tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243331692012-02-03T19:48:06.640+13:00Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.comBlogger3101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-48324788054991786482012-02-02T14:34:00.002+13:002012-02-03T01:48:26.103+13:00

Goodbyes aren't easy. That's why I don't do goodbyes. I prefer to celebrate and cherish whatever precious time I have left with my loved ones instead. Last Saturday some my friends and I went to Brighton beach where we had a picnic and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I’m going to miss the girls I met in Dunedin so much! They’re part of the equation that sums up who I am today. When I first moved

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-49001106433240581422012-01-27T13:57:00.001+13:002012-01-27T15:12:00.428+13:00

I have been busy lately so I haven't been able to blog like I usually do but it's Friday and I wanted to share one of my favourite dua's from the Holy Qur'an - verses 191 - 194 of Surah Ali-Imran. Incidentally, I've noticed that Imams like to recite this dua after the Friday prayer khutba so it must be significant one way or another. What I like most about the last few verses of Chapter

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-34549794719236627252012-01-23T22:14:00.001+13:002012-01-24T18:10:25.199+13:00

Today I finally interviewed Yasemin Kanar a.k.a. YaztheSpaz for MB Muslima magazine. I said 'finally' because ya'll have no idea how technical difficulties almost stopped this from happening! FYI, Yasemin was voted the 3rd most inspiring Muslim sister in an MB Muslima poll called 40 under 40: The Stories of 40 Inspirational Muslims. 101 brothers and sisters were nominated and more than 7000

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-56967970054306599852012-01-22T09:49:00.001+13:002012-01-22T11:06:43.200+13:00

♥ Favourites ♥  This ensemble has almost all my current favourite fashion elements and colours. I'm really into nude and browns these days but I still love me some loud leopard print and bright fuchsia.  After a barbeque lunch at the park, my girls and I treated ourselves to some yummy good old fashioned New Zealand dairy shop ice cream. Everyone knows the best ice cream in

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-2666782833317715682012-01-18T00:16:00.000+13:002012-01-18T00:24:06.928+13:00

One word: HILARIOUS.p.s. I'm pretty sure she's not referring to ALL white people so don't take it personally.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-81922426064297559942012-01-15T19:31:00.000+13:002012-01-15T23:47:28.714+13:00

That seems to be a very popular question directed towards me in the last few months so I thought I'd write a review about my "baby" - the Canon Powershot G12 (please don't give my baby the evil eye, say mashaAllah, thank you ;)).  I'm an amateur photographer. I don't know much about cameras but I do love being creative and photography is a form of art that allows me to capture moments of

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-60086080149961736302012-01-14T17:36:00.000+13:002012-01-14T17:43:10.173+13:00

I know I haven't been blogging much lately. Let's just say I've been working on the art of chillin' out. It's not as easy as you think, you know.  Anyhoo, I was going through the photos on my camera when I realised that I haven't shared these photos with you guys.  While mum and I were in Auckland, our family friends took us to the Auckland Winter Garden in Auckland Domain.   From the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-77849366163086879302012-01-09T18:44:00.000+13:002012-01-10T22:20:58.165+13:00

It's cherry season in New Zealand at the moment. I couldn't resist trying a new recipe.  Cherries are a family favourite and they make summer all the more special. They taste heavenly and I just love that gorgeous ruby red colour. I hadn't baked with cherries before so I chose a simple recipe from Taste of Home. Made slight changes and opted out of the lemon cream cheese

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-33801984689052799702012-01-07T17:04:00.000+13:002012-01-14T19:01:03.394+13:00

Nobody wants it to rain on their graduation day. But it did on mine, as predicted. Thankfully it wasn’t raining cats and dogs. Just one of those light drizzles that is very typical of Dunedin weather. The day began with a morning tea session with the staff and fellow graduands of the Department of Media, Film and Communication Studies. It was our chance to congratulate one another and

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-48581130536700362272012-01-06T08:28:00.000+13:002012-01-06T10:48:06.855+13:00

Would we treat people better? Would we think before we speak? Would we become more honest with ourselves? Would it purify our intentions and change the way we lead our lives?  We always want the best of everything in this life. The best grades. The latest gadgets. The most beautiful clothes. I don't think there is anything wrong with that because God wants the best for us in this life and

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-21555305093770090642012-01-03T23:13:00.000+13:002012-01-04T17:07:54.835+13:00

While packing my things I found a piece of paper inside one of my table's drawers. I remember writing this note to entertain myself during a boring lecture. I was 21 when I wrote it. I'm 24 now and I don't feel it at all. Life Lessons at 21 Don't trust people who say bad things about others behind their back. It will be just as easy for them to do the same to you.  Although it may be hard, try

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-13785184200551888242012-01-01T04:35:00.000+13:002012-01-01T04:43:29.963+13:00

After a delightful dinner by Miss Amina, the girls and I went to the town octagon (Dunedin doesn't have a town square but instead, an octagon) to watch the annual new year's fireworks show. As this is my first time  to celebrate new year's in Dunedin I was quite impressed with what I saw especially considering the fact that it's a relatively small city. Nonetheless, us girls enjoyed ourselves.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-66872557726497124092011-12-31T16:01:00.000+13:002012-01-01T18:14:36.920+13:00

I can’t believe we’re entering 2012 in less than 24 hours! I’m excited to start a brand new year and open up fresh pages in the chapter of my life, inshaAllah. I would normally say that the year has gone by really fast. Not this time though. 2011 was a long and arduous year for me but it has also been undeniably unforgettable. 2011 has been the year of many firsts. I lived by myself for the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-69664585276466051072011-12-30T14:58:00.000+13:002011-12-30T14:58:27.503+13:00

"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you that believe! Send your blessings on him, and salute him with all respect." (Holy Qur'an, Surah Al 'Ahzab, verse 56) The Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa salaam) said :  "Increase your recitation of salawat on me on Friday because on this day Angels present themselves to me. There is no servant of Allah who recites salawat

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-27267184106537937112011-12-27T16:13:00.000+13:002011-12-27T22:31:46.934+13:00

A poem based on An-Nawawi's 40 Hadiths.  Cleverly and beautifully said, mashaAllah! This line is my favourite (if I can even choose!). Which one is yours?

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-67318541233449135942011-12-25T21:47:00.000+13:002011-12-26T11:08:21.300+13:00

I wore this outfit to my friend's graduation last week. The colour of my dress is commonly described as 'rusty red' but I think 'cinnamon red'  or 'merah tembikai' (watermelon red - thank you Javanese Dove!) has a better ring to it. I was feeling quite tired from the rush of my graduation day so I wore my favourite 'pick-me-up' colour for my hijab: RED.  What's your favourite '

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-78672724215117054462011-12-23T22:08:00.000+13:002011-12-24T22:39:44.119+13:00

Question 1: Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Sha :) Recently I came across a blog whereby there's a page exclusively questioning about our religion; Islam (The page is labeled as "A few simple questions for Muslim visitors"). After reading the whole page, I was furious but somehow I calmed myself down, Istighfar a lot of times and reminded myself that the long-written blog entry was

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-35413629924784014522011-12-15T18:56:00.000+13:002012-01-07T21:25:33.387+13:00

I graduated yesterday!  (subhanaAllah wa alhamdulillah) You are now looking at a graduate with a BA in Communication Studies (First Class Honours) *happy dance* I can't wait to post more pictures of the event. For now I want to share some videos of the graduation procession that is uniquely Otago. Dunedin has a Scottish heritage so Otago University graduands usually parade down the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-17370513328502651522011-12-08T11:54:00.001+13:002011-12-08T13:19:46.224+13:00

Salaam lovelies,  Some of you have been asking me for a hijab tutorial for a quite a while. I'm in the midst of packing up 7 years' worth of things in my house. I did this video really quickly yesterday, just for you, so please excuse my no-make-up-face. Think of it as an early Style Sunday post. There are 2 styles in this tutorial and I hope you like them. xox, Sha

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-2715959132187002982011-12-06T15:40:00.001+13:002011-12-23T22:52:38.798+13:00

Visit the ICARE website Show some love at ICARE's Facebook Page Watch videos from ICARE's YouTube channel Find out why the rest of the world cares about Iraq.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-16560222995708263992011-12-04T16:16:00.001+13:002011-12-04T19:16:11.423+13:00

Auckland, November 2011 Mr. Bus Driver would read his book at every opportunity he had.  "Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him." - John Locke 

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-18917602052033415512011-12-01T22:35:00.001+13:002011-12-04T00:49:13.974+13:00

One of the hardest things about faith is often mistaken as being the simplest aspect. Belief in the Oneness, Greatness and Uniqueness of God, and His right to be worshipped unconditionally and undividedly. Otherwise known as tawheed.  As a person who was born into a Muslim family I was able to grasp this seemingly simple concept quite naturally, alhamdulillah. To a certain degree there

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-21673442438631790782011-11-29T18:48:00.001+13:002011-11-29T20:13:14.544+13:00

"Praying for Time" Written and performed by George Michael These are the days of the open handThey will not be the lastLook around nowThese are the days of the beggars and the choosers This is the year of the hungry manWhose place is in the pastHand in hand with ignoranceAnd legitimate excuses The rich declare themselves poorAnd most of us are not sureIf we have too muchBut we'll take our

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-78462307319820386782011-11-27T22:59:00.001+13:002011-11-28T16:15:22.141+13:00

Africa Unidentified Pakistan Indonesia Occupy Wall Street protestors in New York via Facebook  I can post pictures that are more graphic but I won't because I know most of us don't want to see them. They're not pictures of glamourous celebrities, air-brushed models or cute, happy children.  They're pictures of heartbreaking situations that many of us can't relate

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-22724080650476825142011-11-19T23:28:00.001+13:002011-11-20T12:49:09.311+13:00

My friends and I went on a roadtrip to Queenstown during Autumn (circa July).  I'm reminiscing the happy days before we graduate in December and go our separate ways *sad face* South Island is the most scenic part of New Zealand and I'm really kicking myself for not going on more roadtrips around this place that has been dubbed "heaven on Earth".  Living in New Zealand has made me

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-15478738659736261942011-11-18T23:30:00.001+13:002011-11-19T15:00:45.845+13:00

A lady once said to me, “Whenever I see you, I feel so happy.” “That's kind of you but what do you mean?” I asked out of curiosity. “You have a lot of positive energy and you make Islam look so easy.” "Wow," I thought. "This lady must not know me very well." But I understand that it’s not the same when you’re looking in from the outside because I have my strengths and weaknesses, just

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-52776306704102096632011-11-14T15:52:00.001+13:002011-11-14T23:49:10.320+13:00

On the weekend, I attended the opening of a boutique called The Cuckoo's Nest. But it's not just any boutique. It's an ethical boutique. I will tell you what I love about this concept. The shop sells fashionable and fair-trade compliant items that are locally-sourced from around New Zealand and internationally-sourced from around the world. For instance, The Cuckoo's Nest sells clothes and skin

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-69898328649656966692011-11-10T22:42:00.001+13:002011-11-12T01:56:56.710+13:00

written by Shahirah Elaiza and published in MuzlimBuzz.sg Islam is called a way of life for a good reason. The principles and teachings of Islam provide mankind with the perfect guideline to ensure we lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle. One of the ways Allah (swt) has done this is by encouraging modesty and moderation in everything that we do. In other words, Islam gives us the strength to

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-31431276704616190392011-11-08T23:20:00.000+13:002011-11-08T23:46:17.174+13:00

About a month ago I was in the midst of writing the final chapter of my dissertation. I felt like I was about to go crazy under all that stress. Then I found out Mustafa Davis was going to be in Auckland, a city which is two hours away from Dunedin by flight, to conduct a youth workshop called "Creative, Young and Muslim". Initially I thought, "There is no way I am going to be able to go because

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-89413036981233765882011-11-06T16:51:00.001+13:002011-11-06T16:52:52.318+13:00

Check it out if you haven't already.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-8546999354450973212011-11-06T16:25:00.000+13:002011-11-06T16:34:27.500+13:00

Auckland Art Gallery Elliot Stables, Queen Street Been travelling, again! Hence, the hiatus from blogging.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-30080279633945238692011-10-30T11:08:00.000+13:002011-10-30T11:09:09.980+13:00

This is one of my favourite quotes about friendship. Who or what is a 'friend' these days?  How do you define friendship in the age of globalisation and the Internet revolution?  Things are not as simple as they used to be...

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-50332401862999337122011-10-29T11:24:00.004+13:002011-10-29T17:12:15.727+13:00

Some of my readers may recall that during last year's Islam Awareness Week, Muslim women in the Dunedin community were told that they were not allowed to speak in public because a group of men decided they were considered a fitna (trial or temptation). Coming from Malaysia, a progressive Muslim country, this was the first time I ever had to deal with such a situation and it was a very

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-49839134879862445712011-10-23T21:24:00.001+13:002011-10-23T21:24:12.028+13:00

During my short visit in Auckland, Shaymaa planned an entire outing for both of us. The first thing on the list was to take me on a ferry trip from Half Moon Bay to Auckland city centre. I know it seems like a small thing to some people but it was exactly what I needed. Thank you for another magical time in Auckland, ya 3asal. You're beautiful inside out! Spot the Sky Tower.  

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-86670087371505788262011-10-22T23:15:00.001+13:002011-10-23T01:08:46.630+13:00

A month ago, I was fully stressed out with my dissertation and it so happened that the one and only Mustafa Davis was going to be in Auckland for a couple of days to screen his documentaries and conduct workshops. I knew it was a sign. I Facebook-ed my friend, Shaymaa, and next thing I know I booked myself a ticket out of my misery.  Two weeks later, I arrived Auckland and Shaymaa graciously

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-64410396431879658272011-10-22T09:27:00.000+13:002011-10-22T15:59:13.999+13:00

(click image to enlarge) Now that I'm on holiday I can finally do all the things I've missed! I baked my first apple pie two days ago and I'm glad to say it was a crowd-pleaser, alhamdulillah. I followed a very simple recipe which is perfect when you have apples lying around the kitchen and you don't know what to do with them. The lattice work pie crust is tricky and I haven't mastered it

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-67749039378561837062011-10-18T21:40:00.000+13:002011-10-18T21:48:12.528+13:00

Assalamualaikum Shahirah Elaiza, I have to say that even though I try to study smart, I can never organize my time and follow through the plan. I always end up not following a time table I made for myself and end up doing last minute work. It really frustrates me sometimes and I hate to feel this way. I guess it is a mentality I have since a child that made me like this. I used to think

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-57869515380658332882011-10-17T00:11:00.000+13:002011-10-17T00:11:52.495+13:00

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-31662504337885018652011-10-15T22:49:00.001+13:002011-10-30T00:01:39.043+13:00

Salaaaaam! (Fousey style) I've completed my dissertation (or as my friend Shaymaa says, "your dessert-thingy". I love you Shaymaa!) and I'm pretty much done with Uni for the year. The sleepless nights are over!!! A million alhamdulillah's. It's been a crazy academic year and I'm still "recovering" from the stress and panic attacks I've had while studying and researching. Having said that, I'm

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-55363698998545738752011-10-07T13:32:00.004+13:002011-10-07T16:01:27.322+13:00

Assalamualaykum all, sorry for the lack of posts. I'm currently completing my dissertation which is due in exactly a week. Please keep me in your duas. Since it's Friday here's a video of a lecture given by Imam Suhaib Webb in Kuala Lumpur a few days ago. May Allah swt reward him generously for his time and effort in spreading knowledge to the ummah. Jumaah Mubarak everyone and have a

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-27627727067236219052011-09-27T04:56:00.000+13:002011-09-27T04:56:23.363+13:00

I hate pulling all-nighters because of assignments. First of all, computer labs are freezing once it's past midnight. Secondly, I always end up alone and freezing. Thirdly, I can't sleep during the day so when I stay up all night I usually have to wait until it's night time before I can sleep so that means I'll be awake for 24 hours. But this video totally made my night and suddenly

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-19388800922124187402011-09-25T22:15:00.000+13:002011-09-26T16:05:09.890+13:00

I know it's been a while since I last did a Style Sunday post.  I thought I'd show you what I would usually wear to campus because let's be real, I am a student.  Not just any varsity student -a post-grad. I don't get glammed up all the time. Or much, to be honest. I just don't have the time for it. Just to let you know, my laptop died on me today (hence the mucked up watermark I have on

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-29945536658436457282011-09-23T18:52:00.000+12:002011-09-30T18:47:20.779+13:00

Would I be wrong if I said that in one way or another we are all in pursuit of happiness? But... what is happiness? How do we define it?  Because sometimes I feel like we're always waiting for one more thing to happen before we allow ourselves to be happy. We say these things all the time. I would be happier if I was skinnier. I would be happier if I had more money. Just one more thing in

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-79000653692834823392011-09-16T16:47:00.001+12:002012-01-21T00:34:00.580+13:00

Keepin' it real in his kimono: My late Abah is the second last man from the right in the bottom row My late Abah loved travelling and he was very much a people's person too. He made friends very easily anywhere he went. Once he went on a work trip to Japan where it is customary for people to greet one another by bowing. It is an act of humbling oneself and respecting the other person; the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-68990821450439949452011-09-13T14:17:00.000+12:002011-09-14T11:10:10.203+12:00

I remember the day of September 11 ten years ago. I was sitting in my room watching Armageddon on television. My attention was directed towards something else for a moment and when I turned my head around to continue watching the movie I remember seeing two planes crashing into a building. I flinched. I didn't know it was the World Trade Center.  Is this part of a movie scene or what? I soon

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-28043733588860747452011-09-11T16:38:00.001+12:002011-09-12T11:40:15.468+12:00

Eid ul-Fitr Day at our mosque Eid Day is always a festive time for Muslim students in Dunedin and this year's Eid was no different despite how busy we all are as some of us complete our final year at varsity.  I've had this dress for over a year but didn't wear it out to anywhere. I thought it would be a shame to buy new clothes just for the sake of buying new clothes, know what I

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-84189686986617067382011-08-30T14:22:00.001+12:002011-08-30T14:37:08.112+12:00

Taken in Doha, Qatar Muslims in New Zealand will be celebrating Eid ul-Fitr tomorrow, inshaAllah. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish  a very happy and blessed Eid to my family, loved ones and friends! To those who are near, I am excited to see you all tomorrow. To those who are far from sight but close to my heart, I am missing you this Eid.  Taqaballahu minna wa minkum. May

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-35937871231455478502011-08-28T12:51:00.000+12:002011-08-28T13:04:18.665+12:00

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. I know most of you wrote from the heart and I really appreciate that. It was great to see how Eid 2011 will be special and different to you guys.  InshaAllah, the positive changes we have made during Ramadhan will stick with us throughout our lives and that He may continue to guide us and give us strength to lead our lives as Muslims.  This is the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-53909629974703427802011-08-26T12:49:00.002+12:002011-08-27T10:47:41.554+12:00

Just a quick entry to say thank you to InTrend for featuring me in this month's issue! I was pleasantly surprised to hear the news from one of my besties, Vivy, who is also featured in the magazine this month, along with my hijabi friends Hana Tajima, Maria Elena and many others. Yay! I'll consider this as an early birthday present ;) As I'm not in Malaysia my sister kindly scanned some pages

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-16814890568220210422011-08-24T16:46:00.000+12:002011-08-25T09:57:46.949+12:00

Eid ul-Fitr, or as we like to call it in Malaysia, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, is only a week away and I'm sure you guys have your Eid outfits sorted out. But have you got your Eid or Hari Raya cards all ready to go? If you're like me, (busy with deadlines and life, in general) I want you to know that it's not too late! After all, Eid is celebrated for an entire month in Malaysia and I think that

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-20302431154556182752011-08-24T11:18:00.001+12:002011-08-24T20:40:59.079+12:00

I've been meaning to blog about my trip to Doha, Qatar for a long time. For now, I'll give you a sneak preview.  I love the instrumental Arabic music that was playing in the background when I recorded this video.  Can anyone tell me what kind it is? Is it khaleeji?  Because it's quite different to the other khaleeji music I've heard. 

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-88938412652261346992011-08-20T08:01:00.000+12:002011-08-20T08:01:21.840+12:00

Très cool, oui? Some things just have to be shared. Found via Journey of a Muslimah, by the way. Definitely worth a look. xoxo, Sha

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-29068846933360778062011-08-20T02:39:00.000+12:002011-08-21T14:54:24.746+12:00

It feels like this month has gone by at the blink of an eye. Can you believe we've already reached the last ten days of Ramadhan? Because I can't. And you know what they say about the last ten days of Ramadhan. Yup, Lailatul Qadr will be coming soon, inshaAllah. The night when countless numbers of angels descend on Earth as a sign of Allah's Power and Mercy. The night God has ordained its value

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-80446648986599179872011-08-17T14:46:00.002+12:002011-08-17T15:49:38.962+12:00

We had another white weekend in Dunedin. Although I’m down with the flu I was determined to not miss out on some snow fun. Did I mention that I’m staying with a wonderful Muslim family at the moment? They were generous enough to offer me a place in their home as it’s my first Ramadhan without my family. I know I chose to live alone this year (my attempt at being ‘Miss Independent’, I suppose)

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-89411932571466122592011-08-16T16:26:00.003+12:002011-08-26T14:29:53.227+12:00

I've been getting requests, both online and in-person, for a close-up picture of this dress which I designed and had it tailor-made. On a different note, we're in the third week of Ramadhan already! Eek! 

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-44695367215761769292011-08-09T14:18:00.003+12:002011-08-09T14:29:47.240+12:00

This is an amazing reminder for us during Ramadhan. I've lost my heart to dunya often enough to feel incredibly moved by this piece of writing by Yasmin Mogahed. {source} No one likes to fall. And few people would ever choose to drown. But in struggling through the ocean of this life, sometimes it’s so hard not to let the world in. Sometimes the ocean does enter us. The dunya does

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-16414556000792918132011-08-06T16:34:00.003+12:002011-08-09T14:18:37.072+12:00

Just because. How to Achieve Tranquility of the Heart

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-25098353387394954392011-08-05T11:27:00.002+12:002011-08-05T16:13:08.200+12:00

I was having a conversation with Hana Tajima about her conversion to Islam when I said,  "I love the Qur'an because it's always revealing itself." What I meant by that is whenever I read the Holy Qur'an I always find something new that takes my breath  away. I came across this verse last night and it hasn't been off my mind ever since.  Just thinking about it makes me speechless.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-83166915520145101722011-07-31T23:57:00.008+12:002011-08-09T14:18:52.458+12:00

Blue Mosque, Shah Alam, Malaysia Welcome to Ramadhan. It is the month when we abstain from things like food and water daily from dawn to dusk. The average person would probably find that daunting but us Muslims actually look forward to Ramadhan and we love it for many reasons. For example, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received his first divine revelation during the month of Ramadhan. It is

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-34797970174386721832011-07-30T15:15:00.004+12:002011-07-30T16:51:53.217+12:00

This is a wonderful opportunity especially for all you aspiring fashion designers out there. Islamic Design House is hosting a design competition for its subsidiary, Silk Route Clothing. Silk Route and What This Competition is All About... We all know that the Islamic inspired designers from California to Kuala Lumpur and from Istanbul to Johannesburg are brimming with talent, creativity

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-82271465096051782822011-07-29T17:57:00.005+12:002011-08-09T16:36:04.342+12:00

Jumaah Mubarak everyone! Rageh Omaar of Al Jazeera English has collaborated with BBC to produce a documentary series entitled The Life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I've heard really good things about it and thought I'd watch the first episode today. It brought back so many memories of my recent trip to Saudi Arabia so I enjoyed it, of course. The first episode is a historical introduction to

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-12253956315647235342011-07-26T12:18:00.006+12:002011-07-26T21:00:15.621+12:00

I love weddings. I can’t help it. I’m a girl. So when one of my girlfriends unexpectedly announced that she was getting married in July I was very excited. Perhaps a little more than I should’ve been but I didn’t care because I was going to attend the wedding of one of my closest friends for the first time in my life. Sumayyah’s nikah (solemnisation) was a day I eagerly anticipated. On Sunday,

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-25421885401327953232011-07-18T20:25:00.003+12:002011-07-20T08:46:15.836+12:00

In a post I wrote almost a year ago, I told you guys about a question that I have asked myself many times since my Umrah trip in 2009/2010. If you could be in front of the Ka’abah every single day to ask for God’s forgiveness and blessings, would that be enough to make you happy for the rest of your life? Or would you still want more? I could never bring myself to say 'Yes' and completely

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-51370330098689347832011-07-17T23:20:00.001+12:002011-07-19T23:53:02.342+12:00

Salaam all, I'm back in New Zealand now. Phewh, it's hectic travelling between three time zones within a month but alhamdulillah, here I am finally. Thank you for your emails and comments. I'll try and get back to you as soon as I can!  For now here's a little sneak preview to Part 4 of the Umrah 2011 series.  (Please note that I am a total amateur when it comes to recording videos so please

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-31420183214146402492011-07-10T05:11:00.004+12:002011-07-10T15:22:26.386+12:00

In light of everything that's happening in Malaysia right now...  All of a sudden everybody has an opinion and they want to voice it out.  Just don't get so emotional with your opinions until you forget that Allah azza wa jal is listening and watching. Don't aggravate the situation. It will only make things worse.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-14708849516322512152011-07-05T18:56:00.000+12:002011-07-05T18:56:45.837+12:00

I cherish every single moment of my holiday. xoxo.  Marissa's sashimi boat at Sushi Zanmai, 1 Mont Kiara Whilst taking photos of each other a random uncle stopped and politely asked if we wanted a photo of all of us together =)  Tea Forty Two, BV II Creme brulee tea!  I call it 'The Minze' featuring Elephantastic by OPI Profiteroles

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-11036760004426713212011-07-04T22:59:00.006+12:002011-07-05T21:10:00.810+12:00

While in Mecca I wore the niqab (face-veil) except when I was in ihram. It was my first time and the experience gave me an insight into what it's like to be a niqabi. Granted, I wasn't as anxious about wearing niqab in Saudi Arabia than I was with the hijab in New Zealand because almost every other women wore niqab in Saudi. I felt it was important for me to wear it there for privacy, safety and

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-11092072460077785902011-07-03T05:15:00.005+12:002011-07-05T17:59:33.582+12:00

I'll be completely honest with you. Being in Mecca during this time of the year is no piece of cake. Well, for me at least. To be fair, Mum did warn me about how hot it would be ("It's like stepping into an oven" were her exact words) but how was I suppose to accurately imagine something I have never experienced before? Thank God I brought the strongest sunscreen I had! It was a real life saver

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-81019741811511633712011-07-01T20:29:00.018+12:002011-10-29T13:13:29.202+13:00

Abu Hurairah (radhiallahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "(The performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous `Umrah; and the reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah.'' {Sahih Bukhari and Muslim} When I last went for an Umrah pilgrimage in late 2009/early 2010 I had never dreamed

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-35051229196589553902011-07-01T02:43:00.004+12:002011-07-01T20:30:56.273+12:00

View from inside Masjidil Haram, Mecca, June 2011 Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, Alhamdulillah, I'm back from my two week trip! To those who guessed that I went for Umrah, well you people are a clever lot aren't you? JazakumAllah khair for all your well wishes. My family and I spent eleven days in Saudi Arabia and three days in Qatar. We had an amazing time, shukur alhamdulillah

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-85387912598297183612011-06-15T04:48:00.001+12:002011-06-15T04:48:21.337+12:00

Tonight I ate the yummiest dinner I've had in months! Alhamdulillah, for good food and good company. It was the perfect goodbye meal... thank you. 900 gm grilled lobster in garlic butter. I feel spoilt rotten now.  Some of the freshest oysters I've ever had. I even tried escargot for the first time. It was baked in cheese. Can't say no to that. I know I take a lot of things for granted but not

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-1930881866691427342011-06-10T19:01:00.005+12:002011-06-12T01:22:00.379+12:00

Simply out of the blue I found this sweet little ladybug in my room last week.It reminded me of one of my favourite chapters from the Holy Qur'an;Surah Luqman. It's hard to pick a favourite verse but for today this one truly stands out. "Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the End and Decision

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-5088012114766899692011-06-09T14:41:00.007+12:002011-06-09T19:52:26.113+12:00

I guess I should've mentioned this earlier. I'm back in Malaysia! I arrived safely on Tuesday night, alhamdulillah. I'm happy to be back with my family and it's so good to see my Mum again. I never told you guys this but I spent the last three months in New Zealand on my own for the first time ever. In the beginning I found it very hard. I had to do everything on my own and I didn't have the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-58891125369967194092011-06-08T16:23:00.018+12:002011-06-08T21:32:15.885+12:00

I'm sure you've heard about "Mooz-lum". If you haven't then it's probably time you watch the trailer. Or even better, watch the movie online over here. (Thank you Riham for the link.) EDIT: I've just finished watching it. I think the director, Q Basir, did a good job in showing the complexities of growing up as a Muslim in America. What I like most about "Mooz-lum" is that it's trying to

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-36159898151297390512011-06-05T19:26:00.006+12:002011-06-06T00:41:49.304+12:00

Thriller in Paris - extended from redragprod on Vimeo. I was working on a major assignment when Chloe showed me this. LOL. No offence to any niqabis out there. I'm speechless but I think it's funny nevertheless. Do you think the dancers effectively sent their message across? Please watch until the end of the video to know why it was created.Hopefully you will understand  the positive message

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-14336199547692702142011-06-05T12:04:00.003+12:002011-06-05T12:15:50.120+12:00

Whether it's a party for ten or a party for two... it's always fun to dress up and be colourful. Leave behind whites, blacks and nudes. This is your time to shine! If I were to host an all girls' party I wouldn't wear hijab but for some occasions (say a kid's birthday party) you have to because photos will be taken and you'd want to be on the safe side.   An all girls' party... is an

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-81605074276042413722011-06-04T12:02:00.001+12:002011-06-04T12:23:28.852+12:00

Absolutely breathtaking scenery, eleven awesomely beautiful girlfriends and one very much needed holiday... that pretty much sums up my recent road trip to New Zealand's most amazing holiday destination, Queenstown. If I could choose one place to live in New Zealand for the rest of my life, Queenstown would probably be it.  It's autumn at the moment... and it gets pretty cold down here in the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-38812521743017897352011-06-03T16:49:00.001+12:002011-06-03T16:53:42.624+12:00

SubhanaAllah. A little reminder to keep our intentions and actions in check.

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-12001388482139030972011-06-03T12:05:00.009+12:002011-06-03T16:57:01.954+12:00

Attending Friday prayers... is something I was introduced to when I came to New Zealand. Muslim women in Malaysia generally don't attend Jumaah and I think it's just a cultural thing. Having said that, I think it's awesome to go to the masjid, listen to the khutbah, pray congregationally and then catch up with the Muslim women in the community, especially here in the West where we are a

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-49088999788424485742011-06-02T12:01:00.003+12:002011-06-02T12:01:00.160+12:00

Every girl wants to be swept off her feet... and look good while she's at it! When a woman is with her other half she should translate her true persona into her style.  Be the natural you...  with an extra feminine touch. Date night with my fiancé or husband is about being as feminine as I can be because that's who I am. I have countless floral print dresses but this is one of my favourites at

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-60988477260173166252011-06-01T12:02:00.016+12:002011-06-01T12:23:15.925+12:00

This photo is pretty much self-explanatory, innit? Whether you're playing sports or working out in the gym... the Islamic etiquette of dressing doesn't go out the window. It can be quite a dilemma. I would prefer to go to a female-only gym or do yoga at home so I can wear what's most comfortable and appropriate for physical activity but a good run in the outdoors is a nice change.  Before I

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-56553374997568659792011-05-31T12:03:00.007+12:002011-05-31T12:03:00.327+12:00

A formal event... is the chance to be glamourous! If I were to attend one I’d wear this one-sleeved Grecian-inspired dress designed by yours truly. I love its elegance and simplicity because it makes it all the more easier to style the outfit according to the type of event (e.g. wedding, dinner, black-tie event) For this ensemble... I’ve chosen to be quite minimal with my accessories but I

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-86262893128600980372011-05-30T12:13:00.001+12:002011-05-31T00:54:02.656+12:00

Muslimah work or office wear... is all about looking professional and neat while maintaining a good level of modesty. I would opt to be simple for the sake of practicality and if it means being around non-mahram colleagues for 8 hours a day then I should keep my appearance subdued in terms of make-up and accessories. Less is more, lovelies.  At the same time... looking professional doesn’t

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-47754545373581019252011-05-29T19:02:00.003+12:002011-05-29T23:54:38.208+12:00

I know it's been awhile since I did a Style Sunday post.Between lectures, assignments, presentations and writing my dissertation I honestly don't have any spare time. Sometimes I don't even have time to sleep!But with only one more research essay due next Friday and the fact that my good friend, Chloe, is in town and shacking up with me for the next week or soI figured I should make an

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-91679498707583312492011-05-23T21:07:00.001+12:002011-05-23T21:09:30.296+12:00

Desiderataby Max Ehrmann Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-67802721652173127602011-05-18T17:26:00.009+12:002011-05-18T20:36:13.987+12:00

Feel free to use this banner for personal use =) I feel like I am stating the obvious but it needs to be said. There is no place for 'extremism' and terrorism in Islam. Islam does not encourage violence especially against innocent people.It prohibits suicide be it for any reason. It is not allowed for Muslims to fund and contribute to terrorist activities. "By (the Token of) Time (through the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-43725315558464496822011-05-16T22:49:00.004+12:002011-05-17T11:47:18.113+12:00

'Youm an-Nakba' (Day of Catastrophe)An annual day of commemoration for the Palestinian people of the displacement that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948 Today marks the 63rd year of the illegal occupation of Palestine. It breaks my heart to see innocent civilians are still the victims of this crime. When will the suffering end for both Palestinians and Israelis who are caught in the

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-86280004009174385792011-05-16T00:28:00.001+12:002011-05-16T00:29:41.578+12:00

I think I will scream the next time I hear someone say that Osama was a devout Muslim. Dear non-Muslim friends, Islam does NOT condone the killing of innocent people.Please don't ever mistake Osama for a devout Muslim.If there was any truth to that I wouldn't choose to remain Muslim.Yes, I, a Western-educated, peace-loving human being, choose to be a practicing follower of Islam.Not the Islam you

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-76629339773826505212011-05-15T13:46:00.000+12:002011-05-15T13:46:19.143+12:00

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-32484335766712412462011-05-08T11:54:00.002+12:002011-05-11T21:35:05.624+12:00

Assalamualaykum lovelies, Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been posting Style Sunday for a while. Well's that's because... I will be participating in Hijabi Fashion Week! I'm super duper excited becausea) I love fashionb) I have something else to look forward to aside from assignment due datesc) This is my first time taking part in HFWd) My fave girls from the blogging world will be

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-23550790323119958842011-05-07T19:52:00.007+12:002011-05-07T23:46:50.254+12:00

I'm being a very cheeky girl today. I shouldn't be blogging but I miss it so here I am writing the sequel to my post about Melbourne. During my second day there Fairuz took me to one of her favourite cafés for breakfast - Sugardough. It's a stone's throw away from her apartment, lucky her.  Sugardough is a quirky little place with waitresses who are dressed in 60s reminiscent style complete with

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-45627772765934403272011-05-05T22:36:00.005+12:002011-05-07T19:55:35.306+12:00

Now that I spend 90% of my time in the library the only way I entertain myself is through YouTube. I'm a fan of stand up comedy and my friend told me to check out Maz Jobrani today. He's hilarious! Ever wondered how to know the difference between Persians and Arabs? Jobrani tells us how. Meow!

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-23332262667945726512011-05-04T13:22:00.000+12:002011-05-04T13:22:43.755+12:00

{source: The Telegraph} "For me, this type of celebration would have been justifiable in only two circumstances: 1) if we had captured Bin Laden or 2) if we had somehow managed to “win” the war (ha). This event may have provided “closure” to some, but it’s essentially illusory– and we’re admitting this fact when we say it was a “symbolic victory.” Killing Bin Laden doesn’t hammer any nail into

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-72005650428968561162011-05-02T20:05:00.002+12:002011-05-02T20:12:02.792+12:00

Osama's dead. Finally. Obama said, "Justice has been done." (read other reactions here) Really?Is this what justice has come to?Millions of people are dead in the name of God/freedom/democracy.Livelihoods destroyed. Futures ripped apart and torn into pieces. And the death of one man constitutes as justice? I want answers. I want the truth out. I want the name of Islam cleared of all he has

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-35296921675212472762011-05-01T13:37:00.003+12:002011-05-01T19:52:04.539+12:00

Why all the fuss? What is the significance of Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding? For starters, it represents a history in the making. There will never be another Prince William. On top of that, the Will and Kate love story is a modern-day fairytale. This is the kind of stuff Disney movies are made of. Every girl dreams of meeting her own prince charming and Kate, now Catherine

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-76474042388750175392011-04-30T03:42:00.011+12:002011-05-01T01:10:31.462+12:00

I used to think that I'm not as forgiving as I was in the past because when I look back I am surprised at the people I forgave and the kind of things I was willing to let slide. I don't have any regrets about them but when my mum once said to me, "Wow aren't you noble" I don't think she meant it as a compliment. However, I've just come to realise this. It's not that I'm not as forgiving today,

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-26944297460686722182011-04-30T01:05:00.010+12:002011-04-30T01:46:52.124+12:00

{source: Daily Mirror} A simple and elegantly exquisite wedding dress - a reflection of the royal bride. She looked stunning and absolutely regal.And what a ceremony... it was magical and fairytale-like. Everything a wedding should be. If only the late Princess Diana could've been there.I'm definitely looking forward to see more pictures tomorrow!

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-72124813538968644512011-04-29T16:45:00.000+12:002011-04-29T16:45:52.730+12:00

I won't deny it. I am one of those people who will be glued to the television screen tonight to watch Will and Kate's royal wedding. I can't wait to see Kate's dress! Although I don't think I can match some people's enthusiasm for the occasion... The Daily Show - Katedown to the Royal Willding - The Nuptials of the Century Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-60649666090882272132011-04-25T12:24:00.004+12:002011-04-25T16:05:18.874+12:00

Speaking of holidays and travels, one of my dearest sisters in Islam, Hana Fedora, sent me a postcard when she visited Turkey a few weeks ago. I can't remember the last time someone sent me a postcard so I was totally happy to see this little surprise in my mailbox. It was like having a little piece of Istanbul sent to me. Since I'm on my Easter break at the moment I finally have a little bit of

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24333169.post-12000541467621673372011-04-24T12:37:00.010+12:002011-04-25T10:34:12.328+12:00

I've said it many times and I'll say it again. I'm in love with Melbourne city. Whenever I'm there I feel at home and I don't even feel that way when I'm in Malaysia. What does it feel like?, you may ask. Well.... Like you are where you are supposed to be. Like everything fits. There's a sense of excitement yet it's comforting.Like coincidentally bumping into an old friend when you are lost in a

Shahirah Elaizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08332951368178817982noreply@blogger.com10