Manners 101...

You know how you sign up for events, and then forget about them until you receive a reminder email the day before? That tends to happen to me a lot. I guess I'm not using my planner very effectively. There was an etiquette dinner that took place on campus a few weeks ago, in order for students to learn table manners. I love Texas Tech University because they want you to succeed in every way, and they will do anything to help you get there.

The etiquette dinner was provided by career services. Everyone should make use of departments and programs like these because they will teach you valuable lessons outside of the classroom. Plus, they typically have free food (Just an FYI). I learned a great amount of useful things at this dinner besides which fork to use. You never know when a company might invite you out for a dinner interview. It's always best to be prepared ahead of time, rather than flustered and nervous the day of (Now that I have my table manners down, I can focus on trying to make a complete idiot of myself in other ways. Haha).

The attire for this event was business casual. I wanted to keep it simple and classy with a 2 piece Ann Taylor suit and simple details. I feel like you should always go business professional, and show your personality with cute shoes, statement earrings, and an accenting belt. Leave all the other bells and whistles at home.

suit via ann taylor
shoes via ???
shirt via forever 21
earrings via shasa
belt via forever 21
scarf via ???

My story...

I get so many questions about my hijab that I felt the need to talk about it (plus I've been neglecting this for the past week). This way I can simply refer people to this post instead of telling the story over and over again.

I am Muslim. Some people still do not know that. I get asked if I am Jewish, Mormon, or even Hindu. The garment I wear on my head is called a hijab. It is not a rag, or a turban. If you cannot say hijab, simply call it a scarf. It's less offensive.

I have been wearing my hijab since I was in the second grade, so that would make it about 14 years now. I remember my mom sitting my siblings and I down one night and informing us that she had decided to put her hijab on and wanting to see what we thought. My sister and I, being the lovely daughters that we are, wanted to support her in her decision, so we asked if we could start wearing ours as well. Many people put their hijabs on for different reasons. Originally I put it on to support my mom, however, as I got older I kept it on for different reasons. Typically, you're not supposed to put the hijab on without knowing what you wear it. I use to tell people who asked that I was wearing it to keep my sexiness for my husband. I knew people would get a crack out of hearing that from a 10 year old. It always worked.

So many times I hear stories about how people I grew up with who wore it around the same time I did, who took their hijab off. I'm not going to lie, there have been several times I thought about it. But then I remember the reason why I should keep it on, and stories like that just reaffirm my belief. I love being a representation of Islam. That's what Muslim women are. Muslim men aren't as readily identifiable because there aren't many differences between a regular man and him. You could argue the beard, but with No Shave November here, it wouldn't suffice. I love it when people come up to me and ask questions about Islam. As you know, there is always the good with the bad, so ignorance comes along with it. I still think the most outrageous question that I have been asked is "Do you have ears?" I still laugh till this day and that was 4 years ago.

Once I was old enough to understand, I went on a quest to find out why Muslim women had to cover their heads because I wanted to show off my beautiful hair. In Surah Al-Nur, Ayah 31(Quran 24:31) it says
"And say to the believing women...that they should draw their head-coverings over the neck opening (of their dresses) , and not display their ornaments except to their husbands, their fathers.....(etc)"
The reason behind this is not so that we do not bring attention to us. Trust me, we get plenty of attention. It's so that we get a different kind of attention. It's so that we are respected for our minds and who we are, as opposed to having a mans attention based on our looks. I'm not saying that men do not respect women for who they are, but typically if a guy comes up to you, it's because he likes the way you look. The hijab brings on a different form of respect. I didn't notice it until I went to high school. I was a diverse person with friends of every background. Most of my friends refused to curse or talk about inappropriate things in front of me out of respect. I honestly believe that if I didn't have on my hijab, they wouldn't have cared. Even now I still have friends who say, "I can't say that to you because it's against your religion." It makes me smile every time because in this day and age, respect for women has gone out the window. Women don't respect themselves, and men follow suit. This is on top of all the ignorance that is going on about is Islam. It just feels nice.

The hijab is a protection for women as well. A rapist wants to get in and out fast. Most Muslim women have on about 3 or 4 layers of cloths. If you have a hijabi (one who wears the hijab) standing next to a regular girl in jeans and t-shirt, typically he will go for the regular girl. Not many people want to attack someone who gives off the vibe of being religious. This is all my opinion by the way.

With that being said, I do like the way people treat me for wearing my hijab. But most importantly, God ordained that we cover our bodies, and cover out heads. But this is also means that we hold ourselves to a different standard. We are supposed to conduct ourselves that paints us in a positive manner. I'll be honest, I'm not always on my best behavior and I do things that I probably shouldn't do. But I'm human and a constant work in progress. I can only pray that one day, I'll get it together.

I get a lot of questions from people asking me about women in Islamic countries who are forced to wear the hijab. I get asked if I'm oppressed too. No, sorry, I am not oppressed. I choose to put on my hijab every morning. I pray for the women in those other countries who are being forced to wear their hijab. I also pray for the men that force them to do that. Islam is a religion if peace and understanding. It's your relationship with God, and it's no one else's business. In every religion, you have extremist. Islam is no exception. That's all those people are. Maybe they have good intentions, but they go about it the wrong way. At the end of the day, it's something that is bigger than you, me, or any of them. It's in God's hands, and He will do as He pleases.

Feel free to ask me questions anytime. I may not always have the answer, but I promise I'll try to find out. Have a lovely week. (=

End of my rope...

That's exactly where I am right now. I can see graduation at the end of the tunnel. It's just the process of getting there that is really getting me. I want to be done already, but at the same time I don't feel as though I am ready for the real world. I guess I'm somewhere stuck in the middle. But at least I'm on top of school. This week is about to be tough, but I refuse to allow that to deter me. Anyone have words of encouragement?

Any who, that's my little rant for now. I was a hobo today. It may not look like it, but I was. Back to the books for me. Everyone have an amazing week!! (=

earrings via forever 21
cardigan via forever 21
pants via forever 21
belt via forever 21
shirt via forever 21
socks via target
scarf via ???
shoes via roommate

Missing out on life...

I wanted to post something inspirational for you guys, since I've been mad busy this past week and I will be even more busy this week. I promise I'm not trying to neglect this on purpose. According to China People's Daily, there are 8 reasons why we miss out on life. Shout out to my mom for sending me this. She always tries to find new ways to motivate me. I love that woman.

"25 October 2012

One of the hardest challenges we face in life is to simply live in our own skin – to just be right here, right now, regardless of where we are. Here are eight reasons so many of us miss out on life as it’s happening.

1. The fear of missing out.

If you feel anxious because you constantly feel like you’re missing out on something happening somewhere else, you’re not alone. We all feel this way sometimes. But let me assure you, you could run around trying to do everything, and travel around the world, and always stay connected, and work and party all night long without sleep, but you could never do it all. You will always be missing something.

So let it go, and realize you have everything right now. The best in life isn’t somewhere else; it’s right where you are, at this moment. Celebrate the perhaps not altogether insignificant fact that you are alive right now. This moment, and who you are, is absolutely perfect. Take a deep breath, smile, and notice how lovely it is.

2. Avoiding pain and defeat.

Not to spoil the ending for you, but everything is going to be OK – you just need to learn a lesson or two first. Don’t run from the realities of the present moment. The pain and defeat contained within is necessary to your long-term growth. Remember, there is a difference between encountering defeats and being defeated. Nothing ever goes away until it teaches you what you need to know, so you can move on to the next step.

3. Holding on to what’s no longer there.

Some of us spend the vast majority of our lives recounting past memories, and letting them steer the course of the present. Don’t waste your time trying to live in another time and place. Let the past, go. You must accept the end of something in order to begin to build something new. So close some old doors today. Not because of pride, inability or egotism, but simply because you’ve entered each one of them in the past and realize that they lead to nowhere.

4. Retelling a self-defeating story.

If we continue to repeat a story in our head, we eventually believe that story and embrace it – whether it empowers us or not. So the question is: Does your story empower you? Don’t place your mistakes on your mind, their weight may crush your current potential. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as a platform to view the horizon. Remember, all things are difficult before they are easy. What matters the most is what you start doing now.

5. Attempting to fit in by becoming someone else.

The hardest battle you’re ever going to fight is the battle to be you, just the way you are in this moment. We cannot find ourselves if we are always searching for, or morphing into, someone else. In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. Be your own kind of beautiful right now, in the way only you know how.

6. The picture in your head of how it’s supposed to be.

What often screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s supposed to be. Although every good thing has an end, in life every ending is just a new beginning. Life goes on – not always the way we had envisioned it would be, but always the way it’s supposed to be. Remember, we usually can’t choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.

7. Berating yourself for not being perfect.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are plenty of people willing to do that for you. Do your best and surrender the rest. Tell yourself, “I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment. And that is all I can expect of anyone, including me.” Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do, even your mistakes. Because even mistakes mean you’re trying.

8. Waiting, and then waiting some more.

Stop waiting for tomorrow; you will never get today back. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. It doesn’t matter how low or unworthy you feel right now. The simple fact that you’re alive makes you worthy. Life is too short for excuses. Stop settling. Stop procrastinating. Start today by taking one courageous step forward. If you are not sure exactly which way to go, it is always wise to follow your heart."


Have a great week!!!

Man Of the Month: October

Ako mi ti poju! Ever head that song? It describes our lovely Man Of the Month, Bobby Akinboro, perfectly. Jack of all trades, master of some, he dabbles in a little bit of everything. CEO of Identity Wear, an amazing clothing line that the African community in the South cannot get enough of. He is also the man behind the lens of Blastography. With a Major in Management Information Systems (MIS), this man is certainly going places.

KA: So tell us about Bobby Akinboro...
BA: "See, I might not change a lot of lives in the world, but I'll be happy if I affect the life of someone who can." -Wale
I'm just a regular guy. I like to hang out with people, take pictures, occasionally act a fool. But over all, I have a constant yearning for success. And to me success isn't defined by how much money you have, its more about the life you live. Success to me is defined by how happy you are. I am a Nigerian to the core. I'm an introvert with extrovert tendencies, God fearing, and a chill guy to be around. My family means the world to me, and friends are right after. Shout out to Nigeria one time.
KA: How would you describe your style?
BA: Random. I wake up in the morning, just put something on and hope it looks good. Everything I have isn't something that would surprise you. Same Jay's, just different colors. That's how most of my closet is. I try to be presentable at all points in time, no matter where I'm going. To be presentable, you don't have to be boring, just confident.
KA: What is identity wear?
BA: Identity wear is my clothing line. It is co-owned by my brother, Akin Akinboro, and I. It has three concepts to it. Concept number one is simply Christian. Concept number two is simply African. Concept number three is simply Nigerian. Anything we do is placed under one of these three.
KA: Where would you like to see identity wear in 10 years.
BA: In ten years, I'd like to have at least one employee. If Identity Wear is still going, I expect it to be where it is now, which is solely based off of internet sells and word of mouth. I don't expect to open up a shop.
KA: How did you fall into photography?
BA: There's this girl. And I was in love with her. I wanted to spend more time with her, so I began to develop interest in things that she liked. And even though her and I fell off, my love for photography remained constant.
KA: So where is Mrs. Right? Do we need to turn on the lights so you can find her?
BA: Yes. I'm single and hating it. It's just that at this moment, I don't have the time to devote to a relationship. And I don't want to put any girl in a situation to where she isn't a priority.
KA: So you said you're Nigerian to the core, do you ever think you'll go back. 
BA: Nahh.. I could go back to visit for a long period of time, but never to live or work unless God deems it so.

Twitter: @BLASTography
Instagram: @ogblast
Facebook

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My new obsession...

I have a new found obsession with this Russian designer Ulyana Sergeenko. She is fairly recent and I am absolutely in love with her work. Not only is she an incredible fashion designer, she is a photographer as well. This woman knows what she is doing. She has this feminine retro style that is perfect for the vintage enthusiast in all of us. She is also super modest in most of her designs, which is a major plus for me. I would love to have every single one of her dresses in my closet, but I would have no where to wear them to. But one day...

I want the one to the right. It's devine. 

Ulyana herself. Isn't she simply gorgeous? 

My disclaimer...

As you may have noticed from my previous posts, a lot of my clothes come from Forever 21. I actually have a love/hate relationship with them. They have cute cloths, however they are not always the best quality. Know what you're buying and what you're buying it for. Don't expect a shirt you bought for 12.99 to last you 15 years, if you wear it every other week. Most items from Forever 21 have a short life span, even if you take care of it correctly. But the only reason why most of my clothes come from there is because that's pretty much all we have in Lubbock. There are a few other standard shops like Express, 579, Holister, Gap, Old Navy, JcPenny, and Dillards. However, I don't really shop in any of those stores. They simply aren't my style, or out of my price range. We do have a few great stores that I love like Target, Ross, and TJ Maxx that are in my range, but you have to hunt the good stuff down.

I really wish other stores would take an interest in Lubbock. After all, it is a college town. There are tons of female college students who would love to make all these companies rich after refund checks come out. They just need to capitalize off of them. I doubt any big time retail store will actually see this, but if you do, please take a look at Lubbock. You'd be surprised how many people come from all these surrounding little towns to go shopping in Lubbock (the idea sickens me though).

I guess I'm just a spoiled city girl from Houston who is used to 5 malls in the same vicinity  And I probably should appreciate the itty-bitty mall that we do have. But I feel like you can never do too much shopping. Why not have a variety of stores to choose from?

God's Print...

Last night I went to an amazing concert that one of my friends put together. It was called God's Print Concert. There was praise dancing, singing, poetry, acting, and a really good preacher stood up at the end and delivered a beautiful message. As you all know, I am Muslim (if you didn't, well now you do). However, I do go out to many different events hosted by all religious back grounds. You never know who you could learn something from. And that's what I did last night, I learned. As well as cried, sang, and a lot of other things.

You could feel the love and amazement in that room last night. It just helped me appreciate people from different cultural and religious backgrounds more. I guess I never really though about how people worshiped God in other religions. For Muslims, it's the same all around. But for Christians, you could tell that Whites and Blacks did it differently, however it wasn't a problem because as long as they were doing it for the Lord, everything was alright. I have a new found respect for them. I also found out a lot about myself. It felt good.

As amazing as it was, you know I had to dress as equally amazing. The attire was "classy" so that's what I aimed for. I loved that the admission at the door was a canned food or an article of clothing that would be donated to The Bride of Lubbock, to help families during Thanksgiving. I applaud my friend Lilian for putting together such an amazing show.

Tiffany, I, and Rukayat looking amazing as all ways.

blazer via forever 21
shoes via ross
clutch via 579
tank via forever 21
skirt via forever 21
earrings via ???
scarf via ???