious cookie.

Here is the recipe I followed.

2 ½ cup all purpose flour

¼ tspn salt

1 ¼ cup of butter

½ tspn vanilla

½ cup and 1 tbspn of white sugar

Yields about 60-70 small cookies

SWATCHED: My new Revlon lippies

This past week, Rexall had another great sale going on. This time, they were offering a BOGO on most of their lip products from a number of major brands, including Revlon, L'Oreal, Maybelline, etc.

I am normally too lazy to head out for these sales...but this time, I had extra motivation: to add some red lippies to the collection! I have never publicly worn red or reddish lipsticks in my adult life, that I can remember. When I was young, I quite enjoyed wearing red lipstick for fun! I used to carry around those mini Avon lip samplers in my frog purse :-)

Last week, for a night out, I wore a daring red lipstick and it felt great, if not a bit bold!

Long story short, I picked up two Revlon lipsticks, one a more classic red, the other an intense coral-red- unlike anything I've ever worn before. I picked up Revlon Colourburst Lipstick in 'True Red' and Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Fire & Ice'.

I took a few pictures and quickly swatched them here. Overall, I really like both lipsticks. They don't have any funky/fruity smells, I got them at great prices and the colour payoff is insane. I can't speak to their longevity of wear, but a mini-review might be appended to this blogpost at some point.

Wisdom of a quarter century.

In early December, I celebrated my birthday with some week-long festivities with family and friends. I made some wonderful experiences, for which I am very grateful. I am quite blessed.

I wanted to keep this post short. I find the more I think about the past and my future, the more I realize a few 'truths', if you will, about life- gained from my personal experiences.

1- Life won't turn out exactly the way you imagine. But you can certainly try to plan for the best/worst!

2- The older you get, the harder it will be to fight the cynic in you, despite your best efforts!

There are a great deal of other realizations I've come to, but these are probably to two most significant.

"Verily the soul becomes accustomed to what you accustom it to. That is to say: what you at first burden the soul with becomes nature to it in the end" -Al-Ghazali

Come to any realizations of your own after hitting any milestones?

The Small Things...

It occurred to me recently that we live during times of great negativity, misunderstanding, strife and injustice and that sometimes our focus and attention to these issues can be quite depressing. I can't be the only one who feels this way.

For myself at least, hearing about one world crisis after another such as the repression and murder of protesters in Syria, our failings in the First Nations community of Attawapiskat, the horrendous treatment of women all across the world, our deleterious consumption habits, excessive materialism, the 27 million people currently enslaved across the world....etc, has caused me to have a negative perspective on our nature as human beings. They say you get more cynical over time. So lets just say, I'm keeping my eyes wide open to ensure that is not my fate :-)

And so even while I am keenly aware of many of the failings we have as a human race, there is still so much around us that that represents the positive and the beautiful and this recurring blogpost will make a humble attempt to capture that. Hopefully this will be an enlightening venture.

I came across this extraordinary photo, of a Weta- a cricket like creature/insect. It is the largest photographed insect in the world , which means there could be larger undiscovered insects out there! A scary thought indeed.

My sister thinks this is ugly, but when I look at it I can't help but marvel at its creation. We live in a world inhabited by so many creatures. sA. We all have an important role to play as humans, creatures and plant life rely on each other for survival. When we lose sight of this fact, we open ourselves to a whole host of problems...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/02/giant-weta-worlds-largest-insect_n_1126475.html?ref=canada&ir=Canada

New Trailer: The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra

The opening title of the second installment of The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra turned up online recently! Thanks to my savvy younger sister, I am happily sharing the video below. To see the trailer, click here. This opening sequence really reminds me of how unique and GREAT this series is. There just hasn't been anything like it. Ever.

The expected premiere date is around mid-2012. It seems like the date has been getting pushed back frequently, however :-( So hopefully it will just be 6 more months.

1433 AH: New Year, Same Hopes

It seems like only yesterday I was writing last year's Islamic New Year post. How an entire year has passed us by is inexplicable to me. Where has all that time gone, I'm not sure.

It pays to ponder upon the year's happenings and examine what our experiences have taught us and whether we are closer to 'where we want to be' or should be.

A year ago, in my new years blogpost, I shared a few Qur'anic quotes that encapsulated my hopes for the upcoming year. Looking back, those quotes maintain their relevance as life goals once again- to be ascertained over the years. I won't re-post, but be sure to scan through them if you have a chance.

This upcoming year, I continue to hope for good health, for world peace, for increased humility, for greater communication between people, justice for the oppressed and the humanization of the 'other', which I believe to be the root cause of most evils.

Personally, I hope this year brings some professional stability, an opportunity to meet inspiring people, the chance to increase my knowledge and reading, and an increase in my blog readership :-P

Peace.

Bargain-surfing!

I've never been one to waste exorbitant amounts of money buying clothes, electronics, etc at regular price. Some may call it cheap, I choose to define it as being budget-conscious!

Recently, more and more companies have been offering online shopping and shipping to Canada (Gap, Old Navy, etc) and with the tough economic times, it feels even more important now to save $$$ wherever possible.

Enter the goal of this post. There are a few websites that I frequent that advertise in-store and online deals/promotions/freebies at different retailers across Canada. Apart from these websites, I rely on subscriptions to e-mail alerts from the companies I usually shop at, so that I can take advantage of reduced merchandise, when the wardrobe needs to be spruced up!

One of my top favourite website for promos and freebies, is SmartCanucks. Presented in a very simplified blog, deals are posted multiple times a day! SmartCanuck blogposts have gotten me a host of samples! My travel-size Motrin being one of the highlights!

BargainMoose is another good website, but not a site I visit as frequently as SC. It has a similar format to SC, with a very straightforward design.

RedFlagDeals is another great site- which is probably more well-known for its awesome forums! It has compiled a great list of retailers offering Black Friday sales, fyi.

I've used coupons from Save.ca on a few occasions. Just recently, I used a $2.00 coupon for my Cetaphil face cleanser, at Rexall! Yippee!! They've got some great coupon offerings at the moment, so be sure to check them out. There are a ton of these types of websites online. I will post more once I get a chance.

GroceryAlerts is a website I came across yesterday. I'm not too sure if they are a good website to follow just yet. The bloggers behind the website put together this great book of coupons/deals for use on one's birthday! Take a look.

Any useful websites you visit for deals? Care to share?

DIY: Sewing buttons onto my reusable bag

I came across a DIY blog recently, whose link I can't find! It inspired me to sew buttons onto my reusable fabric bag I use for my lunch, for work.

One problem I was having with my lunchbag is that it would flop around quite a bit while on my shoulder. Last week, I sewed on a few snap buttons that were lying around the house. I only sewed on a few buttons initially and am planning to add a few more to keep it properly shut when I get the chance. Bigger snap buttons might give a stronger hold, so hopefully I can pick some up soon.

Take a look!

Working on any DIY projects of your own?

Blog re-Design!

In my blog's almost two year existence, it has undergone three major face-lifts! I felt that the initial design didn't reflect the sometimes serious subjects I addressed in my blog. While the second design wasn't accessible enough. I always had a problem with the font colour in the tabs section and don't know how to work my way around the coding to have been able to change that.

I'm very happy with the site's update, as I now feel that the design more accurately represents the blog's identity. Increasing the accessibility was important to me. I wanted to make it as easy on the eyes as possible, so hopefully you'll like the changes!

What are your thoughts on the re-design?

Great make-up sale for Canadians!

Hey guys! I meant to post this a few days ago, but got a bit busy with some other stuff. There is an awesome sale going on this week at Rexall. At the moment, they are offering 50% of all cosmetic face products, including foundations, powders, concealers, correctors, bronzers and blushes. You can search for your flyer here.

I've been wanting to pick up a liquid foundation as I do not have one at the moment! I threw out all the foundations I had been using before after my major breakout in February.

I had read quite a lot of good reviews for L'Oreal's True Match Foundation, so yesterday I picked it up in W6 (sun beige). I am between MAC's NC35-40, for reference. I am happy to report after an initial test, the colour match is perfect and the texture feels incredible! Stay tuned for a full report once I've properly tested it.

Natural vs. (Un) Natural Deodorants: Which is better?

More than a year ago, I decided to swear off synthetic/chemical laden deodorants in favour of a natural deodorant,  called Crystal. With previous skin issues, and a desire to minimize the negative impact of  chemical buildup in my body, this seemed like a good idea at the time. I thought I would share my experience with this specific product in case anyone was interested in knowing what it was like.The cool hypoallergenic, fragrance and paraben free solution felt nice being applied to my underarms after showering. Gone were the times of applying a thick, waxy substance to my fresh and clean underarms!

After initially testing out the product, I didn't notice any difference in perspiration levels. It is only in the past few months that I realized that Crystal's formula wasn't really working for me, at all! I just assumed that I was a heavy underarm sweater and that regular deodorants didn't do much to reduce my sweating previously.

I clearly had some memory issues as I must have overlooked the usefulness of conventional deodorants in controlling perspiration, because I felt good using a natural product in such a sensitive area.

Last week, I decided to do a little experiment. I used a a mini Dove deodorant I had previously acquired for travel, but had not used. The results were drastic. If I had to quantify the percentage of how much I perspired compared to the amount I usually do using the natural deodorant, I'd say it was about 5-10%. Needless to say, I've switched over...for now. I don't have to tell you that excessive underarm sweating is embarrassing (ie. having visible sweat marks when you aren't exercising, etc!) and this is something that I'm wishing to avoid henceforth!

To be clear, I don't think natural deodorants are not good products because I am planning to continue my search for a natural deodorant that is effect at deodorizing and reducing perspiration naturally, if possible! I saw a recommendation online for this product but, I need to do some more research before committing.

Crystal brand deodorant is not very good at deodorizing or reducing sweating (at all.) If you are looking for a natural deodorant, I would look further than this product because I am sure there is something out there that balances our need for fewer chemicals and is also an effective deodorizer/anti-perspirant.

If you've tried out a product like this that works for you, I'd love some suggestions!

Recipe: Afghan Chappli/Chapli Kabobs

In the almost two years of my blog's existence, I have not yet shared any of my favourite recipes! Today, I'm planning to change that. One of my favourite things to eat are fried meats! In my home, I'm known for my dry meat marination specialty! So it seems fitting that my first recipe post should be of such an item.

I've found that post-war, there have been a number of Afghan restaurants established in my area. With its fresh and juicy offerings, Afghan food has fast become one of my favourite types of cuisines to indulge in! My top three favourite Afghan restaurants in the greater Toronto area, for those interested, include Bamiyan Kabob, Pamier Kabob and Afghan Kebob Cuisine.

I typically order their chicken breast kabob with naan, or their chappli kabob with naan. I guess I got inspired to recreate a fraction of the flavour I'm used to eating at these restaurants.

So I've been working on perfecting the recipe below. I've only made it twice, but it is well on its way to becoming one of my favourite minced meat dishes! For help, I searched through a number of different recipes online for Afghan chappli kabobs and fused them with a few added ingredients and came up with the following:

The Greatest Love (Kdrama): My Thoughts

Airing for 16 episodes this past May and June, The Greatest Love turned out to to be an unexpected delight! I always feel lucky every time we stumble upon an interesting drama! I had tested out the first episode with my siblings and didn't feel the right vibe and subsequently discontinued watching it. My younger sister continued with it and informed us that the show had gotten very interesting! And the rest is history, really :-)

Here's a brief synopsis from wikiaddicts: 

Ae Jung was once the most popular member of girl band The National Treasure Girls. However 10 years ago the band broke up and she received most of the blame. Despite her warm personality her career has suffered ever since and she now spends her time fighting for air time on variety shows. Dokko Jin is a top movie star at the height of his career. The two meet and become involved in each other's careers. Yoon Pil Joo is a doctor of oriental medicine who has no interest in the entertainment industry but agrees to make a dating show. Dokko Jin helps get Ae Jung a role on a new reality show called Couple Making. Pil Joo is the bachelor being set up on Couple Making. Both men fall for Ae Jung both off and on the screen. 

REVIEWED: Physicians Formula Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder

Again, a Physicians Formula product with a mouthful of a name! Before I get rolling with this review, I just wanted to take a quick moment to shoutout to my new followers. I very much appreciate the support, and hope to keep some fresh content coming your way!

If you've had the chance to read some of my previous posts, I discussed at length some of the skin issues I have experienced/been experiencing. Why is this relevant to this review...? Here's the backstory.

Earlier in the year, after a skin reaction led me to find out I had very sensitive facial skin, I took a short break from makeup to allow my skin to properly heal and to figure out which makeup products would be most suitable for my skin type. I felt naked! When I was ready to wear makeup once again, I tried a few different products including MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark, which still didn't mesh well with my skin and caused me to have minor breakouts :-(

When I was all but losing hope about finding an easy route to a new foundation, I visited my local Rexall and picked up Physicians Formula Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder in Sand Beige, on clearance! The product retails between $15- $20, depending on the store. However, if you keep your eyes open you'll be able to purchase this one for 15, 20 or 30% off! For this price, you are getting about 0.49 Oz/14 g of product. Just as a comparison, MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation is 0.52 Oz/15 g.

An Incredible View...

And He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, all, from Himself; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.(Qur'an, 45: 13)

You're Beautiful (Kdrama): My Thoughts

I recently swapped dvds with a friend of mine- 49 Days for You're Beautiful ( aka He's Beautiful, You're Handsome). I was recommended this drama from many different sources and now was as good a time as any to check it out. From what I had read, this drama was quite liked by people and seeing as to how I just finished City Hunter, I was in need of some Asian flavour!

Here is a brief synopsis: The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung's voice was hurting. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn't want to spoil her brother's chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.

Now, before beginning this drama, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Initially I thought that a story revolving around a kpop band might be kind of redundant, but it was fresh enough to maintain my interest for the most part! As far as the gender-swapping premise of the show, I had seen Coffee Prince in the past, so it wasn't as novel a concept. Still, this drama had a different spin on this switch, which made this storyline interesting.

Product Rave: Eucerin Brand Creams

Earlier in the year, I visited a really nice dermatologist who helped me figure out what was going on with my skin. After my appointment, I came away with a diagnosis of sensitive skin and psoriasis!

Armed with this knowledge, I had to radically alter my facial skincare routine and learn to take extra precautions with my skin in general. As my dermatologist told me: I had beautiful skin! Once I started believing this and treating my skin in a way that respected it's 'issues', I have never felt better about my skin, ah (short for thank God in Arabic).

Before having this diagnosis, I had already begun introducing changes into my skin and bodycare routine that had helped me tremendously.

Which brings me to the subject of this blogpost:  

EUCERIN brand creams

Ramadan Reflections, Pt. IV

In probably my last Ramadan Reflections post, I just want to share a few quotes and sayings that have resonated with me. I hope they will provide you with some inspiration and a few moments of reflection.

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In our tradition, we find a narration that speaks of a funeral procession that once passed in front of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Prophet stood out of respect as the procession passed and was then told that it was a Jewish person who had passed away, not a Muslim. His response? "Was he not a living being, a living soul?"

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"For he who is living in the Light of God,

The death of the carnal soul is a blessing."

~ Rumi 

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"Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die, they weep for you, and if you live, they long for you." 

~ Ali ibn Abi Talib 

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Finally, for those who know I've been busy this past weekend, this is a brief explanation of what was keeping me occupied :-)

Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power or Destiny, is the climax of the Islamic month of fasting, commemorating the night when Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, received his first divine revelation through the Archangel Gabriel in 610 AD. These revelations continued for more than two decades and form the Quran, meaning 'Recitation' in English, which is a composition of God's message to humanity.

Many Muslims around the world will spend Laylat al-Qadr in prayer and quiet reflection, some secluding themselves in mosques in devotion to God, hoping to seek the unparalleled benefit of a night when sincere worshippers are forgiven all sins and angels descend on earth.

**Sourced from various posting by Imam Khalid Latif

Ramadan Reflections, Pt.III: "Charity conquers the greed of our souls."

Borrowing this quote from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, the subject of this edition of Ramadan Reflections will focus on charity & giving.

As you hopefully are already aware, East Africa, particularly Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia is facing its worst drought in 60 years. Around 3.6 million people are at risk of starvation. The UN recently shared that 29 000 children have already died and 600 000 more are expected to perish during this period of hardship.

Islamic Relief is one of few organizations on the ground and has been doing tremendous work this past summer. And until September 16, the Government of Canada is matching dollar for dollar donations made to this cause. So the time to act is now! (UNICEF is also a great organization to donate to).

Take a look at this informative interview by CBC's Mark Kelley for an update on what's happening on the ground, some background on previous famines in Somalia and a brief history of the country.

Also, please take a moment to read this wonderful blogpost from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. He brings up some very thought-provoking points, which I have copy and pasted below.

Such tragedies make some people ask, “Where is God?” But God may very well answer with a question: “Where are you?!” After all, these catastrophes are avoidable. A recent study of global food wastage indicates that we waste millions of tons of food each year. Even a portion of that would ward off any potential famine.

Do check out this article from rabbi emeritus Dow Marmur, entitled "Making Fasting Relevant during Famine", for more on this subject.

With all the blessings we have been bestowed with, it is imperative that we all do our part to help alleviate some of the suffering where possible.

Neat Ebay Finds!

I LOVE ebay! I've purchased many different items from it over the years including makeup, clothing, electronics, etc! I even got defrauded once! With paypal's buyer protection, that situation ended well :-)

I often spend time on ebay searching for cheap and interesting finds- beauty related and otherwise. So, I thought I'd share some cool items I've purchased before and some new ones I recently came across. Take a look.

☮ Clean & Clear Oil Blotting Sheets, two packs for 4.88 US. If you've ever used these before and bought them at your nearest drugstore, you're probably used to paying at least $6 before taxes for a single pack! Getting 2 packs for less the cost of one is a dang good deal! Here is another version of the oil blotting sheets which I haven't tried, but are worth trying.

☮ Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, one pack of 10 strips for 4.48 US. Purchasing these on ebay, you're still saving a few dollars. I love using these strips once in a while as I do find that they work! Last year, I posted a Michelle Phan video where she showed us how to make our own pore strips! The Biore strips are a little more convenient system, but equally effective.

☮ Hair Removal Coil, 99 cents US. I have yet to try this item, but what reviews I have read for the brand name version of this- it seems as if it is an effective facial hair remover, especially for the upper lip area. I have very sensitive skin, and I find I often break out when using wax strips on my upper lip area. Tweezing seems to aggravate my skin a little less. I'm intending to buy this soon.

City Hunter (Kdrama): Final Thoughts

* Spoilers Ahead *
Earlier yesterday, I wrapped up the final episode of City Hunter. I'd been putting off completing the drama because I was really enjoying watching LMH as Lee Yun Seung and all the action that was unfolding! Watching the last few episodes was gripping and I had my fair share of gasps and screams!

There were a few surprises that were revealed in the final few episodes, but, it did feel a bit rushed as we got closer and closer to the end. I just wonder why they couldn't spend the last few episodes expanding on the storyline, rather than compacting it into the very last two.

I was satisfied with the way things were wrapped up with Lee Jin Pyo/Steve Lee. I think you always knew things weren't going to end well for him. His death and subsequent declaration gave him an opportunity at redemption with his adoptive son Yun Seung. Not that anything he did would absolve him of his crimes against him, namely his kidnapping!

For my first foray into more 'serious' dramas, I was quite impressed that the action sequences, storyline weren't too cheesy. There were of course weird inconsistencies that bothered me throughout: such as how calling 911 wasn't an immediate response during life or death situations, or how sometimes characters responded to situations very unrealistically.

Cherryculture Haul!

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I took advantage of a family member's trip to the US to do some online shopping! I had never ordered from Cherryculture before, not wanting to pay Canadian shipping. My sister and I were lucky enough to be ordering at a time when they were running a 20% promo. They shipped our items quite fast, and thankfully the order was completed without error. I had read some blogs that warned of cherryculture's poor customer service and proclivity for order errors, so I was very happy that everything went smoothly! I love all the products I bought. Take a look!

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, in the Dark Knight Rises (First Photo)

So a picture of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman was posted on the official Dark Knight Rises website. I'm not sure how I feel about it from this angle. I have some major doubts about Anne Hathaway being able to pull off such a pivotal role in the Batman franchise...but I have faith in Christopher Nolan. I'm glad her outfit is toned down and unlike the previous incarnations of the character. Take a look!

http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/

Ramadan Reflections, Pt.II

Browsing through Huffpost's Religion section, I came across a similarly titled- 'Ramadan Reflection' series from one of North America's up and coming Imams, Khalid Latif. 28 year old chaplain at NYU, and Executive Director of the NYU Islamic Center, Imam Latif's message of inclusion and social harmony is penetrating the masses! He articulates a perspective that is very appealing to young western Muslims who have been born and raised in Canada, the US, etc. He is an imam in our own image, of our own generation, who has grown up with similar cultural and social norms and this is precisely why he seems relatable. His 'Ramadan Reflection' series is an interesting read. It discusses some of his 'reflections' on the hidden beauty and common challenges he (and we) is experiencing during this month.

I also came across two hadith (statements or actions of  the Prophet SAW) that I felt like sharing.

A believer is not stung from the same hole twice -Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim. An excellent quote that speaks to how we should try and learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.

Two blessings which many people waste are health and free time -Sahih Al-Bukhari. There ain't nothing truer than these words.

This is a bandwidth eater, but Muhammad Al-Shareef has put up a link on his facebook page of a live stream from Masjid al-Haram. Tune in to Taraweeh prayers for a chance to hear some Qur'anic recitation.

Ramadan Reflections

I wanted to share a few links and videos with you, just some stuff that is keeping me occupied now that Ramadan is officially upon us :-)

Last year, I posted a link to this website, about two American Muslims brothers who embarked on a journey across the US- visiting 30 mosques in 30 different states, during the month of Ramadan. It was an interesting blog to follow- for readers to catch a glimpse of how various American Muslim communities live and spend Ramadan. The boys are back for another trip, this time visiting the 20 states that they did not visit the first time around, and re-visiting some of their favourite spots from last year. I'm looking forward to following them, and you should too!

Also around last year was a daily vlog from Muhammad Al-Shareef, founder of the Al-Maghrib Institute. In the daily segment, entitled Taraweeh Truffles, Al-Shareef discusses various topics, hadiths and verses from the Qur'an, offering unique perspectives. You'll be sure to come away from watching these videos learning something new each time. Here's the first video of the month! You can search for his videos from this season and last on youtube.

MAC Blush Palette

With my MAC blushes accumulating, I decided to purchase the pro palette to streamline my blush application process and to minimize clutter in my makeup corner! I attempted to search for cheaper alternative palettes to the MAC one, but could not find anything less expensive. Taking advantage of a family member's trip to the US, I shipped a pro palette to my aunt's house, saving me quit a bit of money! The palette retails for $14 US, and $17 CA. Coupled with a few pan blushes, I definitely benefited from their  lower prices and low taxes :-)

I removed the divider in the palette using a butter knife.

None except one of my blushes were depotted, and it was surprisingly easy to depot my MAC and Milani blush (there is an annoying mirror that you need to pop off, but other than that, you would follow the same procedure for depotting Milani blushes as you would MAC blushes!)! There are a ton of videos on youtube and if you follow their instructions, you really can't go wrong. My own suggestions for depotting include:

☮Take your time, move slowly and do NOT rush!

☮Be sure your candle has a strong flame

☮Don't be afraid to apply a bit of force when poking out the pan
☮Pick up some Goo Gone to help you remove the glue residue

☮Most importantly, have fun!

Old Time Candy Haul!

I ordered some items through the Old Time Candy website recently and had it shipped to my aunt's house in California. I finally received them just in time for when I started fasting. Great timing, eh?

There are some really tasted treats in this haul. The best part about eating them of course is that they take me right back to my childhood! I haven't eaten some of these sweets in over a decade!! The cigarette gums, tiny size chiclets and the cry baby tears...absolutely delicious, and totally worth the price! YUM.

Amateur Gardening Delight!

With it (water) He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those of you who reflect (16:11, Qur'an)

I tried growing some herbs and vegetables in planters this past summer though I didn't have much luck due to a few issues...but, my potatoes actually grew! Quel Surprise! I pulled them out a bit early, but they tasted absolutely delicious in a Bombay Biryani I recently made with my sister! I don't know if it's all in my head, but eating organic potatoes sure tasted and felt good :-)

Hopefully next year, I'll have learned a bit more about gardening and will have more to show for my efforts, iA.

Ramadan 1432

I wish to take a moment to discuss a very special occasion: the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar and lasts about 29-30 days. During this month, practicing Muslims around the world abstain from eating and drinking (and a few other things) between dawn and dusk, while taking extra precaution to avoid negative and haraam (forbidden) language, thoughts, actions and behaviours.

As one of the five compulsory pillars of Islam, Muslims are instructed to fast in the second chapter of the Qur'an.

"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint (become righteous)..." Qur'an 2:183

Fasting Muslims also try and read the Qur'an with greater frequency, and enjoin in the remembrance of God, through compulsory and supplementary prayer, through increasing their knowledge of Islam and making supplication, etc. At its core, Ramadan is a time for reflection, reformation and worship, when individuals try to prioritize the nourishment of their souls, and de-prioritize the fulfillment of their physical and material desires and needs, achieving true peace and freedom.

The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra

As a superfan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I am greatly anticipating the release of the next series! For more information on it take a look here, and here. I am looking forward to seeing how the story and experiences of Katara, Aang, Zuko, & Sokka and their progeny will impact Korra's experiences 70 years later. Such an intelligent and funny show, I have very high expectations. Take a look :-)

REVIEWED: Physician`s Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner, Bronzed Green Eyes

About 6 months ago, I purchased Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Bronzed Green Eyes. Wow, what a mouthful! The product retails for around $15-$16, and comes in a variety of colours. You can usually find them on sale at your local drugstore. I was lucky and found it on clearance for $6.99. For 9 pigmented eyeshadows, I thought it was a steal! This palette has fast become my go-to eyeshadows! As to why this is the case, read on and take a look for yourselves...

PROS

★ Pigmented, velvet- like shadows

★ Great neutral colour selection in palette (more in product line!) 

★ Travel-friendly packaging

★ If on sale or clearance- the price is just right

CONS

★ Not as long lasting as some eyeshadows. You would do well to wear a base if you are looking for longer wear!
★  It isn't the easiest to open... :-S

There isn't a lot to add to this review. I like this product and use it often for very simple reasons. As you can probably see from the pictures, the eyeshadows have a smooth texture, are nicely pigmented and contain wearable neutral colours. It has all the right elements for a good product, simple as that!

FINAL THOUGHTS
If you're looking to add a neutral eyeshadow palette to your make-up collection, Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips offer some pretty good bang for your buck! Just be sure to pick these up while they are on sale!

City Hunter (Kdrama): Revisited

As I approach the midway of the series, I thought I should share some of my updated thoughts on the drama and how it has developed up until episode nine.

I have to share, I am very glad I continued watching this drama. As I mentioned in my previous post, Lee Min Ho was enough motivation for me to continue ;-P Seriously though, he has got an undeniable charm and I think in all of his performances, he always conveys this goofiness that makes him enjoyable to watch! He`s no Johnny Depp or Christian Bale, but he`s a work in progress and you know that when he`s involved in a project, it`ll be entertaining at the very least!

The show has struck a balance between the serious and less serious elements quite well, which is something I was a bit concerned about. It has offered some great moments between leads Lee Yun-Seung and Kim Na Na (below are some screenshot teasers!).

The action sequences, the father-son drama and  the love square have kept me captivated! I think I was expecting something different from this drama and it is different from other rom-coms in some ways. However, up until this point it still follows a similar story of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy can`t be with girl, boy must protect girl, girl thinks boy isn`t interested, boy overcomes issues and everyone lives happily ever-after! ☺ The drama and adventure only make this basic storyline come to life. Because at its core, it may have a different context but the same basic storyline underlies the drama, which is okay with me! I`m just glad the action sequences aren`t poorly executed!

49 Days (Kdrama): My Thoughts

Just a few weeks ago, I finished watching the 20 episode Kdrama entitled 49 Days. In a few words, it was emotional, dramatic and heartwarming. Masterfully written by the same screenwriter as Shining Inheritance, So Hyun Kyung's 49 Days earns top honours in my book as one of the best Kdramas that I have had the pleasure of watching (alongside Shining Inheritance). With these two dramas, writer So set the bar very high indeed.

Here is a synopsis I borrowed from drama wiki:

Shin Ji Hyun was enjoying absolute bliss as she was about to marry her fiancé, Kang Min Ho, but her perfect life is shattered when she gets into a car accident that leaves her in a coma. She is given a second chance at life by a reaper, but it comes with a condition: she has to find three people outside of her family who would cry genuine tears for her. In order to do this, she borrows the body of Yi Kyung, a part-time employee at a convenience store for 49 days. 

Exploring the themes of life and death through the experiences of the characters Song Yi Kyung and Shin Ji Hyun, the story of their intertwined fate is gripping! The show may encourage some introspection around the subject of how one should live life in the most fulfilling way. And, it may also inspire thoughts about how you might live if you had a mere 49 days or whether you would have had a significant impact on the lives of those around you during your lifetime.Throughout the show, you will be reminded of the finality and arbitrariness of death, which will leave you kind of sad.

Charitable Endeavours

Recently struck with major (it's subjective!) disappointment, I've felt the strong need to do something fulfilling. I came to the conclusion that donating money to a few humanitarian causes might suit this desire of mines. Through this, I am hoping to curb the urge to indulge my materialistic impulses, saving me from splurging on items that will have an ignorant impact on my happiness and also to restore my perspective and return me to a state of gratefulness for all that I have.

There's this verse in the Qur'an that resonates with me as I write this post.
3: 92 By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend (benevolently) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it. 

May the Lord accept my intentions and meager contributions. Ameen.

In searching for which organizations to donate to, I found it extremely difficult to narrow the list down to a few causes. There are an enormous number of charities focusing on international and domestic issues, healthcare, education, disaster relief, etc and it is near impossible to reduce causes to a manageable figure! Hopefully we'll all get the chance to contribute to as many organizations as we can during our lifetime :-) In the meantime, I think I've found a few organizations which I have never donated to that fit my donating needs and hopes. 

Justice and Freedom for all.

 

The efforts of those involved in the venture to bring aid and attention to Gaza does not in the slightest appear to me as 'hateful', 'provocative' or 'irresponsible', as it has been inaccurately described by a number of government administrations.

In fact, I think we should be proud of the 22 Canadians aboard the Tahrir flotilla- who are advocating against the illegal blockade on Gaza. Just read that attempts to leave Greece have been blocked by coastguard officials. For more on this story, check out this Guardian article. And if you're interested in supporting the Palestinian cause, check out Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East!

-In solidarity with oppressed peoples everywhere.

This gives me goosebumps!

Interesting Finds, XIII

Here is a very insightful piece written by an American Rabbi. He discusses the pressing need to distinguish between religious theology and religious practice. Misperceptions about religious groups persist when we confuse the two. He shares, "the growing chasm between faith-based teachings, on the one hand, and the actions of the faithful on the other, is the greatest cancer afflicting modern religion." No disagreement there.

An excellent article written by a member of the Muslims Guild of America.We need to be aware of the distinction between belief systems and the actions of its adherents- they can be and are two very different matters.

A perspective on the denigration of polytheism by atheists and monotheists.

Anti-Muslim bias in the workforce.

Places of worship should always be respected. Synagogues, temples, churches, mosques- all houses of God. Let's show some respect!

City Hunter (Kdrama): First Thoughts

*Spoilers ahead*
This past weekend, I began watching a new Korean drama called City Hunter, starring the always stylish Lee Min-Ho. I hadn't heard too much about this one, though I did see a few stills on dramabeans that didn't really give too much away about the story, direction, etc. From what I understand, the drama is loosely based on a Japanese manga with the same title. But, after reading about the manga it looks like the connection is fairly loose indeed. I sure wasn't looking forward to seeing LMH as a womanizer :-S (Update: After watching episode 2, I'm a little worried about this now!)

If I had to describe the drama, I would say that it is about a young man who is groomed to avenge his father's death, but during this quest (with part of his humanity intact), he falls in love with a girl. I couldn't find a more accurate synopsis online, so my version will have to do.

Now, I'm not accustomed to watching more serious dramas, but it looks like this one might have enough of a balance between the lighthearted/fun and serious/revenge elements. As I have only watched the first episode, I will probably elaborate on this later.

There were, admittedly, a few inconsistencies that I found difficult to ignore. On the one hand, it seemed to defy logic that the character Lee Jin-Pyo could justify stealing an innocent baby from its mother. If the mother had passed away or something, Jin-Pyo taking the child would have been more believable. But it was just plain ridiculous! And on top of that, raising the child on a drug farm made the child's displacement even more intolerable.

My Princess (Kdrama): My Thoughts

I've spent the last week watching Kdrama, My Princess and it been quite an enjoyable experience. I just wrapped it up a short time ago. Coming off watching Shining Inheritance, and sampling a few new dramas, I was skeptical about the prospect of finding new ones that would have the right vibe. For me, that vibe could be described as lighthearted, romantic comedies, that aren't too rambunctious or too experimental (it's kind of hard to explain what I mean by this!). I'm also very picky about the male and female leads, they simply need to be likable, charming and down to earth- not too much to ask for, right??! I'm not too interested in leads that look too plastic either.

Very quickly, here is a brief synopsis of this drama. Don't want to give too much away...

An ordinary college student, Lee Seol, finds out she's a princess. The grandson of Daehan Group, Park Hae Young, is put in charge of educating Seol on proper etiquette.

So with this drama, I felt that it moved a little slowly until about the 5th episode, when everything seemed to pick up and move at a more regular pace. One thing I found difficult to accept about Lee Seol's character in the beginning was how she did not seem very independent or willing to speak up for herself (especially against the evil Oh Yoon Joo). Granted, she is a university student and is young. I guess I am accustomed to/enjoy seeing independent women in the shows I watch. It takes Lee Seol some time to get there, but she slowly starts becoming more and more independent and that is great to see!

Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy/Beautiful Legacy: Best Korean Drama.

I recently watched a Korean drama called Shining Inheritance (also known as Brilliant Legacy and Beautiful Legacy). It was incredible. It really set the bar for kdramas, for me. As a huge fan of these dramas, I have seen a number of them including Boys Over Flowers (Lee Min-Ho ♥), Coffee Prince (Gong Yoo ♥), Secret Garden, Personal Taste and have tried out a few others, as well! I am currently watching My Princess (Song Seung Heon ♥) and Lie to Me. As far as genre goes, it's probably evident by my selections that I find the romantic comedies/ romantic dramas most interesting. What can I say?

Getting back to Shining Inheritance. Here is the show's description:

Go Eun Sung's life is similar to Cinderella's. After her father died, her step-mother, Baek Sung Hee, took away all of her assets and her younger brother, Eun Woo, suddenly disappears without a trace. Despite this, Eun Sung preservers and works really hard to fulfill her dreams. When the CEO of a food company, Jang Sook Ja, suffers amnesia and can't remember who she is. Eun Sung takes her in. However, Eun Sung does not know that she is the grandmother of Sun Woo Hwan, the man who she switched bags with at the airport. How will their constant bickering lead them to realize that they care more about each other than they let on? 

Such a great storyline. The writing was incredible (as far as I could tell through the translation!) and I never found myself questioning the plot direction, pace, script etc, which tends to happens with shows at one point or another, right? Not only is this drama cute, romantic and funny, it was also full of genuine drama. It is sure to evoke emotion. And the actors all did a wonderful job. The supporting cast were very compelling and entertaining, as well!

This is all to say that this drama is an absolute must-see. Whether you're new to Kdramas or are a Kdrama vet, this one is not to be missed. The length of this drama-28 episodes will be an added treat. You won't be able to get enough of Hwan & Eun Sung! :-)

For more Kdrama info, check out this informative blog.

Ahn-nyong-i kah-se-yo!

EPIC.

Can't wait!

Multiculturalism and the Canadian Federal Election 2011

I wasn't planning on weighing in on the upcoming federal election, but I came across this op-ed in the Toronto Star that discussed a topic I have both studied and been very much interested in for many years now: multiculturalism, and thought to share it.

The piece discusses some of our political party leaders and their responses to a question during the live debates recently. The question concerned multiculturalism, reasonable accommodation and diversity in Canada.

The biggest surprise comes when you read what Harper's response was to the question and some of his comments later directed at the anti-inclusive Bloc party leader Duceppe.

I have never been a fan of Stephen Harper, his politics nor his vision for Canada. And I find his tight control over his caucus, his (and his party's) hypocrisy and his concerted effort to reduce transparency through limiting his availability to the media, very offensive. Not to mention his unprincipled stance towards foreign policy and what I view as his misuse of power and disregard for some of the most basic principles underlying parliamentary democracy.

REVIEWED: e.l.f. Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush

When e.l.f. first released its Studio Angled Eyeliner brush, I was quite excited to test it out with the cream eyeliners in my collection. I thought the shape of the brush was unique and that its angled design would make the eyelining process foolproof! At the time, I had misplaced my Sephora angled eyeliner brush (angled bristles) and was looking for an alternative. The price tag made this new brush very appealing! But little did I know...

Here are some pictures first,

Glee's take on Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know'!

Keane. Need I say anymore?

Wise Words

I'd like to introduce my newest recurring blogpost which I have uncreatively decided to name 'Wise Words'! I often come across quotes, sayings, stories, anecdotes, etc, that I think have great value in sharing. This post will be a home for these types of things. And if I get a chance, I do look forward to offering some humble reflections on the information I'll be sharing in these posts.

So here are this week's 'wise words'!

Umar ibn al Khattab once said that to truly know a person, an individual must travel with them, do business with them or be their neighbor. There is so much truth to this. I think about the people I've travelled with- and there's nothing quite like travelling that can speed up the process of relationship-building! I remember in one instance, I came to a realization that I strongly disliked a girl after seeing how she behaved while we vacationed.

"When a human dies, all his actions are cut off except the three; a continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), knowledge that benefits others and a child that remembers him in prayers and good deeds." (Muslim) I have a sincere hope that helping to produce and share beneficial knowledge with people is something that can be made my life's work :-)

Interesting Finds, Part XII

I thought it might be nice to add some structure to this recurring blogpost and so I added very basic categories to make the read smoother. In deciding which articles to include under each category, I realized very quickly how each piece could easily fit under multiple categories. Everything is political and science, technology and health are very intertwined! Either way, this format is a bit easier on the eyes, and I hope you'll think so too!

Interesting read on the benefits of fasting during Lent.

And here's another look at the significance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, and a perspective on the value of adhering to this practice. Reading about the usage of the ashes, and Christian fasting makes me think about how similar the various faith traditions truly are. I remember in high school, some of my Hindu friends would often come to school with a white dust on their foreheads. I don't quite recall the purpose behind it, though I think of how sometimes knowing your own traditions well can help you perceive the world in a more inclusive way. There are likenesses between religions that we tend to overlook and I think sometimes we perceive different religious practices/traditions that we are unfamiliar with as odd when the reality is that most religious practices have similar aims (ex. fasting and contemplation, etc).

An informational read on the basics of the Hindu festival of Holi.

Perspectives from a Rabbi, on science and the existence of God.

A great piece on how Christians and Muslims worship the same God and a brief look at the historical perspectives on this idea.