GAYA Magazine November 2017 - Hijab & Modest Fashion for today's Muslim woman

Nov-Dec 2017

monochromes FALL(ING) FOR

FASHION CAUSE F OR

NOT EVERYTHING IS BLACK & WHITE

FASHION ‘UNLEASHED WOMEN’

FA SH I O N 

UNLEASHED WOMEN CAMPAIGN



FALL(ING) FOR FASHION



MONOCHROME PRINTS

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017

BE A U T Y 

DEALING WITH PROBLEMATIC SKIN

O PI N I O N 

PLANTING THE SEED OF LOVE FOR THE ARABIC LANGUAGE



DEAL BREAKERS

LIVING 

ARABIAN NIGHTS

FOOD 

LEMON MACARONS



CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE

COVER Photography: T&K @twicetk.

Shirt: Limited Edition Tee

by Vamp.

Model: Michaela.

H E A LTH 

EATING FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

READS 

MIRROR ON THE VEIL

THIS PAGE Photography: T&K @twicetk.

Shirt: Limited Edition Tee

by Vamp.

Model: Michaela.

Disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of this magazine or content may be reproduced or used without the written permission of the publisher: C.A. Editorial Consultants. All information contained in this magazine is for information only, and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. The views, ideas, comments, and opinions expressed in this publication are solely of the writers, interviewees, press agencies, and manufacturers and do not represent the views of the editor or the publisher. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies or losses incurred. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this magazine. If you submit material to us, you automatically grant C.A. Editorial Consultants a license to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world.

Editor’s MESSAGE Hello lovelies! It’s......November! If that doesn’t scare you and make you realise that we’re almost turning the page to 2018, I don’t know what will.

2018 is set to be a year of new beginnings for us here at GAYA. For starters, we will be going bimonthly. Actually we’re already taking baby steps by making this issue a November/December issue. Did you notice that? If you squint hard enough you’d probably notice.

Next year, Insya’Allah, with a new bimonthly issue, you will see a brand new look, a thicker stack and more stories.

We’ve got exciting new things in store with GAYA and Suara (our local Singapore magazine) coming in 2018, and we hope you’re just excited as us.

In the meantime, the message of GAYA will remain the same (empowering you wonderful women out there), and our doors are always open to new and eager writers. So keep them coming!

HOW TO USE GAYA Spot these icons in the magazine?

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I hope to see/hear from you soon and let’s get 2018 off on a rockin’ start!

love & peace...

Juliana Iskandar

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OUR WRITERS Co-founder & CEO Editor-in-chief Juliana Iskandar juliana@gayamagazine.com

Beauty Editor Naira Ghanem Creative Content Producers Hanisah Maskon hani@gayamagazine.com Jessalynne Woo magazine@gayamagazine.com Marketing & Distribution Byte.ME Pte. Ltd. join our team of writers.

Aateka Samara Amal El Gharbi Ameena M Shagari Ana Maria Aneesa Annie Mirza Anu Shukla Asma Toujani Asala Montaser Assil Taha Ayesha Khan Aylim Duran Azrina Naimuddin Aqeelah Lin Bushra Amjad Emma Khoo Faizah Malik Fatumina Said Hakeemah Cummings Haleemah Dandarawi Hanna Begum Hajar Masri Heba Saeed Hira Ali Hasna B Idil Mohamed Ali Iqra Arif Lamaa Husseini Lamya Ayad Layla Rodrigues Lipa Hussain Madiha Ahmed Mahnoor Malik Malikah Ebrahim Mahvash Rehman Marium Khan Ahmad Marwa Samara

Masiha Patel Mastura Koelmeyer Michaela da Costa Modestlywrapped Mumtahana Elahi Nada Alzalloum Nadia Ali Nafisa Bakkar Naseema Miah Nawal Boukir Nouhailah Rahma Talwar Reham Khan Roda Abdi Rym Shamas Sabera Hassanally Goulam Safira Adam Sajeda Sheikh Saleema Shah Salma Shalaby Sana Mahmood Sanae Chakrouni Sara Dekkiche Sarah Ali Sarah Ghanem Shazia Javed Hassam Sheema Sherry Sheikha Haroon Shuhada Alauddin Siddika Jaffer Siti Nur Habibah Stoori Khan Tayeba Abdur-Rahman Unaizah Toffar Wajeeha Amin Zahra Rose Alazaibi Zoya Khan

magazine@gayamagazine.com

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Fashion

Written by Michaela da Costa Photos by Tarlie from TwiceTK

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ecently, I was a part of a fantastic and moving campaign with The Hunger Project & Vamp, helping to spread the word regarding empowering women to end hunger in underdeveloped countries.

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As seen in these gorgeous shots by the one and only Tarlie from TwiceTK, I’m wearing this organic cotton limited edition tee printed with “Unleashed Women” in a lovely calligraphy font. It is the most comfortable, perfect tee and you won’t believe how much one t-shirt can do.

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Shirt: Limited edition tee by Vamp Blazer: Forever New Skirt: Lois Hazel Fishnets: Asos Shoes: Vans Scarf: Doosy

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Just 1 t-shirt could empower 13 mothers and their babies with access to quality healthcare and nutrition.

All profits will go directly to The Hunger Project who will ensure this happens as well as keeping girls in school so they can reach their full potential by ending child marriages and giving women access to microfinance loans and financial literacy training so they can be a #GirlBoss and start their own business and be financially independent.

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“1 t-shirt could empower 13 mothers and their babies with access to quality healthcare and nutrition...”

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$200,000 is The Hunger Project’s goal and so far they have raised $14,572.

Unfortunately, the t-shirt is no longer available, however it’s not too late to make your donation here. Ever y dollar counts to helping a fellow sister.

We need to empower and support one another in this society. Don’t walk, run!

THE WRITER: MICHAELA DA COSTA I consider fashion as part of my lifestyle because if you look closely, fashion is a work of art and art makes up our surroundings. Grace & Coy is an androgynous personal blog with a modest lifestyle full of an obsession for artistic caffeine drinks, online shopping tips and tricks, blogging, travel and anything else my heart desires. As a revert I aim to live a grace and coy lifestyle in a way that it will please our Creator.

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Fashion

FALL(ING) FOR

Written by Heba Saeed

all is absolutely my favorite time of year. The transition from scorching hot days to cool temps; leaves transitioning, sprinkling the ground with crunchy decor. And my absolute favorite part - racks of clothing stores being stocked with beautiful modest assortments for the picking.

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s a hijabi, summer fashion can be a challenge, trying to find something that isn’t revealing, yet won’t make you too sweaty, yet fit in with the fashion for the season.

It’s like your options are either a crop top or shorts and everything else in between is either not stylish or some type of maxi dress that has been so over worn.

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So once fall comes around, the stress of finding something to wear instantly fades and my creativity gets put to the challenge.

It’s easy to fall into the vest, plaid shirt, black pants/leggings and boots style for fall. It’s basic, cute but extremely safe.

Why waste the best season of fashion on basic clothing?

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AS A HIJABI, SUMMER FASHION CAN BE A CHALLENGE, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT ISN’T REVEALING, YET WON’T MAKE YOU TOO SWEATY, YET FIT IN WITH THE FASHION FOR THE SEASON.

The weather is a perfect temperature, the fashion is modest and the streets are ready for you to strut your stuff.

Since I haven’t been able to do much shopping as I’m saving to travel next year, my selection of clothing has been limited to what I already own.

This was a challenge I was looking forward to because you’d be surprised how many outfits you can come up with, with what you already own.

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I discovered a little store on my campus’ “State Street” a year back called “Don’t Ask Why” which I later found out was a branch of American Eagle.

As I rummaged through their store, being the summer season, all I could find was crop tops, tanks and shorts.

But I was determined to find something that would work in my wardrobe.

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DRESS: BCBG CROP TOP: DON’T ASK WHY LEGGINGS: FOREVER 21 BOOTS: URBAN OUTFITTERS FUR VEST: ME JANE SUNGLASSES: MIRINA COLLECTION

I put on a pair of black leggings and a short long-sleeved black dress then layered the crop top on top of the dress, and finished it off with a fur vest and my black combat boots.

It gave the illusion that the crop top was a part of the black dress and allowed me to wear something that was once not hijabi friendly to perfectly modest.

THE WRITER: HEBA SAEED My name is Heba Saeed. I've always been a huge fashion enthusiast and love experimenting with new styles. Black and gold have got to be my favorite color combo since it creates a simple but classy look. My favorite things to do are read mystery books, binge on Netflix shows and eat lots of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Hope you guys enjoy my posts and always stay stylish.

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Fashion

onochrome

prints

Written by Marium Khan Ahmad

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y purpose to start a blog has been to share my personal style and hacks. And in this issue I share one of my favourite hacks - what I do with a lot of monochrome pieces in my wardrobe.

I call it a hack because sure, you may have collected a bunch of nice clothes, but when putting them together, you’re completely stumped.

M

You just don’t know how to combine them into a kick-ass outfit! Who doesn’t want to know how to combine clothes?

Each one of us want to peruse a store, and pick combinations based on our own instinct. Isn’t it?

Simple yet powerful, monochrome is synonymous with the sixties conjuring up images of colour, psychedelic prints and unconventional materials. During the 1960s, the mod subculture dominated fashion, and instigated new trends.

They predominantly wore smart and sophisticated looks emulating the styles produced by leading fashion designers around the world.

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So back to the point, when you head out shopping the next time and if you find a monochrome printed piece of that’s the right fit – don’t hesitate, just grab it!

A monochrome printed piece, be it a top or pants, give a contemporary edge while allowing it to be neutral enough to wear with just about anything! The monochrome trend is (all-year long)casual, rock-chic, and formal, with a touch of sophistication and confidence that catches much attention.

In short, if you have a few good monochrome printed pieces, you can make a lot of combinations yourself truly effortlessly.

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my style tips My personal style has been monochrome stripes. Skinny Breton stripes are a staple of classic French style - inspired by sailors, they became a signature part of the tomboyish gamine look during the ’50s and ’60s.

Try topping a striped tee or a shirt with simple denim.

Add a pop of colour to really update this trend! The monochrome stripes can be of various sizes and variations but will create wonders if you pair them up with a bright and bold coloured trouser or any bottomwear you like (cus why not !).

Black Abaya from Haute Elan

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Polkas! Who doesn’t love em. This is again my personal favourite monochrome print hack.

Find the best polka print top for yourself (preferably black polka dots on white base) and trust me you can try it on literally every chic thing in your wardrobe.

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Monochrome checked and striped trousers - What I love about them is their versatility - anyone can take it, and make it their own.

Stuck in an outfit rut for the office - wear it on a white or black shirt.

Want it for a casual look!

Wear them on the loudest coloured top in your wardrobe.

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When you get a good hang of pairing different length stripes and polkas, hit your next shopping with monochrome prints – the geometric ones are my all time favourite. The monochrome colour palate gives the pattern a contemporary edge while allowing it to be neutral enough to wear with just about anything.

I hope this helps you to pick a few pieces when you are shopping next time. This is surely a trend for all – just what I love to see. No matter what your shape, size, colour, lifestyle or age, there is something ‘monochrome’ for everyone. So, are you going to give it a go?

Do share your views and feel free to ask any questions or queries .

Also don’t forget to follow @scoopsnvogue on Instagram.

THE WRITER: MARIUM KHAN AHMAD Heyyy! I am Marium Khan Ahmad. I believe that ‘fashion is for every woman’ and not for the fashionable few . Hence that will be the approach of my blogs too – tips to trick trends and curate fashion for every woman. My style is multi cultural , versatile , streetfashion and certainly not monotonous. I’m incredibly thankful to every one of you who stops by, please drop a line if you have any suggestions or feedback.

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Beauty

Surely I can't be the only one who constantly frets about having a bad skin day? I spend so much time just staring at my face in the mirror, trying to get rid of spots, or looking for blackheads or over moisturising, and trust me it gets tiring! Maintaining a perfect skincare regime every day of the week seems to only be apparent on Instagram videos.

D E A L I NG W I T H P RO B L E M AT I C SKIN Written by Naira Ghanem As a beauty blogger, I can admit that it's super hard to fit in that good skincare routine every morning and evening! There have been so many days where I just wash my face and that’s it!

No scrub, no toner, no spot cream. So I thought I'd put this article together for easy tips on how to deal with problematic skin, that won't mean you need an extra 20 minutes to get ready.

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Stop focusing so much on getting perfect skin. Let's admit it, it's nearly impossible with filters or Photoshop. The less time you spend in front of the mirror looking for imperfections, the happier you will feel about your skin. Most imperfections are usually temporary from stress, eating habits, drinking habits, hormonal changes, so it's nothing to get worked up about!

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I know this seems super boring but... drink plenty of WATER! Drinking at least 8 glasses a day does miracles to your skin. As someone who barely drinks any water, I find this really difficult, so how about we try it together? Increased water intake improves blood circulation in the face and this is basically a free exfoliator, moisturiser, radiance enhancer, dark spot corrector, and so much more!

Getting blood to the surface of your skin improves healing massively as well as increasing moisture and plumpness. You can see now how important it is!

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Find a mask suitable for your skin and stick with it.

The problem now with the skincare industry is that they throw so many things at us, get us buying them all and only trying them once or twice.

I myself have been a victim of that and it's time to stop!

Find one mask that fits with your most problematic area. Once you find the right mask, stick to it, try using it 2 to 3 times a week, try to fit it into your schedule as it will need 10-15 minutes. I always like to apply it before showering or whilst I'm waiting for the food to be ready!

Sticking to the same mask means that you actually get to see the effects of it working over time, as well as not overloading your skin with these new ingredients every time you use a mask.

This means better results, and save the cash! My current favourite is this detoxifying mud mask

by Bare Minerals.

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Remove makeup correctly! Most of the time our skin looks unhealthy because we haven't cleansed last night's makeup off correctly. I know it can be a lot of effort when you get home and all you want to do is sleep, but residue build-up can clog pores and stop your skin from breathing and healing at night. Night time is the best time for your skin to repair itself, so we wouldn't want to get in the way of that!

The easiest way I can think of is probably facial wipes - just wipe everything off and bin it! Now although it has removed most of the makeup there is still probably a lot there! So if you want to avoid a lengthy routine at night through exfoliating and cleansing, just opt into another easy option!

This is something I learned through experimenting and it works miracles, and basically it’s a 2-in-1. Use your toner! Apply some onto a cotton pad and wipe your face with it, avoiding the eyes. You will notice a lot of foundation comes off your face onto the pad! Tah-daa success! And you've just skipped an extra step.

Now off to bed you go!

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Overnight masks! What more could you ask for, literally zero effort if you want to avoid the whole night time skincare routine?

They're only something I have discovered and like recently, and as I said your skin repairs most at night so the mask sounds perfect.

Now it's not what you think, not your average clay mask which means you can't move your face haha, wouldn't want to get in the way of your sleep! Instead, they're like more concentrated moisturizers that you just rinse off in the morning.

My current favourite is this recovery mask from Lancome!

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Priming your skin before makeup, now I know this sounds like an extra step that you have to do but listen up. If you find a primer that works on your problematic area, you can skip the moisturiser step and go in straight with a primer and makeup! Doesn't that sound great?

I recently discovered this tip whilst purchasing the Cover FX Custom Blot Drops - I purchased the oil control ones which were magic. It now meant that I had moisturized and primed in one step!

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Spot Creams. Yes, they’re real!

I spent over 3 years looking for the perfect spot cream because I definitely needed it!

I tried everything from drugstore brands to higher end brands and nothing worked!

Recently I was at a Kiehl's consultation and the skincare assistant suggested their spot cream and I thought, oh here we go again another scam!

He managed to convince me to purchase it and I'm so thankful since that day! It works like magic, quite literally, I apply it and in a few hours, there is reduced redness around the spot and it starts to dry out, and by tomorrow it's nowhere to be seen! So trust me on this one! You can keep it in your bag for spot treatment on the go, and it's easily applied under or on top of makeup!

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It may seem like I've just complicated everything now, but all these tips make taking care of your skin a little bit easier and less time-consuming.

All these tips have been tried and tested by me so I hope they work out for you too! Maybe try starting with 2 or 3 of them, I can't say I follow them all the time! The main focus is to love your skin always, we all have our good and bad days, wear your skin with a beautiful smile and stay sparkling!

lots of love, Naira! xx

BEAUTY EDITOR: NAIRA GHANEM Hey I’m Naira, just an ordinary student with big dream! Whether its fashion, make up or daily life, join me on my journey. Whether big or small, we can take on the world, with a pretty face and a pretty heart.

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Opinion

PLANTING THE SEED OF LOVE FOR THE

language Written by Amal El Gharbi

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I

went to a bookshop, looking for old Arabic books (I’m always searching for some rare gems when I’m in Morocco). I grabbed a compilation of Khalil Gibran Khalil’s complete works and asked for the price.

Then the shopkeeper told me (and he’s not the only one here in Morocco, I often get this kind of remark): “You were born and raised in Europe (they can tell it by my accent I guess) and you can read and speak Arabic.

How come!?”

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Let me share with you my story with the Arabic language: During my childhood, I didn’t attend any Arabic class at the mosque or any cultural centers like many of my Belgian/Moroccan/Muslim friends did.

But at the age of 15, I felt the need to learn the language of the Quran, in order to understand it. The translations left me disappointed to be honest.

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How did I start, you ask? Well......

It all started with surat al fatiha...The 15-year-old autodidact I had to start somewhere. Here’s how: I knew surat al fatiha (the first surah of the Quran) by heart so I wrote the transliteration on a sheet of paper and put it next to the Quran page and started observing the shapes of the letters, the diacritic points, the signs on the letters (I learned later that those were the short vowels – al harakat).

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I got an overall picture but, of course, it wasn’t enough: I asked my mother to write all the letters down.

I hung them on a wall and started exercising, writing the letters in all their forms (ashkal al huruf), namely the initial-medial-final forms.

I managed to read the letters and the short vowels (‘a’, ‘u’, ‘i’), then words, then sentences…It really was an epiphany: a new life had started for me: I fell in love with the Arabic language.

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When I graduated from high school, I wanted to start an in-depth study of the Arabic language and literature at university. It inspired me in the way my education path and career have gone, without any doubt.

I studied the Arabic (and English) philology, before starting translation studies. A choice I’ll never regret. On the reverse, I feel blessed. And you know what? You never stop learning.

Learning Arabic made me discover a totally new world. It’s such a deep language: one single word has the power of setting a whole atmosphere, just one word, and bringing you to places you would never expect to explore.

lots of love, Amal! xx

THE WRITER: AMAL EL GHARBI Editor, translator, writer for Peace, born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Aamaly - alias Amal El Gharbi, is passionate about modest fashion and interested in social and women issues. Aamaly mag is a bilingual online space created after an inspirational trip to Canada to share passion for modest fashion, but also insights on women’s conditions, education and society.

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Opinion

DEAL BREAKERS Do you know what your deal breakers are when you are out there searching for the “One”?

Well, there has been lots of research into what men and women consider deal breakers in relationships.

Written by Wajeeha Amin

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S

cientists at Western Sydney University, Indiana University, the University of Florida, Singapore Management University, and Rutgers University examined the "undesirable personality traits," and "unhealthy lifestyles" across romantic and friendship contexts.

The researchers conducted six separate studies to determine what men and women consider the absolute worst offenders when it comes to dating.

They found deal breakers are more compelling in long-term relationships than short-term relationships.

In a study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the researchers gave 5,541 singles a list of negative personality traits and asked them whether they would consider them deal breakers in a mate in a longterm relationship.

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HERE IS A LIST OF A FEW OF THEM:        

Messy Unkempt appearance Laziness Neediness Lack of humor Insecure Tech-obsessed Stubborn

Looking for Mr or Mrs Right can be a tricky business but if you have an idea of your deal breakers it can make navigating that maze that much easier.

My job is to help you navigate that maze so here are a few deal breakers that the singles I have worked with overlooked:

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HAVING NO CLEAR DIRECTION. Where do you see yourself in, let’s say, 1 year? You do not need to have a grand plan written and implemented, but you do need to have an idea of what you want and where you are going.

At a minimum, you need to have some stability in place for right now as you continue to figure out the details of what you want. What about the person you are getting to know?

Do they have a clear direction?

SOMEONE WHO WAS UNWILLING TO CHANGE. Choosing to change is a personal decision. However, relationships require the ability to change for both people.

No two people fit together like a perfect puzzle, so you are going to have to adjust. Being open to selfgrowth, learning and, yes, potentially change, is too important to ignore in a serious relationship.

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KIDS.

COMMITMENT.

This is a pretty big one. Do you want kids, does he or she want kids?

Now I am not saying that you need to be signing on the dotted line within the first few weeks or months of meeting someone. On the contrary, don’t rush.

Get to know the person.

You should have a pretty good idea if kids are on the cards for you or not, and you need to be adult enough to admit that to your partner.

If you both don't agree on that status of kids or not, you have a tough decision to face.

Never assume you are going to change the other's opinion, so if you don't want the same things, then it might be best to find someone who does.

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However both people should be able to be in a committed relationship. If someone is not willing to make things official, then what are you doing?

You don't want to waste your time and heart on someone who doesn't know what they have, how great it is or how to actually make it a priority in their life.

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MONEY. Love or hate it, money is a topic you need to talk about.

One is a spender, one is a saver. You want to work, the other does not. These are the kinds of issues that need to be resolved BEFORE marriage.

These are just a few of the deal-breakers I see when working with my singles.

They are some of the ones my singles and couples overlooked.

Your deal breakers are unique to you.

I know you have heard it before “No one is perfect” and “Keep an open mind” But the things we ignore early on in a relationship are the ones that we need to shine a light on and ask ourselves are they a beacon of trouble coming up.

What was your biggest missed deal breaker? Let me know, I would love to hear from you.

THE WRITER: WAJEEHA AMIN Wajeeha is a Relationship Coach and is on a mission to help people develop tools that strengthen the depth of love and care in all forms of relationships. With more and more singles struggling to find, connect and keep their Mr or Mrs Right, Wajeeha is actively raising awareness around self-help skills needed for healthy, happy and fulfilling relationships. Wajeeha pioneered the Finding Mr or Mrs Right Masterclass and has worked with singles to marry and marry well. She was a finalist for Asian Women of Achievement award for her work and is an Ambassador for Women of the Future.

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Living

ARABIAN NIGHTS With renovations on my new house underway, I was challenged to find my personal style so that my interior designer could do her job. After much contemplation, I settled on a Moroccan theme. But I didn’t want anything permanent like over-the-top wallpaper and bold wall colours, so that got me thinking how to do incorporate little Moroccan style without going all crazy? Here are some tips I hope will help you too if you’re in the same boat as me.

Written by Juliana Iskandar

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ADD COLOUR TO YOUR HOME WITH A MOROCCAN STYLE HANGING LANTERN.

GEOMETRIC SHAPES ARE A MUST. BUT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE THEM PERMANENTLY ON YOUR WALLS, ADD A LITTLE TOUCH WITH PILLOWS.

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IF YOU CAN’T COOK WITH IT, THE CLAY MOROCCAN TAJINE IS A PERFECT PIECE TO HOLD YOUR JEWELRY.

A SPRINKLE OF GOLD IS ESSENTIAL ‐ PERHAPS A ROUND COCKTAIL TABLE IN GOLD?

ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE TO THE BORING CANDLE HOLDER, TRY A CANDLE LANTERN

CANDLES ADD ROMANCE TO A ROOM BUT INSTEAD OF THE USUAL CANDLE HOLDER, TRY ADDING A CANDLE WALL.

IF PILLOWS ARE TOO PASSÉ FOR YOUR LIKING, ADD AN OTTOMAN WITH GEOMETRIC TRIMMINGS IN A BOLD COLOUR. SO MOROCCAN!

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HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT MOROCCAN STYLE WITHOUT MENTIONING MOROCCAN TEA GLASSES? SERVE TEA IN STYLE WITH A MOROCCAN‐ STYLE SERVING TRAY

ANOTHER WAY TO ADD GEOMETRIC SHAPES IS IN FLOOR RUGS OR TABLE RUNNERS. RUGS CAN ALSO BE HUNG ON THE WALL AS AN ART PIECE.

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Food

SWEET TREATS Nothing says happiness better than sweet treats. This month, we are blessed to have two recipes that simply scream happiness.

Masiha Patel from thecooksisterblog shares with us a tangy treat in her lemon macarons and an amazing chocolate ganache cake that will guarantee to win over any choco-holic. Visit her at thecooksisterblog.wordpress.com for more recipes.

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Food

LEMON MACARONS I'm currently loving and obsessing with anything and everything lemons.

I decided to try out lemon macarons.

It's filled with a butter cream icing infused with lemon zest. These are luscious, sweet and with the perfect amount of tang, you have to try these out.

I use the French method for macarons, I find it easier to use especially if you are making macarons for the first time.

By Masiha Patel

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INGREDIENTS MACARONS ½ cup ground almonds

1 cup icing sugar 2 large egg whites (room temperature) 5 tablespoons castor sugar Colour as desired

Essence (optional)

LEMON FILLING 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup icing sugar 2 teaspoons milk

1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest

½ teaspoon vanilla essence Pinch of salt 49

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METHOD 

In a food processor add in ground almonds and icing sugar. Process till very fine. Sift in a bowl in case of any lumps and keep aside.

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Beat egg whites till a little foamy and increase speed to high.

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Now add in castor sugar, little at a time.

Beat till stiff peaks form.

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Add in colour of your choice and essence.

Now, fold dry ingredients into egg whites.

Using a spatula, fold in well.

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*Very Important* Mixture must not be too thick and lumpy, mix more till it thins a bit, like flowing lava, but not runny!

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Fill mixture into a piping bag. Pipe on to macaron mat. Knock your tray 3 - 4 times on the counter top to remove air bubbles and settle mixture.

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Leave to stand 30 - 40 minutes till a skin forms.

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Bake at 150 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Leave to cool.

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Sandwich together with lemon filling or an icing of your choice.

LEMON FILLING 

Beat icing sugar and butter till creamy.

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Add in milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla essence and salt. Beat till nicely combined.

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Food

A DAY WITHOUT

IS A DAY WASTED This chocolate cake is so easy to make and ideal for dinner parties or high teas. Filled with fresh cream, topped with ganache, drizzled with white chocolate and served with chocolate coated strawberries, these chocolates are to die for.

By Masiha Patel

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INGREDIENTS CAKE 1 ½ cups of sugar 5 eggs (separated) ¾ cups of boiling water ¾ cups oil 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 ½ cups flour ¼ cups cocoa powder 4 teaspoons baking powder Pinch of salt

GANACHE 2 slabs dairy milk chocolate 1 small tin nestle cream

FRESH CREAM 1 × 250ml fresh cream / double thick cream 4 tablespoons castor sugar

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METHOD CAKE 

Mix together oil and water and leave aside.

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Beat egg whites stiff with salt and leave aside.

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Beat yolks with sugar and add in oil mixture and beat.

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Now add in vanilla essence. Sift in flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and beat till nicely combined.

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Fold in egg whites and place mixture on a greased pan and bake on 180 degrees.

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Once baked let it cool and turn out onto a wire rack.

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Cut in half lengthwise and sandwich with fresh cream.

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Cut in desired squares and top with chocolate ganache.

GANACHE 

Melt chocolate and add in nestle cream, mix till nicely combined.

FRESH CREAM 

Beat fresh cream with sugar till stiff.

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Serve with chocolate coated strawberries.

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Health

EATING FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE In the Beauty section, we touched on products for problematic skin. So that got us thinking - what if we don’t want to spend our moolah on tons of products?

Are there certain foods we have to have or avoid? After all, we are what we eat.

So whether you have acneprone skin, oily skin or dry skin, we cover the certain types of food to add more to your diet and what you should avoid.

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acne-prone skin First thing’s first, stay away from dairy. Dairy affects our hormones and acne is aggravated by hormones, so best to stay clear of that. Increase your intake of antioxidants from fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, prunes and blueberries.

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oily skin Oil is good to keeping the skin youthful so don’t get so riled up if you have oily skin. But to maintain a healthy balanced skin, fuel up on Vitamin E, C and fiber.

Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and they make great snacks. Grapefruits are a great source of Vitamin C and fiber. They help to flush out fat from your system.

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dry skin Whatever your skin type may be, water is essential for a whole healthy system. So don’t skimp on that. For dry skin, fuel up on leafy vegetables such as spinach as they keep your skin hydrated. Avocados are your best friend if you fall in this category. The high content of Vitamin C and E, promotes hydration for healthy skin.

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Read

MIRROR ON THE VEIL “Mirror on the Veil� is an anthology of personal essays from around the globe demystifies the individual significance of the veil by taking you inside the hearts and minds of those who have experienced it first hand.

We speak to Nausheen PashaZaidi on the book and her work.

Written by Faizah Malik

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A

“

fter I started wearing the hijab, many people assumed that I wore it to please my husband, yet when he came home one day to find me wearing hijab, he had no idea that I had finally reached that decision. He was just as surprised as the rest of my family!

For someone who has always been so strongwilled, it irritated me that people did not see the huge personal decision it was for me, and most importantly, that it was my choice.

I wore the hijab to please my Creator first and foremost, but also to identify as a Muslim, to try to be of that character that is part of hijab.

Perhaps in a way I felt as though my outward appearance would start to influence my inward feeling. In some ways, it did.

My level of faith soared and I felt more graceful and serene wearing my hijab. That’s one of the things I think people who don’t understand the hijab struggle with. The hijab is something that can be embraced, loved and worn with such happiness. The first time I wore it I felt as though my heart would burst with joy.

”

Excerpt from ‘A Million Sca ered Pieces’ by Faizah Malik

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Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi – photographed by Thomas B.Shea

Faizah: Please tell us a bit about your background?

Nausheen: I was born in Karachi, Pakistan and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Moving from one big city to another in a very different cultural context meant that much of my identity development was a reflection of my South Asian heritage, Muslim upbringing, and American individualism. As most of my immigrant experiences were not a part of mainstream discourse, I learned early on about the importance of navigating dichotomous cultural norms.

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This is why I became interested in international human experiences.

My graduate degrees are in Language Education and Psychology. These areas helped me learn more about power structures in groups and how they influence what societies consider “normal” and desirable. Growing up, individualism and achievement were promoted as highly desirable traits within my family, my peer group, and the South Asian immigrant community.

However, our family was greatly impacted by mental illness, which is

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still a taboo topic. As a result, I became interested in the plight of vulnerable populations and those who are considered outsiders, rather than the South Asian model minority experience.

I found, and continue to find, peace in my religion and so the lived experience of Islam in different societies became of interest to me as well.

Faizah: How did the idea for ‘Mirror on the Veil’ come about?

Nausheen: My PhD research was on the perceptions of hijab among South Asian Muslim women who wear the headscarf and those who do not. The study yielded some interesting results, including the perception among participants (“hijabis” and “non-hijabis”) that Muslim women who cover their hair are more attractive than those who do not cover their hair, as well as the perception that Muslim women who cover their hair are considered less employable, even in Muslim-majority contexts.

The findings also showed that “nonhijabis” felt more discrimination within Muslim social contexts. As it was a quantitative study, however, we lacked the stories behind these perceptions.

Originally, I was just aiming to get the stories of Muslim women and their experiences with the hijab, but as I began the project, I found that many non-Muslims were also interested in participating.

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Considering that the veil is something that influences interactions on a larger scale than just within Muslim communities, I decided to open the call for more diverse experiences. This is what eventually led to “Mirror on the Veil”.’

Faizah: Do you feel you have learnt anything in the process of producing this collection?

Nausheen: I learned so much! Not only about the topic itself and the ways in which it is understood around the world, but about the process of research.

Research is a very hierarchical process and the participants often have little say as to what interpretations are made of their experiences.

In this collection, contributors were in charge of their message. As a result of multiple drafts and continuous feedback, we were able to feature the voices of people who are often missing in media and research - those who are not professional writers and those for whom English is not the first language, in particular.

I also learned that even when English is the first language, the flow of writing and word usage is so different across English-speaking nations that making meaning can be a challenging task!

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IN THIS COLLECTION, CONTRIBUTORS WERE IN CHARGE OF THEIR MESSAGE. AS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE DRAFTS AND CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK, WE WERE ABLE TO FEATURE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN MISSING IN MEDIA AND RESEARCH. - NAUSHEEN PASHA-ZAIDI

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Faizah: Were there any essays that you particularly related to or stood out for you?

Nausheen: Each essay brought in a different perspective and I felt myself revisiting my own understanding of hijab and veiling as I read through each. As a result, I feel much more comfortable with myself as a Muslim woman.

Faizah: What was your experience of veiling when you were growing up?

which tend to reflect their own understanding and their own experiences (or lack thereof). In my teens, I was diagnosed with alopecia and so, head cover became a very personal and painful topic for me. It is only with this collection that I even began to talk about it with people. I have spent most of my life covering my head in some way or another, with hair pieces, extensions, wigs, and scarves. From my own life experiences, the interesting thing is not what I use to cover, but rather what other people think based on what they see.

“

...FASHION IS ONE WAY IN WHICH WE NORMALIZE PHYSICAL APPEARANCES AND SO HAVING MORE VARIETY IN THE IMAGES OF WOMEN IS A STEP TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN WESTERN MEDIA. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT MUSLIM WOMEN ARE STARTING TO BECOME OWNERS OF OUR OWN NARRATIVES...

”

Nausheen: I had many experiences with veiling growing up. In my family, we have a lot of different views on the topic and these are reflected in the clothing choices and the diverse conversations that occur. I have worn the burka in Pakistan and even wore niqab once on a plane ride back to the US. It was a different time in the late 1980s and so I wasn’t afraid then of being harassed because of my dress. I have always been entranced by the power of veiling and the varied responses it gets from people, 65

Faizah: Why do you think it is such a controversial issue, putting the negativity of the negative media coverage of Islam aside (if only it were that easy).

What do you personally think is behind the psyche of people who really have an issue with hijab and veiling in any form? And males especially?

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Nausheen: There are many reasons fear of people and things we don’t understand, the notion of traditional Western feminism which often equates less clothing with more freedom, the remnants of colonialism which made veiling an exotic, sexualized practice reflecting the ways in which the colonized were considered “less than” or “different” from the colonizers.

With regards to the views of men (and women), it often depends on their own upbringing and the ways in which they were socialized, and this varies across regions and time periods. The head scarf (or lack thereof) tends to elicit a visceral reaction in people which is often connected to their own experiences with religion, culture, family, friends, and a host of other factors.

Faizah: Modesty is being celebrated in the fashion world more than ever and hijabi ‘celebrities’ are becoming quite common, what are your views on this?

Nausheen: I love it! Fashion is one way in which we normalize physical appearances and so having more variety in the images of women is a step towards acceptance of diversity in Western media. It also shows that Muslim women are starting to become owners of our own narratives.

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Faizah: Will there be a follow up to “Mirror on the Veil”?

Nausheen: Perhaps, we’ll see...

Faizah: Are there any other similar projects you have worked on/are working on that you can tell us about?

Nausheen: I’m currently starting a project to investigate the factors involved in the development of a Positive Islamic Identity (PII).

A number of studies have shown that the practice of religion is correlated with well-being and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world right now.

Interestingly, that rate of growth is reflective of non-Western countries.

In Western industrialized nations, secularism is actually the fastest growing ideology. Given the influence of Western media around the world and its continued association of Islam with terrorism, I’m looking for factors that may be related to how young adults develop a positive identity as a Muslim.

I have a short survey that can be completed online at the following link (click/tap the icon on the next page), and I would love to get responses from your Muslim readers!

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We would like to thank Nausheen PashaZaid for taking the time to speak with us and let us in behind the pages of “Mirror on the Veil”.

Edited by Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi and Shaheen Pasha, the book is a collection of personal essays on hijab and veiling, and is available on Amazon. Click/Tap the cover below to get the book.

If you would like to get involved in Nausheen’s next project in investigating the factors involved in the development of a Positive Islamic Identity (PII), click/tap the icon below to take a quick survey. Your participation will be of great help.

Take the survey here!

...Given the influence of Western media around the world and its continued association of Islam with terrorism, I’m looking for factors that may be related to how young adults develop a positive identity as a Muslim...

THE WRITER: FAIZAH MALIK Faizah Malik is a writer and the owner of online accessories boutique Kenze. She writes her thoughts on her blog and was recently published in a collection of personal essays on hijab and veiling titled, 'Mirror on the Veil', which is available on Amazon. She is also a PR Officer at Inspirited Minds, which is a faith based, voluntary mental health charity based in London and is studying Counselling and Psychotherapy. She lives in Milton Keynes, England.

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