Phoenix Fashion Week

Hello Everyone,
 I am deviating away just a bit from blogging about my adventures in motherhood to blog about my other favorite, Fashion! Not many of you know this about me, but I was briefly enrolled in fashion school, before declining and choosing to pursue my English degree. It was a dream that was never fulfilled, but do not regret. As the fashion industry is a very cut throat business that does not just require all of your time and effort, but a significant financial backing. And so, I have learned to appreciate it from the other side, the consumer side! Since moving to Phoenix, I have had to downscale my style and my love for designer items quite a bit, as I have found it to be under appreciated in Phoenix. It is also too hot and too casual of an environment to always leave the house with a full face of make up and heels. And, I won't lie, I have learned to appreciate being a "basic girl" where my everyday wardrobe consists of jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops ( I have to stay true to myself, and opt for Tory Burch choose flip-flops).  However, this past weekend, it seems the jeans and flip-flops disappeared when I attended the runway final for Phoenix Fashion Week. Having fallen on the same week as Paris Fashion Week, it made it that more exciting to want to attend the event. I knew being able to attend all days of the events would be next to impossible as the Mr. still does not quite understand my love for fashion. It would also imply that for three full days, my days would consist of attending shopping events, lectures and runway shoes, who would not want that? Maybe, in my past life before motherhood defined me. So I knew I had to wisely choose which event I wanted to attend, and the runway finale it became. I also knew two designers I had kept in touch with from the previous Phoenix fashion event would be debuting that evening and wanted to go and show my support. One designer, Azmara Asefa, created this sack dress which she debuted at the last even that I just could not get out of my mind. Needless to say, I purchased it before making my way to my seat to watch the show. As I was sitting, taking each designers' pieces with awe, I see Kym Gold, the co-founder of True Religion wearing the same dress with a pair of Christian Louboutins I knew there was something special about that dress. Even though she did not win " Best New Emerging Designer" as I  had hoped for, it was inspiring to learn 10% of each garment she sells goes as donation toward refugees.  The winner, Hues of Ego, another designer, I purchased from  had on of best runway shows I have yet to witness.Not that I have gone  to many, but opening up the runway show with a ballerina and a slow alternative version to Beyonce and Jay-Z's " Crazy in Love" is always a brilliant idea. Immediately, I knew we were in for a delight. Each piece had an avant garde aspect to them, but still retained this sense of sophistication and elegance. A couple of weeks back, I saw she had a leather skirt as part of her collection, and through collaborating with her, we were able to create a longer skirt with a zipper slit, should I choose to wear the skirt with or without it. Excited as I was to receive it, I no longer fit into it, as my measurements have changed. Although I do not see the numbers on the scales changing, this skirt is prove the weight is disappearing somewhere. Once the winners were announced for "Best Emerging Designer", the show continued with the couture shows, and one designer I fell in love was with Kuwaiti designer Design ME. The silhouettes of each garnet reminded me of Sex and the City meets the 80's. I loved how he structurally architected each piece for the sophisticated modern woman. It would be such an honor to get my hands on one of those pieces. And with that concludes my Phoenix Fashion Week experience, and I am happy I acquired two runway pieces that now make my closet home. I am definitely looking forward to what next year has to bring!

Day 1 of the three day event!

Necklace: Beltshazzar of St Louis ( official accessory designer for Phoenix Fashion Week)
Top: BCBG by Max Azria
Jeggings: BCBG by Max Azure
Scarf: Kinza Scarves
Purse: Tory Burch

The show is about to begin 

A preview of Desin ME's collection

With the designer Azmara Asefa herself wearing her prototype sack dress design 

Kym Gold, the co-founder of True Religion, in Azmara's sack dress awarding  Natasha Duran-Lynch, the founder of Hues of Ego, with Best New Emerging Designer 

It was quite the treat to see Natasha open up her Hues of Ego show with a ballerina

Catching in the finale show
Outfit Details:
Dress: BCBG by Max Azria
Scarf: Kinza Scarves 

Eid Al Audha Outfits

Hello Everyone,
 Not many of you may know this, but as Muslims, our holiday Eid falls twice a year: once after the end of Ramadan, and another after the completion of Hajj ( the pilgrimage Muslims are required to complete once in their life as long as they are both financially and physically able to do so).  This Eid, which came it a bittersweet time,  was a great day for some, but tragic for the 700+ Muslims who died as they were completing their final stages of the pilgrimage caused by a stampede. On the upside of things, it was nice to hear that a Chechan leader treated 1000+ refugees in Germany to Eid dinner at various restaurants so that they too could partake in celebrating Eid. As I previously mentioned, it fell at bittersweet time: happy to welcome it, but marked with tragedy. It also did not help that fell on a working day, leaving the Mister stuck in surgery as he was unable to reschedule and take off. So it was just the boys and I at Eid prayers, as we celebrated with other Phoenicians. The only downfall having to leave the house by 7 am to get to service on time at 8 am, and the mosque itself is 45 minutes away. And as a true Domestic Goddess, I was not going to allow time and distance deter me from looking my best. The solution: I got up at 5:30, only to have the boys soon follow me at 6 am. I knew donuts would be served at Eid prayer, so I did not bother serving them a full breakfast and had bathed them the previous night before bed. What I thought would take me forever, ended up being the simplest task that morning:getting the kids' in their suits. Instead of battling me, they greeted their suits with excitement feeling like real men wearing suit jackets and bow ties. Then came myself, I was deliberating between three different BCBG outfits. One thing you should know about me, most of my clothing is made by them, as I find their trademark silhouettes and draping elegant and very hijab friendly.  Between deliberating for what seemed forever, I decided to wear this long tunic dress with a shirt and leggings underneath, making it resemble an Indian style outfit. I am glad I did not go with one of my other choices as one of my friends was wearing the same outfit at prayer, and later saw another friend of mine wearing it too, on social media. The boys excited about their suits, allowed me to get ready with ease. It was just getting out of the house that was a bit chaotic, the boys let out our indoor kittens into the garage, so mom had to take ofd her heels and calmly search for them in the garage, as the cats were running out, they broke two glasses, leaving me a mess of charred glass to clean up. Then as I thought we were ready to leave with still some time to spare, both boys insisted upon needing to use the bathroom, in which they did. By some chance, the shuttles transporting people from the parking lot to the mosque were all running late, we were able to make it to prayer; otherwise, we would have missed it as we arrived at 8:25! Despite it all, I did not allow waking up at 5:30 or the drama surrounding leaving the house deter me from not looking my best and making it to prayer.

Eid Outfit Details:
Tunic: BCBG by Max Azria
Leggings: French Connection
Scarf: Kinza Scarves
Bracelet: Hermes
Bag: Kate Spade

My Handsome Boys
Suit Details:
Mom purchased them from Dillards
Shoes on Layth: Vans
Shoes on Jude: Polo by Ralph Lauren

Enjoying the child care after Eid prayer. When I picked them up they each already had two donuts and two lollipops in hand.

Waiting for prayer to start.

Eid Al-Fitr Outfits

Hello Everyone,
 I cannot believe its been one whole since we said goodbye to Ramadan and

welcomed Eid Al-Fitr. And unlike most Eids, I was not scrambling the night before trying to figure out what both the boys and I will wear. Layth had one specific request: A tie. He did not want to wear a clip on, as he was now six years old and too big for clip ons. Dressing Jude, too was quite simple as his brother Layth had a pair of dress pants and collared shirt from none other than my favorite, Janie and Jack, he had never fit into. It also helped that I still had one of Layth's clip ons, which served no purpose for Layth as he found himself passed them. With a quick run to Nordstrom to grab them each dress shoes, and Layth a tie, we were off to Janie and Jack to get Layth a pair of dress pants and dress shirt. I cannot believe how much he has grown in the past few months! One would think shipping for two boys would prove to be harder, but it was in fact easier than shopping for myself. It just so happened one of my favorite designers, BCBG by Max Azria were having their semi annual sale, and it was simply calling my name. Not expecting to buy anything for Eid per say, I walked away with two things a top and black and white jumpsuit. I figured I could wear one of them one Eid or worse case scenario find something in my closet the Phoenix community had not yet seen me in. I tried on my choices to the hubster as I knew he would give me is most honest opinion: the chiffon top, coincidentally in his favorite color proved to be his favorite. As the jumpsuit was both boring, plain and done before. I paired the top, with a green floral hijab I had purchased from Haute Hijab, but yet to adorn, and a pair of 7 For All Mankind white jeggings, also never worn. And so, the morning of Eid proved easier than times passed, as I had my outfit chosen, the kids bathed the night before, and their clothes ready in the morning. And unlike most other Eids, we did not end up having to take separate cars and arrived in time for prayer.

Scarf: Haute Hijab
Top: BCBG by Max Azria
Jeggings: 7 For all Mankind
Heels: Sam Edelman 

Shirt, Socks and Pants: Janie and Jack
Tie: Nordstrom 

Top, Pants and Socks: Janie and Jack
Tie: Nautica