Sunday, September 14, 2014

White After Labor Day



 

    Many people follow the old rule of "Don't wear white after Labor Day." I don't. Maybe it's because it still gets to be around 100° F here, or maybe it's because I didn't wear white for several years because of my kids. Small Children + White = Trouble. Whatever the reason, I have come to love wearing the color white year round. I mean, who doesn't love a white peacoat in winter? On this day I decided to go with a mostly white look with a little pop of color.
 
 
Note: This is the same vest from Hijab Louvre which I previously reviewed. You can see the review by clicking HERE.
 








 

 
 
 

 
 

 

Essential Ivory Vest: Hijab Louvre
Dress: Billabong
Hijab: I've had it for years.

 
 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

 
I had tons of tomatoes and basil growing in the backyard so I decided to make this tomato basil soup. It was extremely easy, tastes delicious, and it makes a huge pot. I had leftovers for days, but we ate it all because it was so good!



You Will Need:

To Roast:
About 4 Cups Tomatoes (any  kind)- I used what I had available in my backyard at the time which was a mix of Cherokee Purples, Romas, and Grape Tomatoes.
1 1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

To add in the Pot:
1 1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
5 Cloves Garlic, Minced (Use more or less to your liking)
1/2 Large Onion, Diced (I use Sweet Onion)
31/2 C. Vegetable Broth
1 28 oz. Can Tomato Sauce
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 tsp. Onion Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
2 Tbsp. Fresh Basil, Chopped, plus extra for garnish

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
2. Pour the tomatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle the olive oil and salt and pepper on them.
3. Roast in oven until tomatoes are slightly browned and roasted (about 20/30 minutes).
Optional Note: To speed things up and make things easier you can add the onions and garlic to the roasting pan about halfway through instead of sautéing them on the stove.

4. In a large pot on medium high, heat up the olive oil and then sautee the onions and garlic (about 5 minutes).
5. Add the roasted tomatoes to the pot along with the vegetable broth, tomato sauce, garlic salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and chopped fresh basil.
6. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.
7. Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Optional: Blend soup before eating.

Serve with grilled cheese and basil for garnish.

For the grilled cheese I made I used ciabatta bread, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil.



Sunday, August 31, 2014

Laylee Moda Chapan Review











 

 
 
     Maxi cardigans are a staple in my wardrobe right now. I mean, they are so ridiculously easy to wear because you can just throw them on over a t-shirt and jeans and go. They can easily dress up any outfit in just a few seconds. This Laylee Moda Chapan is one that I keep reaching for right now; it just feels so summery. FYI these chapans are loose fitting, so when ordering you may want to go a size smaller. 
 
I love that LayleeModa provides stylish yet modest clothing. They have gorgeous maxi dresses, maxi skirts, chapans, and abayas. They also offer custom made formal wear! The company was started in 2012 by Aliya Ayuby-Mujadidi (who designs each piece). They are based in Dubai, UAE and they ship worldwide. One of the things that I love about Laylee Moda is the high quality of the items they sell. The fabrics are excellent, the stitching is great, and the prices are reasonable. Make sure to check out Layleemoda.com for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 




Maxi Cardigan: Laylee Moda
Hijab: Pearl Daisy
Long White Shirt: Haute Hijab
Jeans: Hudson Jeans

 
 
 
 



Friday, August 29, 2014

The Vela "Freedom Scarf"















 
The "Freedom Scarf" I am wearing is from VelaScarves.com
 
Vela (which means "veil" in Latin), was officially launched in 2010 by 2 sisters. They aim to provide a way for Muslim women to achieve both modesty and fashion. Many of the Vela scarves have beautiful accents such as leather and lace, fringe, zippered edges, pleats and much more!
The sell both square and wrap scarves (many of which are limited edition), and they are all  hand made in the U.S.
 
The Freedom Scarf is Vela's first custom cotton print scarf. The quality is excellent, and it is large enough to provide countless ways to wear it. You can add folds, drapes, etc. without losing coverage. In my opinion it is worth every penny!
 
Oh yeah,  Vela is also planning on launching a clothing line soon, so make sure to check out Velascarves.com
 
 
 
 
 
 


























Hijab: Vela Scarves
T-Shirt: The Bow Spring
Skirt: Hijab-ista
Ring: Artizara
Hand Chain: New Look
Belt: Asos
 
 
 
P.S. I plan on discussing the Tulle Maxi Skirts from Hijab-ista in more detail in another post!


 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Hijab Louvre "Essential Ivory Vest" Review










 
 
     Hijab Louvre is an online store that launched in 2013, and sells modest clothing, hijabs, and accessories. They are based in Michigan, and all of their items are made in the U.S. They sell high quality products, and have amazing customer service. To find out more about the company click here.
 
     The cardigan I am wearing is called "The Essential Ivory Vest" from Hijab Louvre. Let me just say that when they call it "essential" they aren't kidding. I wear it all the time; it matches practically everything. The length is perfect, and the great part about it being sleeveless is all the different ways you can wear it. When worn with a white shirt (like I did here) it almost looks like it has sleeves, but you get a completely different look with other colors worn underneath. You can add a belt, wear it over a dress, with jeans, were talking endless possibilities here!
 
 On this day I decided to keep it just black and white, with the exception of my lip balm. Keep an eye out for how I will style this vest in future posts!
 
 
Did I mention the vest I am wearing is on sale right now? To find out more click here.








 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
Hijab: Hijabi Box
Palazzo Pants: Coco Bianco
Shoes: Mudd
Sunglasses: Ray Bans