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Home. It’s more than a place.
Home. This one word carries an entire lifetime of meaning. It explains so much about who we are. How we talk, our attitudes, our beliefs, our insecurities and fears. Home can tell the story of our taste buds. It is the reason we enjoy spicy or sweet. Home can whisper secrets about our sense of style, and what our eyes perceive as beautiful. It is a place, it is a feeling. Home is the smells and sounds that transport us to places buried deep into the crevices of our minds. Home explains our mannerisms, our temperaments, and the things we do for fun. Home can be a place you want…
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The Hargeisa Waheen Market fire. Our heartbeat flatlined.
On the eve of Ramadan, a time where business owners anticipate the busiest month of the year, due to eid, instead witnessed their entire livelihoods disappear before their eyes. Women and men, some old enough to be my grandparents, watched their shops burn to ashes. I'm not exactly sure what started the fire, but it swiftly and sufficiently engulfed the entire Waheen Market in flames that continued to burn throughout the night, until there was nothing left but rubble. I've witnessed flash floods in Hargeisa and learned to respect rain and the destruction it can bring. I now have a newfound respect for fire.
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Canadian Born Confused.
Somali. If I’m being honest, I still don’t know what this word means to me. I don’t know if it defines me, or if it is simply just an important piece of my identity. My history. My ancestry. Is it just the geographical location where my people reside, or is Somali inside of me? Running through my veins. I know it has something to do with my strength. My resilience. My stubbornness. I know it has something to do with the way I hold my head high, the way my tongue spits fire when I’m upset. It must be in my blood, I can feel it. It is in the…
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No pressure, just thoughts.
I haven’t written in a while. Not on the blog, not in the journal, not a short poem in the notepad on my phone, not even in an Instagram caption. There’s a lot going on in this mind and usually writing is the only thing that brings me peace, but this past season I remained silent. It’s been a weird year. I didn’t do much but say alhamdulilah and coast. The blog didn’t grow the way I had hoped it would. I didn’t become the successful entrepreneur I thought I would. I didn’t reach my fitness goals, get therapy, learn more Quran, or become one of those parents that talk…
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Certified Hijabi Girl…there’s levels to this.
The hijab. A jihad of it’s own for all Muslim women. A right of passage for young Muslim girls. A veil. A Protection. A crown. A test. Our hijab journeys are all different. Some of us have been wearing the hijab since childhood. We can’t remember a time where we didn’t have it on. Some of us have put it on and taken it off many times throughout our life. Fighting a constant battle between “damn my hair looks good, but that beauty ain’t for everyone.” Some of us have never put it on, but the thought crosses our minds when we’re getting dressed. Some of us were forced to wear…
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4 different ways to style a white pleated skirt
A white pleated skirt is a must have wardrobe staple in my opinion. It can be worn all year round throughout the seasons, and pairs well with literally everything. Below you'll see I've styled my white pleated skirt four different ways to show you just how versatile it is. I'm giving you casual, classy, effortlessly chic, and fun, all with the same skirt. Comment below and let me know which look is your favorite.
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It’s bittersweet this aging thing. But more sweet than bitter.
Another year of life. Another year closer to my death. It’s bittersweet this aging thing. The physical changes, the mental changes. I can’t explain it in any other way then bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter. There was a time in my life when birthdays were about having fun with friends, receiving gifts, wearing a show stopper outfit, and just feeling good because it’s MY day. Now that I’m older celebrating another year of life feels a lot more humble. A lot scarier in the silent moments of reflection. Like what am I doing with my life, how can I make more money for my family, how can I be…
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You’re an influencer if you have one follower.
The term “influencer” is generally used to refer to people on social media or YouTube with a large number of followers or subscribers. Basically anyone with a large audience. Anyone that has eyes on them. Because of the large online following they’ve built over time this person now has the ability to influence the masses to buy something, dress or look a certain way, or do something. It’s a job title many people are currently striving for.They’re investing in camera’s and photographers to produce the online content that they hope will attract a larger audience. Long gone are the days of having to get a university degree and work a 9-5.…
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How to create the ultimate summer capsule wardrobe
So this blog post is to walk you guys through those staple pieces of clothing and accessories needed to create the ultimate summer capsule wardrobe. These pieces are simple, and some might even say they’re boring at first glance, but boy can they work some magic when paired together correctly. The goal of a capsule wardrobe is to have a collection of timeless, versatile pieces that you can mix and match to create many different outfits. These pieces are the building blocks of any outfit. I strongly encourage you to invest in a capsule wardrobe that you can wear for years and years to come. Check out my summer capsule…
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The Fajr Club
So my last post was about wanting to change. Wanting to put in the work. Wanting to make dreams a reality. What I didn’t mention was that I’ve already started putting in the work. I’m figuring out what my medicine needs to be. I’ve begun this journey of unlearning and re-learning, getting out of my comfort zone, and doing the things my mind has been programmed to not want to do. I’ve started reading more books, listening to motivational podcasts, and I’ve stopped watching shows completely. I’ve also joined a gym and started going to bed much earlier, but for some reason despite all my efforts to do better, I’m…
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I’m sick of myself.
Habits. We develop them at an early age and they usually stick with us our entire lives. What time we go to bed and wake up in the morning. If the laundry gets folded and put away right after we take the clothes out of the dryer. If we make our beds, bite our nails, or put the cap back on the toothpaste when we finish brushing. These are all habits and whether good or bad they are usually very hard to change.
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Who are you writing to?
I'm writing to..
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4 things you must know before moving to Somaliland.
A lot of people look at pretty pictures of Somaliland on instagram, or watch these edited youtube videos online and then end up romanticizing the idea of moving back home to the motherland. They have this picture of a “homecoming” in their mind, where they get off the plane and are finally surrounded by their people. They imagine their children will learn the religion, the language, the culture, and be saved from the devils working overtime to corrupt our youth in the Western world. You made it out the rat race and now you are home. Somaliland. Well I’m here to give you a reality check. The devil knows no…
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Part 2: The pet I didn’t know I needed
The crazy lady is back with part 2 of her reflections on life while observing a cat. Stick with me, I promise i’m getting somewhere with all this. If you haven’t read part one, now would be a good time. So the change in Mixi’s personality after her sister’s death was drastic. She went from never letting anyone come close to her, to being the neediest and most affectionate cat ever. I could not get her away from me. I tried my hardest to give her as much love as I could, but remember, this was not my cat. I swore to myself years ago that I would never take…
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Life lessons from a cat…my husband thinks I’m losing it.
So for about 8 months I’ve had this cat living at the house. She’s not my cat, but she chose my yard as her home. I feed her, I pet her, I shoo away any other cats that try and invade her territory, but she’s not my cat I swear. I’ve named her Mixi because she’s a perfect mix of black and white fur with the cutest black spot on her nose. It took her months to let me pet her, this cat has serious trust issues, but we’re homies now. I’ve been watching Mixi for a while, and I can’t help but reflect on the things I see. I…
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5 signs that you are a shopaholic.
I'm sure you've all heard the term "retail therapy" before. Well there are some of us that need therapy for our retail therapy! It's a serious problem. It's beyond our control at this point. We didn't choose this life of shopping like we were born rich, this life chose us. And just in case you're in denial or questioning why you can't help but hit that "complete purchase" button when you know you shouldn't, continue reading and find out if you are a shopaholic.
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6 Lessons I’m bringing into 2021
1. Your tribe will find you Friends, sisters, brothers, a community. A family, even if no blood relation is shared. This is what we crave as humans. Connections with like minded individuals. But a lot of the time we find ourselves holding on to people and relationships simply because we’ve gotten comfortable. Or because we are afraid of being alone. Afraid of starting over. Well I’m here to let you know there’s nothing to fear. Your tribe will find you, there’s no doubt about it. Learn yourself. Discover your purpose. Enjoy your own company. That’s when you begin to attract the right people. Also, If 2020 taught us anything,…
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How to style nude outfits
There was a time in my life where I would walk into a clothing store and my eyes would instantly gravitate towards the brightest colors on the rack. I wanted to stand out. I wanted my clothes to make a statement. Well now, although I still love a nice pop of color in my outfits, there’s definitely been a shift in my personal style and the colors I find myself wanting to wear. I’m basically obsessed with nude outfits. Whether it’s a tonal or full monochromatic look, there’s something about a nude color palette in clothing that just looks so beautiful. Its fresh, it’s clean, and it instantly makes you…
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You know you live in Somaliland when…
From my experience, I personally don't think that living in Africa is that much different from living in North America. Aside from the scenery, the weather, the fact that everyone is black, and the lack of organization, our everyday lives are pretty much the same. You have your home, your job, your family. You do your grocery runs, drop the kids off at school, and maybe meet a friend for coffee when you have the time. Humans basically do the same things all over the world, everyday.
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Until our time is up, or the trumpet blows
Tell me if you can relate. You're sitting in bed every night wondering where the day went. You had all these things you needed to get done and barely finished half of them, and no matter what you do to relax, there's always this feeling of guilt, anxiety, and unease in the pit of your stomach.
