Blogged: ICONIC Iftar event at Jeddah’s Blue Ocean Restaurant, Fakieh Aquarium

Ramadan Kareem!

Dear readers, I hope that your Ramadan is going well and bringing with it blessings galore.

I would like to share with you my review of the ICONIC IFTAR event which I had the pleasure of attending a little while ago.

The Event: ICONIC IFTAR Jeddah 2014

On the Wednesday 2^nd July, ICONIC Jeddah held an iftar event at the recently opened Blue Ocean restaurant at the Fakieh Aquarium.

 ICONIC Jeddah took the opportunity of planning this event in the month of Ramadan with its festive spirit by inviting loyal customers, media representatives, bloggers and students as well as educators from Effat University to the friendly  event which highlighted the company’s cohesive spirit.

ICONIC IFTAR 2103 at Jeddah's Blue Ocean Restaurant, Fakieh Aquarium

The choice of location was superb, allowing guests a prime view of the sunset in the shimmering Red Sea. The Blue Ocean restaurant is spacious and the decor and the views leaves you under the impression of being aboard a ship. The iftar buffet offered a variety of sumptuous dishes to suit an array of palettes, my personal favourites were the mini burgers, chicken Alfredo pasta.

The occasion allowed ICONIC to showcase their EID 2014 collection for men, women and children in perfect time for EID shopping.

ICONIC's EID 2014 Women's Collection displayed at the event

The women’s collection included glamorous wrap maxi dresses, evening gowns, drapey tunics, over-sized sequin tops and floaty blouses teamed up with cigarette trousers for a ultra-chic look.  The key trends in prints were marble, python and abstract floral that steer away from the usual fashion norms.

My favourite items for  women's day wear : 

Floaty embellished summer top SR90

ICONIC 2014 Eid collection python print pencil skirt SR 100

A little bling, a sparkle is synonymous with the festive look and so attention to details is key in the collection with hand embellishments, sequins layered on exquisite fabrics like velvet, jacquard, georgette, crepe, metallic jersey and taffeta.

Favourite women's evening wear

ICONIC Summer Eid 2014 collection embellished gown SR 595

Iconic Summer Eid 2014 Collection Fuschia gown SR500

Favourite men's item

ICONIC 2014 Eid COllection Men's embellished loafers

As my friends know I’m attracted to bling accessories when it comes to EID outfits, ICONIC has a range of chunky statement necklaces, cuffs and show-stopping clutches. I can't decide which one/s I want for Eid!

ICONIC 2014 EID collection bling accessories

A special thank you to  Ms. Hamdoun, ICONIC Senior PR executive as well as the  marketing team  for hosting such a fabulous event. The top management of ICONIC's Landmark Group graced the event and are pictured below.

From Left to Right, Mohammed Rushdee (Head of Operation - KSA) , Junaid Durrani (Marketing Manager),Ola Hamdoun (Assistant PR Manager), Nisha Jagtiani (Director Landmark Group ), Najmul Haq (GM - Western Region), Salem Bahamdain

Hoping to see more events in Jeddah in the future, and I hope they do a fashion show next!

You can follow ICONIC on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Or visit their website, as well as their stores in Jeddah in Haifa Mall, Al-Salaam Mall and the Dome, Prince Sultan Street. 

To stay up to date with the latest fashion events and trends in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, 

Laylatul Qadr Ramadan 2012

Imagine worshipping Allah for a thousand months? Do you know how long that is?
1000 months equals 83 years and four months of worship! Now, think if you could get the reward for over 83 years of worship by just worshipping a single night...amazing right?

Muslims are lbessed with the opportunity to seek out the Night of Power or Laylatul Qadr, which falls on a different night in the last ten days of Ramadan.

Allah the most Merciful has even given us signs so that we may know that it is Laylatul Qadr:

1. The first of them or number one is that Laylatul Qadr is a peaceful, tranquil quiet night. Within that night or the night of Laylatul Qadr you do not hear the barking of dogs, or the sound of the cockerel.
2. The second sign is that in Laylatul Qadr the people experience a pleasant breeze or a pleasant wind which they enjoy which they like.
3. Thirdly, in Laylatul Qadr there is rain. This is one of the signs of Laylatul Qadr that during the night of Laylatul Qadr the rain falls.
4. Fourthly, is that when the sun rises on the following morning the disc of the sun is seen without strong rays or is without any rays. The disc is a clear disc when it rises in the morning. 

This year I was hoping some one would take a photo of the sun everyday in the last ten days ao that  I could know when Laylatul Qadr was.

Luckily, someone posted this on picture on 27th Ramadan, so this year it fell on the 27th night. It was taken in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. May Allah accept our worship and forgive our sins. Ameen.

Sunrise on 27th Ramadan 2012, Riyadh Saudi Arabia

My Ramadan Hacks: A Guide to a More Spiritual Ramadan

Dear Readers,

I know I'm rather late in wishing you Ramadan Mubarak, but if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, I was wishing my followers as soon as reports of the crescent moon had been sighted were confirmed.
In Ramadans past have you ever felt that you weren't able to accomplish much, or that you were unproductive, or though you wanted to be more spiritual this month and you weren't? Did you feel guilty or subdued and wondered how you could have a better Ramadan?

What if I told you there are resources and tools out there to help you have the best Ramadan ever!

I meant to do this post on how you can make the most of this blessed month and how to prepare for Ramadan two weeks ago, but due to personal commitments I couldn't.

But better late than never, right?


Ramadan isn't over yet so I decided to go ahead and share with you some of the resources and tools out there that I think will help you get more out of this Ramadan.

1) Quran Explorer I just love this site. You launch it and you can read the quran on your iPad/laptop/PC, you can listen to various recitations, by well known Qaris such Sheik Sudais, Shuraim, Mishary Al-Afasy and many more. You can also read or listen to the interpretation of the meaning if Arabic isn't your native language. Ramadan is the month when Angel Jibraeel used to revise the Quran with our Prophet (peace be upon him), and you should make an effort to try and complete the Quran once in this month..and then develope a habit of daily recitation in other months.

2) Productive Muslim's fabulous daily tips on how to have to Productive Ramadan are the very motivation I need to keep upbeat and prevent me from slipping into a lazy stupor while pre and post the iftar! Sign up for their Ramadan newsletter for a short and sweet practical tips on how to increase your productivity and spirituality this Ramadan.

3)  iloveAllaah.com is another great site with lectures, articles and more what I particularly like is their checklist that's been circulating on Facebook. It's covers things that you can incorporate in life after Ramadan as well, but you can use Ramadan as a boot camp and be extra spiritually productive and reap the many rewards.



4) Duaa, it is  the single most powerful tool we have. Make lots of duaa, wherever you are, whatever your situation, when ever you want, but in the last third of the night before iftar, and between the adhaan and salaah, ask for forgiveness, for mercy, for guidance, whatever you want, for peace and security for all of us, and remember me in your duaas too!

Have a wonderful Ramadan!

Saudi National Day- Ten things I love about Saudi Arabia

In celebration of the Saudi National Day I am doing this post to highlight the positive points of Saudi Arabia. I find a lot of Saudi bashing goes on the internet, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the positive some obvious but oft forgotten and sometimes humorous aspects of Saudi from a Muslim expatriate perspective :

1. Makkah and Madinah- the two holiest sites in Islam- as a Muslim you just cannot argue with that :-)

2. No TAXES. There is NO income tax, NO VAT, and NO Petrol tax. :-)

3. Reduced working hours for employees and holidays for schools in Ramadan: Where else in the world can you have it so easy?

4. All food is Halal food; this means that you can eat at all the international fast food chains :-)

5. Low levels of crime, inflation usually, and despite all the propaganda a stable political climate (.Alhamdulillah, Thank God)

6. Instead of annoying coins for change we get a packet of gum :-)...what am I going to buy with 10 ten halalas anyway?

7. Very family friendly, of course no scenes of public nudity or indecency, so you don't have to worry about where your kids are looking.

8. You can make friends from all over the world, there are so many different nationalities represented in the expat population it’s amazing. The people are generally easy going and helpful.

9. You can find a masjid or prayer area wherever you maybe.If you are on the highway and it happens to be time of prayer, and there isn'ta rest stop nearby, then simply stop the car off the highway and pray.

Tell me how many places in the world you can do that?

10. Last but by in no means least: You can put on your abaya over your pjs and go out, without anyone being the wiser (unless you are in an accident).

Hope all citizens of this wonderful country: Saudis and Non-Saudis alike acknowledge and be grateful for their blessings and have a great day!

P.S What do you like about Saudi, don't be shy now speak up!

If you like this post be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter :-). Thanks! Ma'salamah.

Summer Holidays in Saudi

I think I am one of the few people who don't particularly like summer holidays, I think they are much too long. This time the summer holidays in Saudi Arabia have been combined with Ramadan holidays which will result in a three and half month holiday. Woe to all teachers! Although the Ramadan holiday will be nice especially as it will be quite hot this year, I think they should have extended the school year to make up for the time that will be lost next year.

I think once the initial excitement wears off and you catch up on sleep and errands you get bored. Well, that's the case with me. I have had a few rather unpleasant summers..usually August ..so thats a time of year I can never quite feel comfortable with.


Optimist that I am ..and try to be, I will try and make this summer worthwhile instead of just letting the time slip through my fingers. I'm feeling quite restless so just may have enough motivation to get stuff done.

Mainly, I 'm dreading being stuck at home for the better part of three months. I really do need to arrange for a driver. (Women cannot drive in Saudi Arabia, my pet peeve with this country).