Revving Up for Ramadan

Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim readers! It's that time of year again when we renew our faith by challenging our mind, body, and spirit through a month of fasting and prayer. I've been slowly gearing up for Ramadan by making grocery lists and meal plans for the next week. But aside from the boring check list items, I wanted to do something creative for my family and friends before the month of fasting begins.

So I created little Ramadan gift plates with handmade stuffed dates with almonds, Jordanian almonds, and zam-zam water (holy water). My husband and I were fortunate enough to visit my in-laws in Saudi Arabia this past winter, where we did umrah during a 3-day stay in Mecca. Before we left, I made sure to bring back a couple bottles of zam-zam water. Adding the water to the gift plates was actually my husband's idea (I love when he gets involved in my creative projects...well, sometimes. This one was a good idea though). 

I added handwritten notes with each plate to give it that personalized touch. It was super easy, affordable, and fun to make, but it does require a little bit of prep work in advance. Depending on how many plates you plan to make, you can modify the amount needed. I used an entire 2 KG (4.4 lbs box) of dates to make 100 stuffed dates (10 plates with 10 dates/each). 

Here's what you need:

1 box of Medjool dates

1 bag of whole almonds 

1 bag of Jordan Almonds (I bought this one at Michael's for $7.99)

Zam-Zam water (this is optional)

For the packaging, I bought most of the items at Michael's, but I'm sure you can find them at any arts and craft store. The plastic plates were a steal at Party City for $1.75/each and my gift tags were 5 for $1.50 at World Market. 

The items I used to make the plates are:

1 roll of clear, packaging paper

Ribbons (I alternated between the larger cloth ribbon and the small 3/16in ribbon)

Floral picks with gem detail ($1.99/each)

Small plastic craft containers ($3.99 for 4)

Ribbon stickers ($1.20 for 4)

Gift tags

Scotch tape

Scissors

STEP 1: The day before you plan on making your plates, make sure to soak your almonds overnight. I soaked 1 lb of almonds or 200 almonds for 10 hours (Yikes! Please ignore my nails - I know they're rough right now). The following morning the almonds should be soft enough to peel. The skin should come off easily once you scratch the almond. If it doesn't, you may have to let it soak longer or add more water. 

Step 2: After peeling the almonds, set them aside to dry. I peeled them into the bowl above and left them on the counter to dry for a few hours. 

Step 3: Start the prep work on your dates. Cut the middle of your date lengthwise. Once the date is cut, remove the pit inside. I usually have a bowl nearby where I dump all the excess almond skins and pits for disposal. Head's up - your hands will get sticky, but it's worth it! I promise!

Step 4: Once you remove the pit, gently stuff the dates with two almonds. Some dates may be smaller than others, so you may only need to use one almond. Do not overstuff them though!

Step 5: Now comes the fun part - be creative with your plate! I arranged 10 dates/plate with Jordan almonds in between. The center of the plate is the zam-zam water. I found these cute ribbon stickers at Michael's and I thought they added a little more character to the plates. I was also able to label the water on the stickers as well. 

Step 6: Package the plates! Before I wrap them, however, I made personalized notes on the gift tags. Afterwards, lay the packaging paper on a hard surface and place the plate in the middle. A handy tip I learned when I made gift baskets for family before my wedding festivities is to scotch tape the "neck" of the paper above the plate. It makes it easier when you tie the ribbons later. 

Step 7: Decorate with ribbons and embellishments - I cut about 4-6 strands of the smaller ribbon and double-knotted it by the "neck" of the packaging paper. Afterwards, use your scissors to run it quickly over the ribbon strands to curl them. I stuck the floral embellishments in the middle of the "neck" to add a little more sparkle, but again, these are totally optional. 

Hope you enjoyed. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed month full of good health, prosperity, and happiness! 

xoxo 

The 411 on Infused H2O

Our obsession for eternal youth has created a multi-billion dollar industry ranging from over-the-counter miracle creams, spa treatments, and cosmetic surgeries. But what if there was a natural youth elixer at our finger tips that doesn't cost a penny?

Water. 

 The other day I was sent this link which describes a UK woman shedding years off her face by upping her water intake. The article caused a peeing frenzy among a couple of my friends, but I admit I wasn't wizzed off my feet.

I knowww I need to drink more water. It's one of those things that I mean to do every day...and yet it somehow slips my mind. While I drink about 3 water bottles a day, it is less than half the daily suggested amount (apparently women in my height and weight range should drink about 7-8 glasses a day). Inevitably. the guilt sets in at about 10 PM. Then I end up drinking a gallon of water before I go to bed (which causes me to wake up at 2 AM...and you get the cycle). So I've decided to spruce up H20 (and tempt my taste buds) by creating fruit and herb infused water that I could drink throughout the day.

Not only does it look pretty, it's refreshing, and tastes good too!

For this particular batch I used:
1 orange
1 lemon
2 mini cucumbers
5 strawberries
a handful of mint leaves

The fun thing about infusing your own water is that you can mix and match a variety of combinations and see what you like best. Here are a few of my favorites:

- blueberry, orange, mint
- pineapple, lemon, mint, thyme
- kiwi, raspberry, and lime
- cucumber, mint, and lemon
- strawberry, kiwi, cucumber, rosemary

Generally, I put the fruits and herbs first, pour the water into the jar (which was a steal at Marshall's for $9.99 by the way), and put about a cup of ice last. I let the water sit for a couple of hours and then stir. This allows the water to blend with the fruit juices and herbs for full flavor. The best is when you let the water infuse overnight.

The bottom line is that drinking plenty of water has many health benefits. So stop fretting over that one wrinkle and instead focus on staying hydrated and energized. Raise that infused water glass high and enjoy. Cheers!

xoxo

Knitted for the Summer

I'm a big fan of pieces that I could wear season after season. Case in point - the summer knit. It's versatile enough to wear over a pair of jeans for a casual look...or it can be dressed up with a statement necklace and heels. It's one of those wardrobe staples that is light enough to be worn during summer, can be transitioned in the fall with a camisole, and is a layering piece in the winter and spring. Most importantly - it's comfortable!

This particular sweater is from Ann Taylor Loft's Lou & Grey line. I've recently become a fan because Lou & Grey clothes are not only sophisticated, and tailored well, but it's affordable. Who says you have to pay an arm and a leg for high quality clothes? 

Has anyone tried the S'mores flavor at Pinkberry recently? Apparently it's been dubbed a "taste experience" - along with Watermelon Cooler and Banana Split...and it's oh so soooo good! It basically had me at marshmellow creme sauce. Yum!

Another fun find was this quirky Chiara Ferragni purse...and the matching shoes can be found here. I've been "eyeing" this bag for a while and I was happy to stumble upon it a a local vintage shop. Score! It gives a little pop of personality to this otherwise casual outfit. 

Outfit details:

Top: Sweater knit by Lou & Grey 

Jeans: Gap in Sexy Boyfriend

Purse: Chiara Ferragni clutch

Shoes: Banana Republic

Bracelet: Tahi Handpiece by Nasty Gal

Necklace: Jewelry Show 

Summer Daze and Snowballs

June 21st marked the official start of summer - but here in New Orleans we've been feeling the heat for a while. As a child growing up in New Orleans, my summers were spent either at the zoo or aquarium. It almost always ended with a brief stop to Plum Street Snoballs. The place is a New Orleans landmark and holds a nostalgic place in my heart.

  

But snoballs aside - you can beat the heat while looking good doing it. I've complied a list of items that I think would be the foundations of a fabulous summer wardrobe:

1) The Crop Top

2) The Pointy Flat

3) Loose-fitting slouchy pant

4) Ripped Boyfriend Jeans

5) The Midi Skirt

6) Statement Jewelry

 Just like peanut butter and jelly - there are some things that are just meant to go together. In the case of the crop top, pair it with ripped jeans, slouchy pants, or a midi skirt and you have a classic combo... you can thank me later. 

...and it wouldn't be a New Orleans summer without the mid-day torrential downpour. 

     xoxo

Top: Coco Made Me Do It Crop Top

Skirt: ASOS Pleated Midi Skirt

Shoes: Forever 21

Hat: H&M

Purse: Vintage Chanel 

  

Now Introducing: The Savvy Sartorialist

Little known fact: this blog has been a long time coming - almost 5 years in anticipation. But other "distractions" got in the way (ie: graduate school, taking time off to travel, getting married, and becoming "Professor Malik"). I had my light-bulb moment one lazy afternoon (after binging on one too many episodes of Breaking Bad) when I thought, "No more excuses. Just do it." I'm still getting used to the blogging realm, so bear with me as I reconfigure and format the site. 

In the meantime - I am proud to announce that the Savvy Sartorialist will be my platform where I can share my passion for fashion, books, food, photography, and make witty banter about modern culture.  Hope you enjoy this little journey with me! Thank you so much for reading!

Jacket: BB Dakota for UO

Leggings: Topshop

Shoes: Zara