I only discovered the joys of Afternoon Tea a couple of years ago, when first taking Knightsbridge by storm and then Marble Arch much later on for Mother’s Day. The teas, the scones and the sandwiches! Full of such quaint, simple contentment.

The Strand Palace Hotel near Charing Cross Station has taken this quintessential British pastime and added an Indian twist  – completely unique, and completely halal. So of course I used this opportunity to meet up with Sara from Sara K Blog. Our first hangout, on Valentines weekend may I add, was full of laughs, real talk, love for Mulberry, not so much love for Michael Kors (oops!) and genuinely connecting as bloggers and as friends.

The most important element of any Afternoon Tea are the teas (duh!) and the Daawat Restaurant, which plays host to Strand Palace’s Afternoon Tea, boasts a number of cuppas ranging from your traditional English Breakfast Tea, to herbal infusions and of course, Indian inspired chai with spiced scents.

Rather than your traditional finger sandwiches, we were treated to an Indian palette with flavours that suited all.

Cucumber, paneer cheese and lime pickle wrap, Chicken tikka finger sandwich, Mint chutney veggie sandwich on brown bread, Vegetable samosa

Coupled with delicious cakes, tarts and those obligatory scones, we weren’t only in agreement that the food and teas were splendid, but the current landscape especially where Asian bloggers were concerned, needed a major overhaul.

It seems that everyone is a blogger these days, with only a handful really striking it big. YouTube videos and make-up tutorials aside, where are the serious writers? Where are the people who have the perfect platform to address important issues that plague entire communities or strike up dialogue about mindsets that need to change?

Emerging and established bloggers and YouTubers thinking about being internet famous and capturing thousands of subscribers based on how well you contour, don’t quite realise the influence they have on the public who consume this media.

Right now on YouTube there will be an assortment of videos telling me how best to apply my eyeliner, but concerning gender inequality and sexual violence against women, I can’t seem see any vloggers addressing this. The sad thing is, most of them are intelligent enough and more than capable to educate people on these issues.

Quite a heavy and deep conversation I’ll admit, but this is my point. If we’re not going to talk about the domino effect blogs and vlogs have on society, then who will? Do we really want people to feel that all Asians are best known for is applying make up, styling hijabs and reviewing cosmetic products? As a collective group, we are so much more than that.

At this point, another tea was sorely needed. Refill in tow, the discussions continued.

On a less serious note, it’s definitely worth getting away from the stresses of reality and unwinding with an unlimited amount of tea and some delicious nibbles. Whether you’re on a date, catching up with friends, treating your Mum or talking business, Afternoon Tea suits all.

Priced at £18.95, Daawat’s Indian Afternoon Tea is definitely worth the visit, if only to try a delightful twist on a much loved British tradition.

Last month I mentioned that I would be taking part in my first Christmas Blogger Gift Swap. The swap itself was organised by Viola from A Piece of Viola and I was matched with the lovely Cathy Bee from www.beecathy.wordpress.com.

What I loved about this activity was getting to know a complete stranger who shared a mutual interest. With life always managing to worm its way in, it’s not like we get the chance to lend our time to something as proactive as getting to know someone new. However throughout the email exchanges, I’ve gotten to know a little bit more about Cathy. Not only does she work in early years education but her blog is full of pretty awesome picks of things to do and see in London. You can read more here.

For my gift swap, I received a lovely selection of chocolates, which are from a local shop in South East London and a candle tea cup. I’m the biggest sucker for home ware accessories – especially candles – so this gift was perfect and who doesn’t like chocolate?! I love that Cathy has kept it local and bought items from around her area. I’m excited about trying these uniquely flavoured chocolates and hopefully discovering a new found love for something other than Cadbury’s – (I had already tucked into one of the chocolates when I remembered that I needed to take pictures of them! Oops!)

The overall idea of a blogger gift swap was absolute genius. It’s a great way to meet other bloggers and I’m so glad I participated. For once it’s about lending your time to someone else. It’s so easy to consume all our free time with meaningless activities that really don’t do much for us. Why not give some time to other people, whether it’s your loved ones or a complete stranger? This year in itself has been a year of many firsts and I can safely say I’ll definitely be taking part next year. For anyone who missed this year’s gift swap, I urge you all to try it next year. It really is quite a thoughtful and fun thing to do especially in the run up to Christmas.

Ciao for now! x

When people look back on their 20’s, most of them cite 25 as being the best year within that decade. Everyone has their own reasons but with my 26th year fully under way, it’s always good practice to reflect on the past year. Looking at both the good and bad helps to keep things in perspective but I’m not about that negativity. So instead of writing forlornly about the past year, I reckon it’s time I celebrated the 5 things I achieved at 25.

1. Passed my driving test

This was one thing on my bucket list and take it from me, nothing beats that freedom of getting into your own car and driving to wherever your heart and mother’s heart desires. I’m now my mum’s weekend chauffeur, but with all the lifts and late pick ups she’s done for me, groceries on a Saturday morning is the least I can do.

2. Got the travel bug

Another item on the bucket list was to visit two countries I’ve never been to. So of course it had to be Hong Kong in April and Gibraltar in August to visit very dear friends. Both were very different holidays, each with amazing memories and obligatory selfies. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed traveling and exploring the world. These two holidays has not only prompted a third break this year, but has set the bar relatively high when it comes to my adventures next year.

3. Expanded le blog

There does come a point where you have to take that next step with your writing and put yourself out there. It’s nerve wrecking, but totally worth it. This year was filled with more events and writing opportunities, which meant more networking and the chance to proudly show off my logo/banner, designed by the talented Farah Azam of Bespoke Henna. Farrah was just one of many people I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with. Her patience impressed me and thanks to her, I’m now armed with these bad girls at events.

4. First ever protest

This year was clearly all about seeing how far I could push myself and do things out of my comfort zone. The conflict in Gaza, despite it being ongoing, triggered something in many of us who wanted to do something to help. So what better way than to come together and protest against the brutalities Palestinians were and probably still are subjected to. Thousands turned out in the scorching heat for a common cause. The unity was undeniable and the atmosphere electric.

5. Spent 25 solo

These achievements have not just come around by determination. Spending 25 totally single and free from any romantic liaisons has helped tremendously in showing myself that I can do the unthinkable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have that support behind you in a bf/gf, but sometimes the rewards are even sweeter when you achieve them solo.

Along with ferociously using #SaveGaza in nearly all my tweets, yours truly had some time to touch base with a very talented artist and write up my very first article for Aquila Style! Fahmida Ashiq was kind enough to take some time out from her busy schedule and speak to me about her journey into the art world. Having swapped her law career for intricate concepts, you have to see her work to believe it.

Aytul Kursi by Asheeq Art

“Having both the determination and the courage to step outside of the box and make our dreams a reality is never an easy feat. Pressures from families and even society can sometimes dissuade us from our real calling. But when we go with our gut, the outcome can be truly astonishing. Fahmida Ashiq did just this, which resulted in Asheeq Art – her very own business, which specialises in bespoke, contemporary artwork that draws on inspiration from Arabic calligraphy and our beloved Qur’an…”

Read the full interview here on Aquila Style

Photos: © Fahmida Ashiq of Asheeq Art

Saverah’s Urban Muslim Woman Show has been brightly circled on my calendar for months. Finally, on Saturday 14th June, hundreds of elegantly and colorfully dressed ladies descended upon the Novotel Hotel in Hammersmith for an evening of fashion shows, inspirational talks and our collective weakness – shopping!

Accompanying the various clothing and abaya stalls, visitors had the chance to purchase skincare products, handmade crafts, tasty bakes and some gorgeously designed jewellery.

Bringing consumers and businesses together as well as excellent networking opportunities, The Saverah UMW Show had something for everyone. Fashion shows with the latest in modest fashion and thought provoking speeches from inspirational women carried visitors into the evening.

Haslina Mohd Ali from Sri Munawwarah Design

Providing a solid platform to mingle with entrepreneurs, artists and of course official partners and bloggers, the ease of networking made this event one filled with opportunities and potential to establish excellent and unique collaborations.

Designers exhibiting and featuring their collections included Nahara, Asian Designers and Sri Munawwarah. The spectacular shows had visitors snapping away, all keen to leave with their very own nugget of runway glamour.

Nahara’s approach to their collections definitely makes their scarves all the more unique and bespoke. Working with a London-based calligraphy artist, Samir Malik, the end result of this seasons collection consisted of his work actually printed on the soft to the touch silk scarves.

To accompany the several glitzy fashion shows, Saverah also lined up a host of inspirational women who gave thought provoking speeches throughout the night as well as fund raising with Human Appeal who raised an astonishing £44,000.

HRH Princess Basmah, who supports reform in Saudi Arabia, explained the importance of attitudes changing towards women and towards men and boys at home. Having written extensively about political instability and social changes, the Princess, who resides in London, was well placed to talk about the work that still needs to be done to ensure that both men and women are not deprived of four birth given rights; Security, education, freedom and equality.

Her talk rang true to what many people essentially think and believe, but whilst talking with her, it was apparent to us both that not enough is being done to actually implement these changes.

HRH Princess Basmah Al Saud

The evening was definitely one that drew together various aspects that make up today’s modern Muslim woman. With an abundance of fashion designers, Saverah made sure to include other refreshing individuals showcasing their talents and passions. Not forgetting the spectacular amount of money raised for Human Appeal, the evening was a massive success and has undoubtedly shown there is much more depth to the modern Muslim woman than we think.

Grasping opportunities has been somewhat of a trend lately, so when the chance came to participate in Aquila Style’s Ramadan Around The World  feature, of course there were no second thoughts involved.

The result was a lovely collection of traditions and thoughts from women around the world about Ramadan. It feels refreshing to be part of a global community of people who are passionate about this time of the year and who really look beyond simply abstaining from eating and drinking.

If you haven’t downloaded Aquila Style, you can do so from both the app store and Google Play. Visit  http://www.aquila-style.com/magazine/ for more info and for more articles.

In the meantime, here’s a snippet from the feature – enjoy!

Last Wednesday was a milestone moment when I bought my first car. Two Wednesdays before that, I passed the practical test. People always say driving holds a certain freedom and until you’re able to roam the roads freely, you never really know how true that is.

Had I, or any other female, attempted to conquer this feat in Saudi Arabia where women are to adhere to a de facto ban on driving, let’s just say we’d have a seriously long wait. Last week, the sheer shock of reading that a husband was in fact divorcing his wife after she sent him a video of her driving, not only infuriated many – myself included – but also sent a blunt reality check to the hundreds of thousands of women around the world who don’t exercise their rights enough.

The news definitely caused ripples in Saudi Arabia, reportedly splitting the country’s social media users. Whilst some defended the husband in question for standing up for the country’s laws and traditions, others were aghast at the thought of a family being broken up over something as trivial as driving.

The driving ban in Saudi Arabia has been a focal point within campaigns seeking a change where women are able to exercise equal rights. Public figures such as President Barack Obama and Princess Ameera al-Taweel, a Saudi Arabian Princess and philanthropist have both spoken out about the restrictions placed on women, particularly when it comes to driving. Efforts to improve women’s overall empowerment to contribute fully in Saudi society alone says a lot about the issue of inequality that these women face.

It’s easy to ignore other people’s struggles around the world, until of course it becomes our own. Saudi officials may feel that by allowing women to drive, it somehow strips away a sense of traditional values, whereby women are usually expected to assume the role of the dutiful housewife and doting mother.

Gender segregation, women opting to leave the house more and perhaps interact with non-mahram males are at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s argument when it comes to justifying this controversial ban. Surprisingly there is no written law that deems it illegal for women to drive in the country, however as you need to obtain licenses to drive and these aren’t issued to women, it effectively makes it forbidden.

In a 2008 interview with Barbara Walters, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia touched on the subject saying: “I believe strongly in the rights of women. My mother is a woman. My sister is a woman. My daughter is a woman. My wife is a woman. I believe the day will come when women will drive. In fact if you look at the areas of Saudi Arabia, the desert, and in the rural areas, you will find that women do drive. The issue will require patience. In time I believe that it will be possible. I believe that patience is a virtue.”

Women have been waiting for decades in order to step out of their husbands shadows and be their own person. Rather than being scared of their wives losing tradition and values, it could be assumed that men are more concerned about losing power, control and authority by giving women a taste of the freedom they enjoy. Does allowing them to drive mean they will become disobedient, non-religious rebels? Absolutely not. What it will mean though, is giving them the chance to be independent and proud that they are able to enhance the current life they live. Surely that’s not a bad thing?

What’s unacceptable though, is the thought of a man being so threatened that he would actually divorce his wife to retain some – if any – control. This sort of mentality makes it impossible for women to fight for freedom when the men around them would rather they be chained to the constraints of their current lives.

Of course there may be some women who like that the Kingdom differentiates itself and is free from any Western influences – which is understandable. But shouldn’t women at least have the choice to drive, work and seek education?

Ameerah Al-Taweel (above), who was married to Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, has been a fierce advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. She too, echoes the same thoughts and sentiments about it being time for bans to be lifted and for women to be given equal rights.

“The most daunting challenge is not only the legislation but it is the concept, the mentality [of Saudis] because we know our society is very conservative and is very private and it’s very difficult to change concepts in Saudi Arabia to support women in the work place or to have a larger contribution [in society],” she explained at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Jordan last year.

Slowly but surely, women are pushing those boundaries and forcing people – and the world – to take notice. Videos and images of women driving in Saudi Arabia surfacing online and on social media may not be such a big deal for you and I. For Saudi women living in the region however, it is a monumental risk they’re willing to take, all for the sake of their freedom.

The invitation for the Supporting Our Sisters London event couldn’t have come at a better time.

Wanting to get involved with charities and explore the multitude of work that’s currently being done for the world’s most vulnerable, this event moved, inspired and captured me. Muslim Charity, is an organisation that strives to help nearly every area in need when it comes to aid, development and support.

The Supporting Our Sisters event focused on raising funds for a stable educational future for hundreds of young girls and livelihood opportunities for older women in rural and poor regions around Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Somalia and the Middle East.

Held at the Hilton Hotel in Paddington, the evening consisted of a delicious three course dinner, passionate nasheeds and live talks with individuals who have been involved with Muslim Charity and who have also had the chance to see first hand, the work that’s being done to help improve dire situations.

Global statistics showing the true extent of children and girls out of school are shocking. More than half of the 100 million children around the world not in school are girls, according to UNICEF. Furthermore, of the 1.29bn people living in poverty, a staggering 70% of them are women. Young girls who dream of an education are made to grow up before their time, taking care of chores and managing a home. In some cases they’re forced into marriage at a very young age – robbing them of their childhood and innocence.

Supporting Our Sisters was set up in remembrance and in the hope of continuing the legacy of Khadija (RA), Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) wife. Her commitment to empowering women and her championing of women’s rights has ignited a fire within Junaid Jamshed, the Vice President of Muslim Charity, Waseem Badani, a leading Pakistani TV host and Amjad Hussain, a former folk-singer.

The seven night tour which commenced in Rochdale on May 1st, and will end in Glasgow on May 11th looks to raise money to help build schools and support young girls as they receive an education – something every child should have the right to. A donation of £10,000 will enable the development of one school. So far, an estimated £226,000 has been raised from the tour.

Upon completion, the facilities being provided will undoubtedly go a long way in improving the lives of these young girls. As well as nurturing the future of these children, older women are given the chance to make a living for themselves with hampers filled with sewing essentials. This enables them to develop a skill, which they can then pass on to their children and generate an income. Speaking at the event, one of Muslim Charity’s volunteers who was fortunate enough to travel and see the work being done, explained that women were given dignity in the way they earn a living.

Muslim Charity looks to save lives in emergencies and to help the needy by adopting practical ways to root out poverty from the world through provision of education and a livelihood. I’m so grateful to have been in attendance of such a worthy fundraising dinner. The charity works in 17 countries and in the last few years have reached over 1 million vulnerable people, showing an unwavering commitment to alleviating poverty.

If you wish to donate or find out more about the work being done across several projects, visit the Muslim Charity’s website here.

Liz Earle products are my go to when it comes to my day to day skin regime. On the weekends just before starting another tedious Monday, I go a step further, delving deeper into the delightful goodies on offer.

Face masks are everywhere. From luxury brands to cheap one offs. As tempting as it is to experiment and try them all, I’ve found that all important balance with Liz Earle coming out on top yet again.

The Deep Cleansing Mask is a concentrated clay and botanical mask, which helps to draw out impurities leaving skin balanced and calm. Whilst it may not initially look too appealing to smear on your face, ingredients like aloe vera, geranium essential oil, Manuka honey and white and green clay, gives it a sweet and slightly floral scent. Smooth and glossy, I generally apply this after using the Cleanse and Polish and leave for about five minutes.

You do feel that slightly tight sensation as it dries, but unlike most masks, there’s no sign of crumbling or cracking. Wiping off the residue won’t leave your face begging to be moisturised either. In fact, the smooth, bright and oil-free touch is something to behold. Lately I’ve been prone to a couple of breakouts but when used consistently, the natural ingredients of course work their charm and help to ward off unsightly spots and blemishes.

All in all, it’s one of those masks that does what it says although it should be noted that it’s not suitable for sensitive skin. Don’t be disheartened though. Liz Earl stocks a wide range of products and for those who have sensitive skin, there’s the Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask. The fact that these products come with warning notes and are tailored for specific skin types gives me that bit more confidence in trusting their knowledge in skincare.

Dark circles are another problem area for me. No matter how much powder, concealer and foundation I blend in, they’re still there. Liz Earle doesn’t work miracles, but she does offer olive branches that will make a slight difference. Her Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion is a gentle tonic that “revitalises the delicate eye area” and can also double up as an eye make up remover. Suitable for contact lens wearers, pretend you’re at a spa and place two cotton wool pads over your eyes and relax for a couple of minutes. Gently wipe them away and you’ll notice brighter and refreshed eyes. Don’t you love a brand that understands your needs?

Find these products and much more on www.lizearle.com

As I’m jetting off abroad this week, Serendipity Tailormade’s event, Rihla, couldn’t have come at a better time. Behind the doors of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, was an evening full of travel inspiration for Muslims who wished to explore countries beyond their comfort zone.

Aliway Photography

Offering a palette of destinations such as New Zealand, Argentina, Cambodia and Vietnam, Serendipity have done all of the work for you when it comes to sourcing accommodation that takes the needs of Muslims into consideration when it comes to privacy, worship and food.

With a screening room, 30 minute seminars, yummy finger food and a range of exhibitors, this was definitely a one of a kind event. I sat down with the founder of Serendipity, Nabeel Shariff, to talk about Rihla and the selection of destinations on offer.

Aliway Photography

Aliway Photography

1. To start, could you give us a brief introduction of who you are and what do you do?
“I’m the director of Serendipity Tailormade and we are the only UK and potentially European tour operator that specialises in halal-friendly travel. What we do in that sense is provide bespoke, luxury and individual itineraries for clients looking to travel to places that they wouldn’t have necessarily thought of.”

2. How did Serendipity come about?
“Initially when we did a lot of research for the company we found tat a lot of clients either went ‘home’, they went to pilgrimage or they went to somewhere that was very comfortable like Morocco, Turkey, potentially Malaysia. We thought, ‘why can’t they travel to places like Thailand, Vietnam, South America and Africa?’ From that, Serendipity was born.”

Nabeel Shariff, Founder of Serendipity

3. How did you go about ensuring these countries were feasible for Muslims?
“We have individual teams on the ground who do a lot of the work in terms of research. For example, making sure that the restaurants that our clients would dine in are either owned by Muslims, and most of them are owned by Muslims. Alternatively, we make sure that they are who they say they are. We work with various resorts and hotels around the world who advise us that their food is halal and we check to see where their food is coming in from. In addition to this we check if they have halal certification, are the kitchens prepared for halal-friendly cuisine, separation of utensils and making sure non-halal and halal are not mixed. We do all that work so our clients don’t have to and when we find somewhere that can provide an option for Muslims, we bring it to market.”

4. What’s the response been like?
“Over the last three years it’s been amazing. Alhamdulilah it’s been as expected and to be honest with you, you go into a project and you believe in it and there’s always been a market for Muslims wanting to travel, it’s in our blood to travel, whether it’s for holiday purposes, whether it’s for pilgrimage or for migration, we have historically travelled. But in this day and age we also want to aspire to travel and second and third generation British Muslims have the inspiration from fellow colleagues and the media that they see. They do want to experience these things and they don’t want to feel like they’re restricted in any way.”

5. What’s been the most surprising destination in terms of accessing halal food?
“Probably Vietnam and Cambodia. Those two are the most surprising purely because of the demographic there. When we first started looking into Vietnam we realised there were a lot of migrants from Malaysia that had set up businesses there making halal food much more accessible. We don’t like to say if you go to Vietnam you’ll get Malay food though. Wherever we have a new destination or an unusual destination we also like to try local cuisine so that you do have the opportunity to try for example peking duck in Beijing.”

6. Tell us a bit more about Rihla.
“Rihla is all about Muslims in London coming together and spend the evening finding travel inspiration. That’s really what it’s all about. You may not have thought about travelling to Thailand but Rihla brings together our destination experts from Thailand, Malaysia and the Seychelles for example, and allows you to ask as many questions as you want, find out about all the attractions they have and reasons to travel to these destinations. It’s really just about expanding your travel horizons, giving you a bit more knowledge in order to provide you with more options for your next halal-friendly holiday.”

7. What are your future plans for Serendipity?
“We obviously want to keep growing ourselves and offer new destinations. We would like to offer unusual destinations. We’ve just launched New Zealand for example, which is fantastic and so far-flung. We’d also like to look in Europe too. We feel that Europe has a lot of potential with a lot of migrant Muslims living in Paris, Berlin and Barcelona, so there’s no reason why we can’t do that and inshallah going forward we shall do.”

To start planning your next trip, visit http://www.serendipity.travel/