Small Steps to Big Ones

I adore taking outfit photos. I like dressing up, meeting up with fellow blogger Shabana @ The Silver Kick Diaries, and posing in the middle of the street to take pictures. I like to show you all what I wore and how I styled it, it's nice. I feel accomplished when I do. But, honestly, it's been a struggle coming up with content these past few months—most of the year actually.

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Do you love what you're doing?

Take a breath and think of your present. What are you doing with your time today? Are you on your usual routine? How long have you been doing what you're doing? But most importantly, do you love what you're doing? 

My last visit to a Toastmaster meeting, a speaker, spoke about Happiness and how every one of us lives our lives in search of happiness. She ended her speech with the question. A question in which I don't recall because my memory is one of my weaker points, although, the question entailed the idea that happiness isn't something you search for, it's something that you accept into your life.

The reasons why we do what we do is mostly because we want to be happy, and because we want everyone around us to be happy. And so we begin to work hard for money, for our families, for our friends, just to make each other happy, regardless of whether we love what we do. 

But we go about our days working hard at a job that we end up stressing about it. We end up doing what we don't like over and over again. We end up coming home tired and grey, and when asked the question "Are you happy?" they're reply would either be "I don't know" or simply "No."

So what's the point? What's the point of doing something that makes you grey and blue when you don't get a single smile out of it at the end of the day. If you're struggling or stressing, accept the little things that bring that little spark into your eyes, and find that something you like doing, and do that. Then spend the rest of your days turning what you like into what you love. And that could induce that happiness you seek.

| Jacket - New Look | Shirt & Shoes - H&M | Jeans - Bershka |

| Scarf - Thrifted | Bag - Forever 21 |

Photo Creds: Sawsan Abdulla

Accept your happiness in the small things that make you glow all over, and spread that glow to the people around you. Shine your light on others and your happiness will grow. 

Keep smiling and loving!

xoxo

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Taking the Reins

The past few weeks or days; I can't even keep track anymore, have flown by so quickly. I swear, I still think it's Monday last week. Even my hours don't seem right. I would spend my mornings until lunch working, then by the time I get home, it would feel like my morning happened a few days ago instead of just a few hours ago.

Life has a way of taking over ones, how do you say, life goals? dreams? aspirations? The social life, the deadlines, the meetings, classes, and even more deadlines – this of life usually gets in the way of the good food, echoing laughter, amazing clothes, and breathtaking scenery.

Despite my busy schedule and life just happening, I seem to have found somewhat of a balance between work, toastmasters, yoga, writing, alone time, and a sufficient social life. I have to say that I do get exhausted and pass out at the end of the day, but it's all worth it because I see progress, I see results in terms of both work and relationships. In spite of it all, I always find ways to make time for myself, and for the people I love and adore.

I began making schedules that include meeting dates and deadlines, but also include meet-ups, hangouts, and dinner dates. This gives me the a clear view from the drivers seat of my life, and it's a beautiful sight!

And just because this outfit was shot during the first weekend of September, which was greeted with a gust of wind, I thought my chiffon kimono would be a perfect for a windy day. Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. 

I paired it with one of my all time favorite summer black dress that has a fuschia pink belt, which I tied around my waist. Strapping on my sandals, picking up my burgundy bag, and letting my hair down, we have a to-go summer outfit. 

Look at how your days are going. Sit back and just look at it. If it's getting too out of control then start taking the reins. It's time to take control and start doing. Sit, plan, and do! 

Drive that beauty! 

Stay amazing, darlings! 

 

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The Appearance of our Inspiration

"How did that happen? Where did all that time go?" – are questions I've been asking myself for the past few days as I reminisced on the nights that have gone by. It's September and we officially have about four months until the year ends, does that freak out you yet? I think I'm more shocked that I want, no, need more months in the year than the year actually ending. A new acquaintance of mine says to me, as we head to one of our meetings, "I can't wait for this year to end already!". And for the first time, I don't agree with her. If someone told me this two or three years ago I would've agreed with that statement, but now it just feels wrong to want a year to end when you've got so much ahead of you. 

For today's post, let's talk about the appearance of inspirations to get us through the rest of the year gracefully. These past nine months I've discovered my inspirations and lost them. It sometimes hits me on the head, and I sometimes stumble and fall upon it unexpectedly. Haha, inspiration sounds dangerous.

It comes out of nowhere. When you're sitting idle as someone babbles on about something you're half listening to, then BAM! It hits you right on the head, and when it does, amazing things can happen. 

Just like when I was at a toastmaster meeting one night, half listening to the speaker speaking – which really isn't proper ediquette in toastmasters, but sometimes a person can't help but get distracted. So I was looking out the window at the city lights and the cars passing by, and that's when it hit me. I had a sudden realization that came with an intense feeling of inspiration. My eyes widened and heart raced with an idea that I cannot remember right now, but I do recall that it was a brilliant idea that made a difference that day.

Or when I lay down in shavasana (corpse pose) after my yoga routine. I lay there and focus on my breathing, when yet another intense feeling of inspiration strikes and brilliant idea rose up from the ashes. That idea would usually be a blog post idea, outfit idea, or an article idea.

It amazes me to see how something with no relevance in physical shape or size, can bring in an intense feeling of motivation that ignites the creativity and perseverance in an individual. Inspiration can strike you anywhere, anytime, and any place. It's beautiful like that. 

What's inspiring you these days? Make a list. Make a loooong list, and read it out loud a few times. Trust me, it'll either make you smile or bring light into that already vibrant aura of yours.

Stay true, my darlings.

 

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The Little Things With Denim

With bright summer days comes bright hot humid days.

I enjoy summer, I really do. Just not when it's humid enough to get my glasses fogged up. It can get quite frustrating, especially when others laugh at how fogged up your glasses got. Sigh. But the heat gives me a solid excuse to wear dresses, so let's remember the good little things about living in this summer weather.

If you've been around the blog long enough, you'll have noticed this outfit before. I wore it during my Day in Italia post. I honestly didn't realize that I wore this outfit on the blog before, until I decided to look through my old posts – I knew this outfit looked familiar! Would I still wear this when I roam the streets of Rome? (lol) Yes, I would. Of course I would. It's simple, comfy, and stylish. 

 

  

| Button up & Dress - H&M | Sandals - Forever 21 | 

| Watch - Parfour | Sunnies - Cotton On | 

Photo creds: Najla Qamber

"Some say denim on denim can be, well, too much denim.
But I care not for what they say.
It's two shades of denim,
so that makes it okay.

Let's just sit back and appreciate the little things,
like the buttons of the denim shirt,
and the pattern of the denim dress,
Perhaps the streak of gold that lay on top of those sunnies,
that reminds us of a golden sunset on horizon upon the seas.

It's the little things that matter the most when all the big ones seem too dark.
It's the little things that help us see the light,
and appreciate the warmth it gives as we embark.

So think of the little things that could bright up your shadowed heart.
Even in this heat, there is always a way to find that spark. "

Stay hydrated, fabulous, and badass, my dears! 

  

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The Sea Calls

"Take me back to reality,

back to where my heart makes the choices, 

back to where my soul feels at home.  

Take me back to the time when things were blue and black, 

back to those days and moments of peace, 

back to where our only obstacle were us. 

Take me back to where the cold water flows and the warm wind blows, 

back to where we can go deep into the ocean and swim freely through, 

back to where our scales would change color in the summer sun, 

and back to where the cool winds of the night would blow our hair dry. 

Take me back to the dephs of the water, 

back to wear my heart craves and my soul belongs. 

Take me back to the sea because that is where I can be free. "

My attempt in creative writing. I haven't written anything like this in a while. I used to write short stories when I was in high school, but those were just contemporary middle-grade romance. Childish fantasies of boys and big hopes for the future.

This here is something simple and straight to the point. I've been really itching to go to a beach. Living on an island you'd think we'd have easy access to a proper beach. Unfortunately we don't, we'd have to drive for about 30-40 minutes to get to a proper beach that would most probably be filthy with litter. If we wanted something much fancier and cleaner we'd have to pay and take a boat to Al Dar Islands. 

With the sun growing hotter with every day that passes this summer, my craving for some sea air and tan lines grows stronger. I have been pestering the lovable people in my life to go to a beach with me, but the final plans have yet to be made until after Ramadan. 

How is everyone's summer going? Filled with summer love, I hope!

Photo by Iakov Kalinin

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