My Love Affair With London

Since my London dream is almost coming to end, I thought I would share some hidden and not so hidden treasures of London; the places I discovered and slowly and instantly fell in love with.
From hidden streets in Covent Garden, the bustling markets of Spitalfields, Gothic Piercing parlors in Camden, Victorian tea rooms in Highbury, highstreet madness of Oxford street to so much more this city can offer. London is truly and absolutely an amazing place to live in your twenties and I most definitely had the opportunity to exploit it.

When it comes to food, my most favorite cuisine is Thai. That is why I slowly but surely fell in love with Banana tree, specifically the Angel branch. My favorite dish on the menu being the Ying Yang Laksa (yum), and to all my Muslim readers, it is indeed halal!
(Some Images Taken from Direct and Indirect Sources)

Next up is another great restaurant again in the heart of Islington; Gilgamesh. Located in the trendy streets of Camden, this diamond in the rough is a favorite with the young and fabulous of London. London Evening standard has even accused it of being "Incredibly fresh and attractively presented". This place is a perfect start to a glamorous night out.

I only recently discovered this, and I am so gutted to have been just before I left because I enjoyed it so much! The Comedy Club is such a good night out. More so on a Tuesday because they have a comedian from Kenya (of course I'm biased!). Students get a discount, but otherwise it is so affordable and honestly such a laugh, I definitely recommend it to everyone. However, some may find it crude and offensive, but that's just how comedy is now, but you have been warned.

Again another food related place with all thanks to beautiful Naima for introducing me to this sanctaury. Pretty pricey, but probably the BEST Lebanese food in all of London. I don't know why, I just absolutely love Levant, the location, setup, decor, food and ambiance are stupendous. I would recommend it for a birthday outing, plus its Halal ;)

Now If you're like me and are totally crazy about Jo Malone and free stuff, you will love what I'm about to tell you. I spend so much time at Jo Malone Covent Garden, and they honestly have the nicest staff I have ever come across in any designer store or perfumery. They are so helpful and bubbly and they let me in on a secret; Jo Malone provides certain regular customers with a personal invitation for you and a friend to enjoy a complimentary hand massage. They are pretty short but so amazing! And you walk out smelling delicious. If you ring up the Covent Garden number on 08701925771 they will be more than willing to book you in for an appointment, don't forget to mention 'Living the London Dream'. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon and have a good catchup be it girls or guys and then just spend the day in Covent Garden afterwards. I love Covent Garden! There's so much to see and do, especially on a sunny day. However, do not go with someone who wants to spend their time in Burberry trying on Trench Coats (yes, I went there ;)), enjoy the performances, ice-cream and market.

One of the things a lot of British Asians in London love to do is, of course, Shisha! Now I have been to my fair share of Shisha lounges in London, but by far the best and most classiest is Mia Lounge. Although it's a bit of a commute from central London in Swiss Cottage, it is most definitely worth the commute. Not only are the Shisha, Food and mocktails good, but so is the crowd and ambiance.

One of my favorite things to in London was to simply get lost. My friend Pallavi and I would usually take this route from Wateroo (I lived there in second year) to Westminster, cross the bridge to parliament, walk through Green park hitting Hyde Park, then of course we couldn't be rude and not visit the Queen at Buckingham Place and from there straight to make a wish on the Lions of Trafalgar Square, and finally ending it with m&m world. This route is so scenic and just so relaxing and fun at the same time. It would be good to take this journey as well on bicycles. Infact the picture below was taken on that specific day we took this memorable walk around London three years ago. Ah memories!

What a freshy right?

London has a lot of vibrant places to offer, some are artistically shabby yet tasteful, while other places like the Duck and Waffle in Heron tower offer a classy and elegant set up and have the 'wow' factor. Located on the 40th floor, the view of Central London and Docklands is absolutely breath taking. And the lift; don't get me started on that...it's like being on a rollercoaster! Although it is quite expensive, including Sushi Samba downstairs, It is a good place to go for a special occasion because it is indeed a special place.

Another pretty hip and funky thing to do is go to a market, be it in Camden Town, Spitalfields, Covent Garden, Walthamstow, Borough or Petticoat Lane, these markets always have pretty unique and awesome finds. The food markets sometimes make me feel sick with the smells, but the Whitecross Street Food Market in Barbican is not that bad in terms of dead animals and bad smells. I love going to Markets, I find them so much fun and such a different outing experiencing such a vibrant culture in London. Plus you sometimes find antique Gems.

Lastly, when living in Arsenal, my usual commute to university would take me through Highbury and Islington, and then through Upper street. These places are Uber cool and have the funkiest restaurants and Patisseries. I would have to do a blogpost on just that Road itself one day, but I thought I would share with you mine and my previous flatmate, Prateesha's, favorite place for tea. The Highness Tea Room is this small quaint tea room that is just so cute! The decor is minimal with little details like using a sewing table as a coffee table going a long way. If you are like us and love these little cute tea rooms you should give this place a visit.

There are a lot of fun and interesting things to do in London, you just need to be adventurous and open minded. London is always about trying new places because this city has too much to offer to go to Nandos all the time. As I have enjoyed and Lived my London dream through all these places with some pretty amazing people, I urge you to do the same. Leave nothing left untouched and Unseen.
Until next time, Keep living that London dream, dreamers.

#hope4Zayn

When we look around at people near us we think that everyone is blissfully happy and life is going as smooth as can be for them. There is a falseness of self suffering that we all tend to feel. "Why is this happening to me?" is the one thing we always fall back on when any obstacle comes our way. This is not the truth of reality. In reality people have mastered the key to courage and bravery. Bravery is not saying one is unafraid, bravery is acting and overcoming fear through hope and belief. Everyone is suffering in their own course of journey we call life, but the driving course for every single day, or every drying hour is that flickering candle in the pitch black night called Hope.

Hope for a better tomorrow, Hope for ever lasting happiness and Hope for a Miracle. 

Many people define bravery as war soldiers or bull fighters, indeed they are, however in everyday life we meet so many "ordinary" heroes and heroines that are or have battled so many hardships or obstacles and in the process made this world a better place. 

Today's heroine is Nadia Slatch.

Here is a story of a woman who's battling the hardest struggle a mother can go through. Here is her story about how she came to learn of her son suffering a rare disease, how they are dealing with this reality, what she is doing for awareness and charity, and how her faith and hope will never waver, but remain strong.

When I found out I was expecting naturally I was over the moon and after a normal pregnancy, and birth with no complications I started to enjoy life with Zayn. It was when Zayn was 4 weeks old I noticed he was considerably yellow all over so went to see the GP who referred me to Milton Keynes hospital immediately for tests, after impatiently waiting for hours was informed his bilirubin levels were high & I was admitted into hospital with him for a few days for further tests. After a scan was complete it showed Zayn had an enlarged liver & spleen & thought it was a liver function problem. 

Living with the unknown was very difficult but I always remained positive and after being transferred to the liver unit at Birmingham children's hospital I knew the specialist would get to the bottom of a diagnosis for Zayn. It was on the 7th February 2014 when Zayn was 3 months old that our world came crashing down & we were told Zayn had Niemann pick Disease type C, we were upset of course and in complete shock. 

Niemann pick disease type C is an extremely rare metabolic condition causing a breakdown in the central nervous system. A build up of cholesterol causing structural & functional damage in cells & tissue. 

Once the neurological side deteriorates the outcome is loss of speech, loss of motor skills, seizures, dementia, stop swallowing and eventually lose their lives. 

It is fatal and children with this disease don't usually live beyond early childhood. 

Unfortunately there is no cure at present. 

As this disease is extremely rare we were told with Zayn current status he may not live beyond 2, that's the hardest thing for a mother to hear. We pray and live in hope everyday but at the same time the harsh reality is we may never see Zayn go to school, graduate, get married or have a family of his own. I would trade my life in any day if it gave Zayn a chance to live a happy normal life, that's all any mother wants. 

There are currently only 75 reported cases of NPC in the UK & the bizarre thing is 2 others are in my home town of Milton Keynes. Hollie and Joshua give me hope as they are older than Zayn and are doing very well. 

I have set up a fundraising page called 'hope4Zayn' which I'm hoping people will take the time & donate. Donations go direct to the Hope for Hollie Foundation, they are a charity that supports individuals living with NPC and provides grants for specialist equipment as well as aiding research with Niemann Pick UK into finding a cure. 

Zayn is now 20 months old & even though he is smiley & happy he can't do normal things children his age can do like sit up, crawl, talk or walk. 

I'm going to do whatever it takes to give Zayn and other children fighting NPC a chance. 

"Our children only have a childhood to live a lifetime"

Zayn's story is indeed one filled with heartache, but on hearing Nadia's story, rather than being saddened deeply, I was filled with a sense of positivity and  optimism; grounds for hope. There are so many people that suffer all sorts of different diseases ranging from Cancer to NPC, you would think that everyone would have a sense of utter despair and self pity, but these patients are so full of happiness and positivity, and most importantly they are very grateful for everything they have been given in life.

 Let us today join in prayer for #hope4zayn, keep this trending, spread the awareness, donations and more information may be found here, learn from Nadia's bravery, sanguineness and positivity and in the process be thankful for everything we have been given in life.

You Need Uniserv

In my previous blog post labelled ‘In a Career Frenzy’ my main aim was to target students pursuing their A-levels and deciding which University to attend and which subject to choose. Today’s blogpost targets a subject much more close to home. A lot of you, like me, have just finished our exams and are soon to graduate. I congratulate and salute you on a job well done whether you have received a third or a first, it is still a massive achievement which we should all be proud of (Allhamdillulah).

I noticed that it had not even been a week since I had finished my exams where people were constantly asking me ‘So Aniqah, what next…what do you plan to do?’. For many people this question is left unanswered because they had spent all their academic time focusing on crazy coursework deadlines, or having constant exams.

Well friends, I have found a saviour for you. Unsure about what you want to do next; Masters? Second degree? Work? Year out? Charity work? It is a tough time deciding but we all know how difficult and taxing applications can be. Here is where Uniserv London comes into the picture. I have been in touch with the charming people at Uniserv London, specifically Alima Sethi who I have learnt will provide constant direction and support not only at undergraduate level, but also for further studies and professional examinations.

During this absolutely crazy time where you are juggling summer commitments (socialising in the sun), family commitments (barbeques) and holidaying, you don’t want to have the hassle of stressing about applications and follow ups. Uniserv London will, and I kid you not, DO YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR YOU! All you have to do is sit in bed, give them a phone call or a diminutive email with your details, grades, and specific requirements and they will set out and find the best options for you and put forward your application. It gets better; this is not only for the United Kingdom, but for international institutions as well. Moreover, through Uniserv London you have the opportunity to receive Bursaries upto £1500 partnered with Universities as prestigious as Imperial London.

Uniserv London will help you throughout the process and give you good advice and counsel; they cover workshops, personal statements, UKCAT, LNAT, study skills and visa guidance. Even if you are not considering doing a masters, give them a ring or visit them and have a good therapy session about your future. For more details check out their website here or give them a visit if your ever in the Wembley area. 

Hopefully, with this information, you can sit back, sip your mojito (virgin of course) and enjoy your summer!

Spring Beauty and Fashion Must Haves/ Wish List

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These Are The Best Days

This is it!

We have reached the final week of university. My years of being an undergraduate student are soon to be gone. Now all that looms are the ending dissertation and exams and before you know it, degree in hand, I’ll be riding into the sunset of endless opportunities of tomorrow.

However, as optimistic as I am of the future and ecstatic, for now, to be done with long lectures, there’s this sense of melancholy and nostalgia bubbling inside of me.

Winter was what I mostly saw of university, short days filled with endless laughter, banter, fights, food and accents. The memories that I hold are memories that stay with one forever, no matter how simple or exciting they were.

I met a boy called Jay. Panic building inside of me, first day of Uni, "Aniqah, you’ve got to wow them all". Building up the courage, thinking “he seems normal enough”, I walked towards him, “Hi, I’m Aniqah”. I had him at hello. Ever since then, we have been the best of friends. We’ve laughed, boy have we laughed, we have fought and we have talked about everything from life to Bollywood (sometimes confusing the two) and mostly about our dreams and our fears. A brilliantly smart loving guy, but just so lazy! And we all love him for it, I know he’ll always be a part of  my life as I make sure I am in his!

On the same dreaded “first day of Uni”, with that same nerve and courage, I saw a group of girls standing outside one of the university buildings, my love story with them was not as quick as it was with Jay however. On introductions, Hazra was the sweetest girl I had ever met, and oh was I so deluded. Sameeha, a very quiet and simple girl, yet again, so so deluded. My friendship with these two girls grew gradually and in second year Hazra and I would have these one off dates and moments where we would just have endless things to talk about, mostly boys and books. We have the funniest relationship, but I treasure it because she is a million colours, not a single dull one though. Sameeha, what I like to call Samu, ended up being one of the bestest friends I have ever had. She went to Spain for a semester and when she came back, she and I would just always end up sitting next to each other in Lecture and talking, and then talking on the phone, and after one sleepover and a summer apart we just could not stay apart. Sam is so giving, demanding, loving, honest, accepting, and a tad bit cynical but she's not just a friend, but family too. She lives up to what a bestfriend should be. She's my soulmate. We have planned our whole lives together and I know, we’ll be as close forever.

On meeting Jay, I saw him later on with a bunch of his highschool friends and plucked up all the courage I had and pulled another “Hi guys, I’m Aniqah”. Enter Priya. We clicked as soon as we met. This smiley sweet Tamil girl that reached my waist had such an impression on me. I have never met such a sweet person in my life. Priya has always been there for me and she has definitely seen the good, the bad and the ugly. We are both so weird and so made for each other. Our banter and private jokes are endless, and the one off emotional conversation when we're both down have been a strength.

During the first week of Uni, we had a seminar and I was late, I ran in and got the first chair I could see and sitting next to me was this foxy vivacious girl with her long straightened hair, animal print top and blackberry in hand. Aksa was your typical east London girl. At the end of the seminar, me being the friendly cookie that I am asked her if she knew anyone in the course, Aksa gets up puts her bag on her shoulder and says “Yeah” and walks off. Everyone on first impression thinks Aksa is the world’s biggest b****, as did I, but she is so far from that. Aksa is the most genuine person I have ever met. She is always up for fun, is such a sport and always so supportive. Smartest one in the group on paper but so ditzy in person, but we all love Aksa.

All of the smarty pants were in a different Math group than I because I had not done add/ pure math and generally just hate it. Here I met this super goofy funny guy called Babindip. What we call Babin. Everything he would say would make me laugh, even if he didn’t intend it as a joke. We would sit together in lecture and not pay any attention at all. Then we would end up in the library having deep life talks, giving each other advice, and from there I called him my brother. As big as Babin is, is as big as his personality is.

Lastly, as the semester progressed, I had five hours of continuous lectures on Fridays. As did this girl I hated for having the same name as me resulting in people calling me QAH. Anika. We started off by sitting next to each other, gossiping about all the smart losers sitting at the front, then we’d take turns to bring snacks to lecture, then the lunch dates began and before you know it, we were on the phone 24/7. I have never spoken to anyone on the phone as much as I have to Anika. We became the same person and would call ourselves Aniq(k)a(h) squared. Some of my favourite Uni memories are with this girl. Anika changed me, she made me a more accepting person and to try and see the good in everyone.

University made me meet some amazing people, so many more people that have not been mentioned. You have already met Naima and Lyla in one of my previous blog.  And everyone else I met along the way has left a mark on my life.

I will always treasure the good times we’ve had, however, this is not the end of the book, but the beginning of a new chapter.

In A Career Frenzy?

For a very long time, my friends and I were in the same situation where it was nearing the end of second year and we didn’t know what on earth to do with our lives. If you’re anything like me, at eighteen, you barely knew anything about yourself, about life out of your little world and what exactly it was you wanted to be.

We worry about the future, job opportunities, university requirements, internships, graduate schemes, extra-curricular activities and flooding our CVs with enough rubbish to make us “stand out”. In this rat race of who has the better grade, or who got the better position, does anyone stop to think if they really enjoy what they are doing? Does money and prestige hold more weight than happiness?

I know many people who have graduated, worked incalculably hard (and still are) for the position they are at. However, there is always the question of “is this really me?” “am I doing what I love?” and the very common “I hate my job”.

Many people fall into the degree or profession they are in, mainly because of their family’s pressure and because of what they assume will be a high paying job. These are decent reasons, but remember it’s a question about the rest of your life, so I do not believe them to be good enough.

There are two ways of approaching this. Firstly, you have got to do your research! You need to meet people in the profession you are considering, read, research, probe, discuss, think, explore and seek counsel. Do not make the mistake I did about being lazy and too laid back about my degree choice. When you fully do your research you will realize if this degree or career choice is indeed the right one for you or not. Question if you would excel at it and reach your maximum potential, or if you would end up hating every moment of it. It will not be an accurate decision making tool, you may still not enjoy it when you are knee high in it, but this is certainly helpful. 

Secondly, you have got to be rational. If you are going to invest a lot of money into an education, it is important that you invest in an appropriate practical one. The reason why I say this is because people go to university to study degrees such as adventure and “what if harry potter was real” (these are actual degrees, google if you doubt). Everyone has something they are good at and in the wise words of Mr Mandela

“There is no passion to be found in playing small- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”

My advice to everyone confused about their prospects, speak to career councillors and student support teams, they really do help, trust me. Do not take your future lightly because at the end of the day you will only have you to blame for not having taken the stand for what you actually wanted, and in essence, not taken a stand for your happiness.

For my Kenyan readers, check out  http://uniserveducation.com/site/. They are very helpful and for my British readers try http://sevencareercoaching.co.uk/, I have read many good reviews on them.

I hope this has helped someone.

She Is You, She Is Me, She Is Great

I know I’m a couple of days late, but HAPPY WOMENS DAY ladies!

Although there is a specific day dedicated to women, I strongly believe that every single day is women’s day.  As a woman, we battle through every day. The strength that a woman holds is unimaginable. Men may not agree or believe this, let me enlighten you.

We feel everything. If we like we love, if we laugh we split our sides, if we are upset we cry our eyes out and if we protect, it is till we die. A woman struggles through life trying to find herself within the midst of being a mother, a daughter a wife and a sister. She is a soldier in the battles of every day’s hardships and every feeling she feels.

Society demands us to have our hair tamed, our faces pretty, our figures slim, our clothes extravagant and our manners delicate and respectful. It is with these mannerisms that we are granted a husband; a man who will be that knight in shining armour. Marriage happens, then what? We become a cleaner, a cook, a carer, a sex machine, a hostess and a trophy. It is what we have been training for our whole lives right? So why should we complain?

Enough.

Do not be subjected to what society deems as how a woman should behave and what her life is to be. Protect yourself from this stereotype. As a woman we do have certain responsibilities to our families, but do not be bullied by this. I know of so many women that get married or get into relationships and make their other halves their life. God willingly they will not face hardships, but if they do, who will help them? They have relied so much on this man that they are simply broken and vulnerable. My parents always told us to get an education, build a career and have dreams and when you get married make the marriage a part of your life, not the end cause of your purpose on this earth. Probably the best advice ever.

As a woman you are capable of so much. Have an opinion and never be sorry about it because it means that under that perfectly styled keratin hair you have a brain. Want to be someone, not to be owned by someone.

If I gave you a handful of diamonds, would you throw them around exposing them to everyone? A rational person would keep them safely guarded and safely kept away from the eyes of potential threats. In Islam, women are Allah’s diamonds. That is why we are asked to protect ourselves. There are evil people out there and as a woman we can be subjected to the worst form of punishment for having that beautiful smile, those dazzling eyes, that inviting figure and luscious long hair. As unfair as it is, that is society.

I have seen women oppressed my whole life, yet they claim to be so “liberal” and so “free”. Reflect on what you are doing and whether you are reaching your full capabilities as a woman, or are you just a pretty face in a crowd?

Till next time ladies, keep living those dreams.

A Powerful Girl

They say that the difference between who you are and who you want to be is how far you run, how high you jump, and how much harder you go when you want to quit. 
Meera Khoda, a girl who did the impossible. She took her future and her happiness with both hands and created magic in the process. Her journey of weight loss has been an inspiration to all of us who sit behind excuses for making changes in our lives. Her remarkable story is a living proof of how easy it is to be whoever it is you want to be. 
Sixty kilos this is what Meera has encountered and overcome while inspiring so many:

1) Why did you decide to lose weight? What inspired you?
I basically started to lose weight when I Started studying Beauty Therapy and decided that I wanted to make it my career. I had to look healthy in order to prove to others that I can make them feel better about themselves, and I came to realize that I wasn't really setting a very good example. I weighed 129 kilos then, and I clearly didn't have the physical ability to be a Therapist (imagine going in for a massage or a facial and having your therapist's tummy touching you more than her hands?! Exactly) So I took some time to myself and I decided I would try to be healthier and more active, and I sort of woke up one day and said "hey, get off your butt and do something useful" so I started incorporating bits of exercise into my everyday routine. I came to realize that being more active was actually working, and that I actually enjoyed having something different to do every day! My inspiration was the fact that I had found my true calling, and I had to sacrifice some things to get to where I want to be. I guess its part of growing up and maturing- you set your determination and you fight for it. And the people around me were super supportive, which has been the most helpful! 

2) How did you do it? 
- Basically I started by cutting down the amount of food I ate. Anyone who knows me knows that I used to eat atleast three peoples worth of food every meal time. I'd eat anything and everything, whenever. Food was kind of my solace, my escape from any negativity or unhappiness. I started by cutting out sodas, and true to my word I haven't had a soda for the past three years, and I feel absolutely fine! I've actually kind of forgotten what it tastes like, Haha. Then I cut out sugar. All forms of granulated sugar, that includes boxed juices, candy, chocolate, processed foods. (yeah I know that sound scary doesn't it?) Then... I cut out oils. I resorted to boiling, steaming and grilling or baking. It really was difficult to go from eating chips most of the time to just eating boiled broccoli, but somehow I managed to force myself to not think about it. And that is indeed what helped, the way I thought about food. I would eat my veggies and think "hey if I can imagine what a potato tastes like, I can make this broccoli taste better" but then I found that little voice in the back of my head that would ask "why on earth do you need to imagine what that potato tastes like? You don't need that!" and every time I put something in my mouth I would hear that voice, and one day I embraced it. I started enjoying the simple taste of my boiled vegetables and my grilled chicken, and soon I replaced more meals with healthy high-protein, low-carb versions. Soon I found that I was digesting my meals better, my skin was getting clearer, I had more energy, and best of all, I was losing weight! By that time I had finished studying and I was on my way to being a qualified Therapist. But I was still at 90 kilos, which was still very unhealthy.  So I joined a gym and I would get in there early every morning, run for an hour and do a bit of cardio for the next two hours before heading off to work. I will be honest when I say that plan failed for me, because the moment I felt that, because I was going to the gym, it was "okay to eat anything", I went back to eating my usual carbs and oils and sugars. And ofcourse all the weight came ruusshing back, so I ended up back to square one. That's when I realized that it was indeed the nutrition that was playing the biggest role. I immediately stopped going to the gym and stuck to my clean eating programs. I tried several different diets and they all had their own effects, but the one that worked best was The HCG Diet- the most intense & strict diet of its kind. By that time I was mentally prepared to go for it, because I had slowly built up the strength to learn to say "NO" to the wrong things, and YES to the right ones. So I went on the 40 day diet and that really super charged the weightloss, and in the four months during and after the diet, basically the maintenance phase, I went from 92 kilos to 77! That was the most inspiring and selfmotivating part. My excess weight just melted off and I felt better and better every day! 

3) What obstacles did you face?
- The hardest part is fighting temptation and having the willpower to stick to eating a certain way when the people around you are happy eating whatever they want to. I had to be very strict with myself, I spent hours a day talking to myself subconsciously, telling myself not to worry, that I'd be alright, and that I honestly did not need to resort to food to get my way out of life's everyday Challenges. I would take a walk or listen to some good music or dance, to keep my mind from thinking about bingeing. Truth is, when we come across some hardships in life, we stress. And when we stress we resort to comforting things such as food, or alcohol or smoking or drugs. In my case I resorted to comfort eating, and most part of it was psychological. I would find that I've unconsciously eaten a whole packet of crisps, but I'm not satisfied, so I'd have another. And possibly one or two more after (cringe). It was incredibly difficult not to run to the kitchen when I needed some comfort. I would be walking towards the food cabinet and suddenly change direction and walk the other way, because I would fight with myself, asking why I really needed to do that. Some would call it confusion & chaos, but I personally knew it was for the better. Soon I had gathered enough mental energy to block out the unclear signals that caused the temptation to binge, and I found myself getting stronger and stronger, and now I'm at my peak, because I am out of that phase of resorting to unhealthy bingeing. I guess having a more positive environment around you helps more than is believable! 

4) What kept you motivated?
- The fact that I was losing weight really steadily and managing to keep it off, was the most motivating. Also the fact that I had more energy, more confidence, more strength, and I was able to do what I love and actually make a big positive difference in someone else's life because of my own abilities: it all came together to be one super-motivator to keep on going and not give in to negativity. And the fact that I could get nice clothes in my size, oh my god. That was the best part, going into a clothes shop and not having to buy the biggest size, but being able to buy something that would let me fit into my generation's trends and keep me from wearing something someone much older would wear. That was indeed one of the best feelings! 


5) How do you feel? Have other parts of your life changed?
- Well till today I still have that feeling of being "the biggest girl", I guess it never really goes away no matter how hard you try, but with time it gets easier to handle. I haven't yet reached my goal weight of 60 Kilos, so I still feel quite unsettled, but I'm hoping to get there this year. The best changes are the facts that I have more confidence, I'm not as shy and negative as I used to be, and I feel much more energetic and happier! I've learned to embrace life and to be more thankful for every single thing around me because it is indeed a spectacular world we live in. I've learned to see things as they are and not for what they should be and they aren't. I've learned to be kinder and more caring and definitely more responsible. 

6) Advice you would give to girls struggling with weight problems
- My advice to ANYBODY struggling with weight problems: if you know you're Struggling, you should have the courage to bring yourself out of it. Every single soul is SO special, we all deserve to be loved and to enjoy this life we are given, but being healthier makes you appreciate many more things because of the energy that comes with it. The mind is the most powerful thing in the world, and the way you think determines the way you live. My advice is to never give up, just inspire yourself and give yourself all the love and care you truly deserve, but just do it the right way. Take it slow, one step at a time, let it unfold naturally. Lots of love :) xxxxx 

...Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o, a Kenyan beauty who has stolen the hearts of audiences world wide. Was it her heart-stealing performance in 12 years a slave? Is it her impeccable style? Or is she a role model to all young women to embrace their natural beauty?
In my opinion it is all of the above, and more. Lupita has become a red-carpet crush working bright lurid colours that pop against her dark skin tone. At the SAG awards she wore a beautiful Jade dress by Gucci with floral and beaded embellishments that gave the look some drama.

Her next classic, a custom made Calvin Clien cut out gown in ivory that whilst showing some skin still gives her an absolutely classy and chic look. The shape, colour and cut of the dress screams icy-cool elegance with flawless highlighted makeup.

One of my favorite looks is this absolutely stunning Dior Jade flowing gown that definitely turned heads at the BAFTAs. This with a matching eye-shadow gave the look both a classy and fun vibrant twist.

The last must see look was this gorgeous red Ralph Lauren cape dress that just confirmed Lupita as a bonafide fashionista. This look stole hearts of designers and critics all over. A daring colour that just proves what Lupita is capable of.

I am excited to see what other bombshells Lupita has in store for the fashion and design world in the next coming years. She is indeed a fashion Goddess.
 

Life's Lessons

Life was never going to be simple. Sacrifices are always to be made. No matter how right it may seem at that point in time, every action has its consequences. The harsh fact of reality is that we are no longer children cushioned by our parents masking all of life’s follies. Being an adult implies making those decisions, making the sacrifices and being selfless.

Sacrifices are the hardest things to do and sometimes take as long as ten years to face. However, knowing that you are sacrificing something for your happiness, your religion, your education or family should always give you a sense of empowerment and hope. Empowerment in that you know how strong you are capable of being, and hopeful because that wasn’t what was intended for us, our happy ever after is yet to take place. I always believe that if something doesn’t work out, it was in some way us being saved from a horrible outcome.

Always be true to yourself, know what is expected of you yet bearing in mind what you are owed. Sometimes the best decisions are the hardest ones to make. That’s just life, if life was going to be easy there would be no point for anything.  

To everyone who knows what they have to do but just can’t face it, closure is a very strong medicine and of course things in that moment of time feel like the worst thing that could happen, but it gets better, trust me, it really does.

Everyone has a happy ending; patience is all you need.

Tube Strike-Is It Justified?

Even If you’ve been living under a rock, you will probably have heard about the tube strikes that had made a mess of London occurring from last Tuesday night till Thursday night. There are fears of another walk out happening this week depending on talks going on as I type this post.

I think as much as Londoners wanted to murder each other and more so the TFL staff, it is important to know what exactly is going on. Is Boris Johnson the culprit for breaking his ‘promise’, or are the RMT and TSSA the villains feeding into the mind of ‘lazy’ TFL staff members?

According to the metro, In 2008 the mayor signed a petition opposing his predecessor Ken Livingstone’s plans to shut down 40 ticket offices. Then in 2010 he went further, telling the London Assembly: ‘No ticket offices will be closed, alright? They’re not going to be closed. The answer to the number of ticket office closures is: nil.’ The ‘change of heart’ came in when talks of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) act emerged. From this, London Underground is planning to close every tube ticket office with the loss of hundreds of jobs, arguing that few passengers use them. ‘Managing director Mike Brown said: "We're committed to implement these changes without compulsory redundancies and there'll be a job for everyone at LU who wants to work for us and be flexible’ (independent, 2014). However, Bob Crow and his team are not buying that.

Would the use of electronic ticket machine be more efficient or more effective? Would it imply faster services for commuters?

 At what cost? The loss of hundreds of jobs that would inadvertently lead to an increase in the number of unemployed, an increase in crime rate, an increase in tax burden, a reduction of economic growth and living standards.

Then again, are we being dramatic? London Underground’s strategy is to deliver a reliable train service with the highest standards of customer care. They plan to do this as efficiently as possible through their people and technology (TransportForLondon, 2014). At my local tube station, there are four members of staff that stand by the baggage barrier having a laugh and opening and closing it to the meager amount of passengers with suitcases all day. Is this where my £90 a month goes to? Maybe what London Underground aims to do is rather than enforcing redundancies, better-place staff to more significant positions. Without a doubt, most of the TFL staff are vital and important, but some are leeching, and for them to be better trained to handle rush hour time and improve the service would be much more important than helping me open the barrier I am capable of opening by myself.

As an economist, I consider events with regard to the ‘multiplier effect’. The strike, was it necessary? We know that both parties have extremely valid reasons, however, the strike may have and could cause more damage than the common TFL staff member is aware of. The strike caused a loss of £3.5 million in revenue. A combination of this and lost time will have an effect on growth, stocks, businesses, hospitality and tourism, health and just an overall disregard for TFL staff. Was this a sensible move in gaining the sympathy of Londoners? A strike is always important in times of oppression or injustice, is this surely the case now?

Till next time readers, mind the gap.

2014

Happy Saturday dreamers.

This morning I woke up feeling absolutely poorly. Yesterday I had to pop into Zara in Oxford Street, worst mistake ever. Nothing a good cup of tea can’t cure.

I know this blogpost is somewhat of a ‘new year’s resolutions’ one, and yes, I’m a month late for this, but I thought better late than never.

On starting this blog, I thought it would just be a simple pastime, or if anything, a hobby. I never imagined getting the positive feedback and audience that followed. Moreover, I never though I’d fall in love with it. So here is what to expect from my blog in the coming year…

A fresh new look

More blog posts per month

Fashion and beauty expos and events covered

Guest writers

Vlogs

More pictures

Interviews

Hauls

Makeup tutorials

And an insight into my everyday life

I’m very excited for the coming year and I hope you all enjoy what I have planned. Thank you to everyone for all the positive feedback, and the positive criticism. For everyone who keeps asking me how you can follow the blog, the best way is to join bloglovin with your facebook for now, and follow me from the bloglovin account. I will be soon setting up my own website and hopefully you will be able to follow directly from facebook or gmail.

We’re almost at 3000 blog readers! I love you all <3

Have a lovely weekend!

You, Yourself and You

Have you ever felt like you have everything, but not enough? There’s always something missing.

Self-fulfilment. To fall in love with the people around you is the best gift you can give yourself, but to fall in love with yourself is the biggest accomplishment in your life. We are children, siblings, parents, spouses, friends, workers and individuals in this binding society. However, before that, we are individuals. Your individuality and uniqueness is what defines you and gives you your sense of perseverance. I strongly believe that who we are matters the most not to others, rather, to ourselves.

If you ever feel like giving up, you feel weak and cannot do it, think of what you have done, what you gone through and what you accomplished. Find that ‘thing’ that completes you. Being in your twenties is such a trivial time where you have to figure your life out and make decisions that affect you in the long run. All these decisions must be made when we barely know who we are. It’s difficult, and it’s scary.

This is where you should follow what your heart wants. A definite cliché, and it is probably harder to do than it sounds. Sitting at that office job day in day out when you’d rather be flying planes or having your day in court is no one’s fault but yours. Be brave enough to take a stand for what you want. Fight for your self-fulfilment.

Look to your family and friends for advice and counsel. They are the best people to talk to because these are the people who believe in you and see good in you no matter what or who you are. Hold these bonds close because they are sacred and underwrite who you are today.

Starting up this blog has been one of the best things I have ever done. It has given me a way to express myself, and helped me decide what it is I want to do in life and who I want to be. With my family and friends supporting me I am on my journey to my happy ending (InshAllah). It was scary at first, thinking I couldn’t do it, thinking was I good enough, thinking what would others say and think of me. These mean nothing. These fears are just you being unfair on yourself, not anyone else. Look past them, and take decisions that make you happy. Being a little selfish in your dreams isn’t always a bad thing.

Who is writing your story? Take that stand for you. Live your life dammit! Trust God and happiness is yours for the taking.

Wedding Poem

Usually, in the Pakistani culture, we have a ceremony known as the 'sehra bandi' before the wedding. In this ceremony, someone writes and recites some poetry relevant to the occasion and the family. It is usually in Urdu, but we decided to change things for my brother's wedding and so I wrote and recited it based on Maya Angelou's work. I hope you enjoy it. 

Today we can feel Allah’s presence,

We know He is here.

For what falls on today,

We, indeed, know blessings are near.

Like the silver lining on the darkest cloud,

In all blackness you bring light.

As this auspicious moment falls upon us,

We give our worship to you from morning till night.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

Hamza will carry the candle of his love,

A prayer of all prayers, against all, his love will rise above.

In the battle of everyday challenges and fears,

He found a rose who will bring faith throughout the years.

Saman’s love hurdles all distances and time,

She says “I was always yours to have, and you were always mine”

A journey they together start,

Side by side, enduring all, never to part.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

Idris a man who’s goodness of heart shines off his face,

So proud of his son, through Allah’s grace.

All of his children so very lucky and glad,

That for others he is Idris, but to them, he is dad.

Shalina, her courage and beauty of heart, can cure everything and all,

Always managed to catch her children when they would fall.

Since the moment we entered the world, you cared for us like no other,

There is only one way to describe you; the perfect mother.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

What of Sidhra, Samra, Sarah and Aniqah?

They say with welling hearts, dearest Hamza;

When the first stone looked up at the blazing sun, and the first tree struggled from the forest floor,

We had always loved you more.

Though we fought and had our rows,

Between it all, with us, love always and always grows.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

Aunts, uncles, cousins and friends,

To you we say a big thankyou, as your love showed no ends.

You may have seen us bludgeoned by circumstance,

Lost, injured, hurt by chance.

We screamed to the heavens, loudly screamed,

Allah sent you, to change our nightmares into dreams.

You stood by us in bad times and good,

We pray for forgiveness for you, as you would.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

Yakub, Hamida, Alaudin, Khursheed, Rahseed, Mehboob and Farzana,

Jewels we lost to the almighty and wise,

Forgotten are you never for our heart still cries.

You gave a share of your soul to us, when and where your course was run,

You left nothing left undone.

Do not remember them and think that they have gone,

For their memories, legacy and love still lives on.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance our long way home.

We live everyday as the messenger would,

So humble, so loving, so pure, so simple, so good.

Hamza and Saman, be the best Muslims and people you can be,

In your marriage let Islam, love, happiness, respect and patience be key.

Let it be a strong fire burning through the year’s every day,

And not a dream that faced with reality fades into grey.,

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

The sun has come, the mist has gone,

We see in the distance, our long way home.