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.