Some Thoughts and Oscars

You are special.
You are beautiful.
You are wonderful.
You are smart.
You are worth it.

Are any of those statements familiar? Yes, of course. Society throws them at us every day. They're supposed to 'boost our self-esteem'. Make us feel good about ourselves. And I'm not saying that's necessary a bad thing. But really, when did we get to the point where society needed to tell us we're beautiful and worth it? When did we get so caught up in ourselves? So worried about how pretty we are and how smart and how special? Maybe it's time to look around more. It's not all about how we feel. Maybe instead of entertaining ourselves all the time, we should look for more opportunities to entertain or serve others. Maybe we shouldn't let our moods guide our actions so much. Our feelings are not at the center of the universe. Maybe it's time we stop acting like they are.

It's just something that I thought about when I was at school today. Yep, I'm teaching again. But I don't want to talk about that now because I want to talk about Oscars. Did you watch it today? OMG Neil Patrick Harris was hosting, Channing Tatum was presenting, and Tegan and Sara were performing Lego Movie's "Everything Is Awesome"!! Those have completely made my day. And congratulations to all the winners! So here's my picks for the best dressed stars from the 87th Oscars red carpet:

Keira Knightley in Valentino

Kelly Osbourne in Rita Vinieris 

Felicity Jones in Alexander McQueen

Julianne Moore in Chanel

Chloe Grace Moretz in Miu Miu

Anna Kendrick in Thakoon

Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph & Russo

Dakota Johnson in Yves Saint Lauren

Emma Stone in Elie Saab

Jenna Dewan Tatum in Zuhair Murad

Anna Faris in Zuhair Murad

Rita Ora in Marchesa

Scarlett Johansson in Atelier Versace

Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab

Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein

Rosamund Pike in Givenchy

Ah I love them all! But my favorites are J.Lo, Emma Stone and Scarlett Johansson. ;) Which one's your favorite? 

Post-ChicPox and Grammys

Last week I had an attack of freaking chicken pox. I know, maybe I'm too old for this because most of you had it when you're little. Lucky you. You should be grateful. Having a chicken pox when you're adult sucks as hell. It started on last Saturday, I was out with my friends watching The Last: Naruto The Movie and I had a slight fever. I noticed some spots on my face but I assumed they're just pimples and I thought, oh period is coming. But then I noticed a few weird fluid-filled blisters on my body. I googled it. And the result showed that it might be the symptom of chicken pox. So Ifo took me to see doctor but doctor said it's too early to confirm that it's chicken pox but he gave me some medicines and calamine lotion anyway, just in case. The next day, I was so sure that it's chicken pox because there were more blisters on my face, my head and body. They're itchy and my body temperature were getting higher. It's getting worse on the following days..it's all over my body, even in my mouth! I got bad fever, headache, can't sleep at night, woke up in the morning in pain, can't eat properly and just lied in bed all day. Looking at myself in the mirror terrified me. It's like looking at a zombie. Oh it's so terrible I almost can't take it anymore. 

I'm glad that it's over. I'm half recovered now, most of the rashes have dried out and it feels so good to be human again. I thank God for everything. And I thank my parents for taking care of me throughout the week..I can't do it without them. Though I had to go to an interview with my face full of scars yesterday, it went well. I hope I got that job. 

And today I'm really happy because my favorite song, Ain't It Fun by my favorite band, Paramore, won Grammy for the Best Rock Song!! Yay! Congratulations to Hayley, Jeremy and Taylor! It's been a good time for Hayley..she's got the trailblazer award, she's got engaged, and now..Grammy, ya'll! I feel like hugging her. ^^ Speaking of the 57th Grammy Awards, let me show you my picks for the best dressed stars from the red carpet. 

Rita Ora in Prada

Rihanna in Giambattista Valli

Beyonce in Proenza Schouler

Kelly Osbourne in Christian Siriano

Meghan Trainor in Galia Lahav

Anna Kendrick in Band of Outsiders

Jessie J in Ralph Russo

Gwen Stefani in Atelier Versace

Ariana Grande in Atelier Versace

Taylor Swift in Elie Saab

Annnnnd my favorite is...... Taylor Swift! She's wearing a lovely turquoise dress by Elie Saab, just the way I like it. ^^ So which one's your favorite?  

And the Winner goes to..

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2015 Golden Globes Awards! The things that I really fond of about the award night are the remarkable acceptance speeches and beautiful dresses from the red carpet. They say quotes will live on forever. Well, the good (and really bad) ones, at least. So here's my picks for the best speeches from the night:

1. "These days, you get in a lot of trouble no matter what you say. Do you know what I mean? You can say anything in the world and get in trouble. I know this for a fact. So I’m just going to say thank you." - Billy Bob Thornton (Best Actor in TV Movie)

2. "It's a humbling thing when you find someone to love, especially when you've been waiting your whole life, especially when your whole life is 53 years. Amal, I couldn't be more proud to be your husband." - George Clooney (Cecil B. DeMille award)

3. "As I got to know the people of the Civil Rights movement, I realize I am the hopeful black woman who was denied her right to vote. I am the caring white supporter killed on the front lines of freedom. I am the unarmed black kid who maybe needed a hand but instead was given a bullet. I am the two fallen police officers murdered in the line of duty. Selma has awakened my humanity." - Common and John Legend (Best Original Song)

Annnnnnd these are my picks for the best dressed female stars from the Golden Globes red carpet:

Anna Faris in Reem Acra

Giuliana Rancic in Maria Lucia Lohan

Jenna Dewan in Carolina Herrera

Emily Blunt in Michael Kors

Julianne Moore in Givenchy

Allison Williams in Armani

Naomi Watts in Gucci

Amal Clooney in Dior

Kate Beckinsale in Elie Saab

Salma Hayek in Alexander McQueen

Keira Knightley in Chanel

Felicity Jones in Dior

Taylor Schilling in Ralph Lauren

Anna Kendrick in Monique Lhuillier

Emma Stone in Lanvin

Lupita Nyongo'o in Giambattista Valli

My favorite is Emma Stone's outfit. She rocked the red carpet with pants instead of floor-skimming gown. It's a formal jumpsuit featuring a silver sequin bustier top and black pants with a huge bow tied at the back, wonderfully designed by Lanvin. It's simple and elegant. What's your favorite? ^^

Best for Last

I've always had this habit of 'saving things for later.' It's cropped up across several areas of my life, translating to anything from food (best bite for last!) to music (I won't listen to this playlist until...) to clothes. And it's this last part: clothes..that I'm trying to change.

Ever since I was little I've reserved my favorite outfits for certain days, especially weekend. There was something about the end of the week and the start of the weekend that felt important, like something to dress up for. And so I would. It's normal, I think, to save certain outfits for the weekend. But somehow, somewhere along the way, I started saving my favorite clothes for..who knows? For some time in the distant future, some time when Possible Event X might require me to look my best. 

See, here's the problem, though: Possible Event X usually comes and goes, and I end up wearing an old standby..because in my mind I think, what if an even better event comes along and I've already sported this fabulous dress? What if I wish I'd saved it? What if it would have been absolutely perfect for this event and I've just worn it? What if? This sounds ridiculous, I know. They're just clothes, for heaven's sake. What's the big deal, huh? Well, the big deal's that it speaks to a larger issue: my absurd forward-thinking.

Saving best for last can be good for some things; the center bite of a hazelnut chocolate, the killer playlist that'll get you through that tough workout tomorrow, and..did I mention the center bite of a hazelnut chocolate? But I'm changing my tune when it comes to clothes. I'm shifting gears, wearing what I love whenever I please, whenever it strikes my fancy..even if it's on a..*gasp*..Monday.

Because sometimes, yes, there's a time and a place to save best for first.

Eid Throwback

Hey, I'm back with a little recap! It's been a week now since 1st Syawal and a lot of wonderful things have happened. Praise to Allah for these gifts; my family and friends. Aidilfitri would be less meaningful without them. 

On the 1st day of Syawal, I was wearing a pair of baju kurung made of 3d digital flower printed fabric. They're basically light blue and pink, and there were some faux diamonds on them. So that's my favorite raya costume this year. After having prayers and visiting cemetery, we headed off to Kg Pimping, my dad's village, to meet our relatives. It's great to meet my cousins. You know, it's not easy to gather with them all and hari raya is the only perfect time to do it. On the next day, we made an open house and invited relatives and friends to come over. The Baks and Ifo's parents came too. ^^ 

I also got to go out with my best friends, visited their houses and met my former teacher. It's the good old days all over again! And the days went on and I really had a great time!

That is my cousin.

Family photo. It's incomplete, my 2nd sister and her kids weren't there

Oh you know this one :p

Aemy and The Baks Eid version

With friends. Screw the camera. 

I Am a Swan

Dear culture that raised me,

Growing up, you read me the Ugly Duckling. And for years I believed that was me. For so long you taught me I was nothing more than a bad copy of the standard (men).

I couldn’t run as fast or lift as much. I didn’t make the same money and I cried too often. I grew up in a man’s world where I didn’t belong.

And when I couldn’t be him, I wanted only to please him. I put on your make-up and wore your short skirts. I gave my life, my body, my dignity, for the cause of being pretty. I knew that no matter what I did, I was worthy only to the degree that I could please and be beautiful for my master. And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo and gave my body for you to sell.

I was a slave, but you taught me I was free. I was your object, but you swore it was success. You taught me that my purpose in life was to be on display, to attract, and be beautiful for men. You had me believe that my body was created to market your cars. And you raised me to think I was an ugly duckling. But you lied.

Islam tells me, I’m a swan. I’m different, it’s meant to be that way. And my body, my soul, was created for something more.

So I am honored. But it is not by my relationship to men. My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale: a scale of righteousness and piety. And my purpose in life – despite what the fashion magazines say – is something more sublime than just looking good for men.

And so God tells me to cover myself, to hide my beauty and to tell the world that I’m not here to please men with my body; I’m here to please God. God elevates the dignity of a woman’s body by commanding that it be respected and covered, shown only to the deserving, only to the man I marry.

I’m not here to be on display. And my body is not for public consumption. I will not be reduced to an object, or a pair of legs to sell shoes. I’m a soul, a mind, a servant of God. My worth is defined by the beauty of my soul, my heart, my moral character. So, I won’t worship your beauty standards, and I don’t submit to your fashion sense. My submission is to something higher.

With my veil I put my faith on display, rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks. I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don’t see a body. You view me only for what I am: a servant of my Creator.

You see, as a Muslim woman, I’ve been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don’t answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to their King.

P.S: Thanks for your moment. This inspirational letter is written by Yasmin Mogahed. Such a beautiful thoughts on hijab and women.