I'm Part of the Yummly Publisher Network?!

Hey everyone! I have a HUGE announcement for you all! So I've been using this stellar website called Yummly for about a year now and it was only until a few days ago that I decided to actually log into my account. Upon doing so, I realized that I could add my own recipes to the website and so I added the mayo cake recipe that I adapted and they recognized my blog as a publisher and gave it a publisher's page!

Before I go on further, let me explain to you what exactly Yummly is. Yummly is a website that collects millions of recipes from all around the internet. By creating an account, you can "Yum" or like certain recipes and in doing so, add them to your recipe box. Your recipe box is simply an easy access collection of recipes you have found around the internet that you like. If there is a certain ingredient you do not want in your recipes, Yummly can easily filter out recipes that include that ingredient. It's an extremely helpful tool and website for anyone exploring for recipes and ideas.

Being part of the Yummly Publisher's Network means that I get to add my recipes onto my publishers page which creates easy access to all of my recipes and content. Also, it's awesome for you guys because you'll be able to see my recipes a lot clearer and you can add my recipes to your recipe box on Yummly! Head on over to my publisher's page by clicking here!

Oh! One last thing, I added the Yum button onto my blog so now you all can Yum my posts and automatically add my recipes from my blog straight to your recipe box on Yummly!

Thank you!
~Misbah

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me

1. I'm part Pakistani and Afghan. A lot of people think I'm purely Pakistani, but nobody is purely one race. 
2. I took three of years of Spanish in high school and I still can't speak it fluently. However, I self-taught German and I'm kinda fluent! I can also read German which I think is the coolest thing ever. I can speak English, German, and Urdu. I know very little Arabic. 
3. My childhood dream career was to be a NASA Astronaut because of my never-ending love for space. I also wanted to be a pilot until I realized I do not have perfect vision.
4. I can rap to Eminem and a few other rappers like a boss. I do most of my rapping in my car while commuting to my university. 
5. I do not own a cat, however, I am completely obsessed with them and hope to live with a bunch of cuddly cats when I am old (and my husband of course)
6. I'm obsessed with engineering and that was my original major. I changed my major to education because I knew that I would always be discriminated at my workplace if I continued with engineering. I knew that the discrimination would make me unhappy and it would make me hate engineering with a burning passion, which is something that I never want to happen. So, for now, I'll be teaching engineering. Yes, I am more intelligent than I seem, do not judge a teacher - contrary to popular belief, education is not an easy field :)
7. I was bullied throughout grade school and at one point, this chick tried to get me kicked out of school (I laugh at this because it was so ridiculous). Remember kids, bullies are just jealous of how awesome and cool you are! 
8. I have often been mistaken for being older than I actually am. As a freshman in high school, there was a group of seniors who thought I was graduating with them. I've been told my friends/family that I could pass as someone who is in her early-twenties. Apparently it's because of how I look and the way I speak. 
9. I am OBSESSED with cars. You don't understand how crazy I am about them until you've asked me, "so do you like cars?". Cars and planes are my true loves (sorry future husband)
10. Ever since my summer trip to the Pacific Northwest, I have fallen in love and hope to live there one day. I just really love the cold, cloudy, rainy, and green atmosphere. I also want to go whale watching so, yeah. 

Hope you enjoyed reading these random facts about me! 

~Misbah 

Graze Box + Friend Code!

I'm not sure how I came along Graze, but I'm very happy I did! For those of you who don't know what Graze is, it's basically a subscription box that's gives you four snacks tailored just for you! When you sign up for Graze, you are able to pick which snacks you want to trash, try, like, or love. You can trash any snacks that don't sound appealing to you or snacks that go against your diet restrictions. You can also pick how often you want your Graze box delivered to you and where you want it delivered (work or home). You are totally in control and you can cancel anytime!

I ordered my first box about 10 days ago and shipping was pretty quick given that it was free! I did trash a couple of things I knew I would not like before getting my first box and with that, I lowered my snack pool to about 56. Below are the snacks I was sent!

The snacks I received were: Key Lime Pie, Florentine, Fruit and Seed Flapjack, and Tomato and Basil Pizza! So far, I've tried the flapjack and pizza and THEY ARE SO GOOD.  My mom loves the flapjack because it's a healthy granola bar! I have yet to taste Florentine which contains pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate bits. I'm kind of iffy about the Key Lime Pie because it has dried grapes and mini meringues, which I'm not too fond of. I thought I trashed the Key Lime Pie, but I guess I didn't! Most of Graze's snacks are known to be delicious so I'm not too worried about it tasting gross. 

With every box, comes a friend code! Use my friend code to get your first and fifth box free :) Trust me, you won't regret subscribing to this box. If you do order your first box (free with the code), and you don't like it, you can cancel right away!

My friend code: MISBAH6CP or just go here.

~Misbah

Things I Learned While Going Through an Extremely Stressful and Difficult Time

1. It's okay if you make a B on a test, especially when you know you have worked and studied hard. Success comes after failures. 

2. Sometimes, you need to leave things in God's hands. Stop worrying and stressing. Do as much as you can and leave the rest in God’s hands.

3. Take a break and relax. Put the work aside and take a walk outside, watch some television, talk with your family and friends. Just relax.

4. It's okay to dress like a hobo. If your future spouse sees you one day without you knowing who they are, then they wouldn't mind if you dressed a certain way. After all, they will be your future spouse.

5. Read your holy book. It might just inspire you, enlighten you, or even lift the heavy weight you carry around with you.

Misbah's Advice: How to Really Study for Midterms/Exams/Finals

I can't believe it's already the middle of the semester! University seems to be going by fairly quickly - or maybe it's just the super busy schedule I've had recently... Regardless, I have my first midterm tomorrow in psychology and I seem to be prepared for it. I'm still kind of stressed out because I get stressed out at the sound of any test, especially now that my enrollment into university is on the line. I decided it was the best time of the year to advise others about my study tips that will {hopefully} enable you to earn an "A" on your midterm, tests, or final exams! 

1) Always review your notes after class and before the next class.

Ebbinghaus theorized that the most forgetting takes place right after we learn something. So, if you're reviewing your notes on a daily basis, you are able to retain that memory a lot easier. Also, it makes it easier for you to study when you do have a test because you already know most of the material. Also, when I was in Ready, Set, Teach; we were told to reinforce the main idea in our lesson plans three times. We did this because it takes three times to fully remember and ingrain an idea. So keep on reading, rereading, and rereading! 

2) Study at least 4-5 days in advance.

I like to study four days in advance, sometimes five if there is a lot of material to cover. It's proven that if you study collectively (meaning, you study over the course of a few days) and then reserve one day to review, you will retain more info and you will be able to recall that memory easier. So studying the night before or a couple of days before and cramming material in will not help you. It will only hurt you. 

3) Pulling an all-nighter will hurt you more than you think.

Sleep deprivation lowers your ability to recall stored memory. So, you may seem cool to your friends when you brag about the all-nighter you pulled for that Bio exam, but in reality, you know you totally bombed that exam because you couldn't remember anything regardless of studying all night. The best remedy for recalling studied material is to study it collectively and to get eight hours of sleep each night and before test day. Your body needs those eight hours in order to process and store all that information into sturdy memory! 

4) Write and do not type.

Studies have shown that retention is better when you are writing your notes. The muscle movements send signals to the brain which help you remember the information you are learning. So next time you're in class, bust out that notebook and pen. Typing on a computer will only hinder your ability to learn correctly. If you're in a class where your professor talks too fast and typing is the easiest solution to get everything they are saying, I would still recommend writing but also invest in a sound recorder or just use the sound recorder on your phone! This way, if you miss anything, you will be able to go back to the lecture and fill in holes! 

5) Go to the review sessions!!!

Review sessions may not seem helpful, but sometimes, professors will give subtle hints as to what is on the test. Going to that review session may seem painful because you could be doing other things, but what if that session was able to earn you an "A"? I always go the review sessions because it makes me feel more comfortable with the material on the test. My professors tell me exactly what's on it and some even give out a couple of questions from it! 

6) Relax before the test.

If you've studied well, gotten enough sleep, and you know everything there is to know, then relax. Drink some tea, slap on a face mask, and just sit back and relax for a moment. Breathe deeply and do some stellar yoga poses. Just relax for just a moment. Sometimes, we stress out and freak out right before the test. What's even worse is when that freakout causes you to suddenly forget all the material you just learned! DON'T PANIC. It will come to you if you just take a breather and relax. You've done your share, now it's up to your brain to recall all that memory from your very sturdy engram. 

Good luck on everyone who has midterms coming up! MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. 

~Misbah

10 Misconceptions about Texas

1) We ride horses everywhere.

I don't how or even why this is still a misconception in today's time, but for some reason people assume all Texans have horses and they actually travel places with them. For the most part, few Texans actually own horses and I've never seen anyone ride them to get to another city. The only people who do own horses house them on ranches that are far from the city.

2) It's just a bunch of plains.

NO. Texas is fairly flat, however, we are very urbanized as well. We have tons of cities and beautiful landforms. We have lakes, rivers, natural pools, mountains, hills, whatever you can think of! Texas is a place where you have to really search to find pretty sanctuaries, but when you do find these sanctuaries, it will most likely be breathtaking.

3) We say "Y'all" a lot.

This is FALSE. Most Texans do have the habit of saying "y'all" but not all. (Hehe that rhymed) I for one, do not say unless I'm poking fun at Texan culture. I've heard people who aren't even from Texas in different states who say this word.

4) We all have an accent.

The only people I know who really have an accent down here are George Bush and Rick Perry. Most Texans do not have distinct accents and if they do, they are not Texan accents. I've heard tons of accents but nothing similar to how the former president and the current governor speak.

5) We always wear cowboy boots and hats.

I have never owned a pair of cowboy boots or a cowboy hat in my life and I have lived in Texas for a good majority of my life. I have never seen anyone wear cowboy boots/hat unless they are from West Texas. Otherwise, seeing a person wear these is pretty rare.

6) We are just a bunch of republicans.

Although Texas is primarily a "red" state, not all of us are part of the Republican party. In fact, there's tons of us especially in North Texas who are part of the Democratic party. Texas is primarily a state made of up people from many other states.

7) We all want to secede.

OKAY. Just because our ridiculous governor suggested to secede, does not mean the entirety of Texas wants to. In fact, the majority of us thought Perry was crazy.

8) We put butter in everything.

Just because Paula Deen puts an unrelenting amount of butter in all of her dishes, does not mean every Texan/Southerner does. Sure, there are probably those few "Southern delicacy" dishes that I don't even know about that might have a large amount of butter in them. The only use of butter in my house is in baking shortbread cookies!

9) It gets really hot down here.

FALSE. I gets hot in Texas, especially in July, but the high is usually 95 degrees and on a really sunny day, it gets to 101. This is hot, but not as hot as other Southern states. Plus, at one point during this past summer, it was cooler down in Dallas, Texas than it was in Chicago, Illinois. It's actually not that bad if you cover yourself, wear a sun hat, and mostly just stay indoors! When I was in Chicago, I thought it was super hot up there!

10) Everything we eat is deep-fried.

This is only true if you go to the Texas State Fair. Very few places deep-fry their foods and the South follows the rest of the nation's trend into eating healthy! We may seem like a totally different species down here, but we're actually just like you.

Here's just a few misconceptions about Texas. The last few I put together hastily since I am getting super tired so I apologize for lack of explanation or any grammatical errors. If you've never been to Texas, I definitely recommend you take a trip here! It's actually much more beautiful than you think. Texas is full of quirky people, great culture, fantastic food, and just overall beauty in the oddest of places.

~Misbah

Life Update: Why I Stopped Blogging (Temporarily)

Hello everyone! It's been a while since my last post and I know, I haven't been up to date with my Tuesday-Thursday blog days, BUT I've been quite the busy bee lately!

I have not posted since September 13th and now it's October 3rd! Where did all the time go?! As you all may know, I am a freshman in college and university has been interesting. I wouldn't say I'm having too much fun, but it's okay. Class has been "eh" and everything has just been a whole big ball of "eh" at university. I'm a full time student so my first batch of exams just finished this past week. I was swamped with online homework, quizzes, and exams almost every week during the month of September. Aside from that, I had to attend parties every weekend and do a whole bunch of other stuff while studying and I was honestly a mess.

However, I am alive and well! I made it through my first batch of exams and they went pretty good! I studied like no other and it really did pay off :) That being said, exams are not until the end of this month which means that I am FREEEEE to blog every Tuesday and Thursday. Also, I have decided that when times get busy, I'll have a few queued posts to post. That way, it will seem like I never stopped blogging hehe. 

I actually have tons of ideas for DIY's and related things to post in the future! I also have my September favorites to post which will probably come out Tuesday...yes Tuesday! 

Thanks for reading my ridiculous blog and being with me through every trial and tribulation!

~Misbah

Misbah's Advice: First Week of College

Hello everyone! I'm actually keeping to my word that I would post every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday which means I deserve a cookie. My blog is constantly changing and improving so in addition to the other features that I do on here, I will also be doing advice on a certain topic every month!

College. It's an exciting experience for many because it means living away from home (for some), being independent, and adjusting to a completely new environment. It is my first year in college and to be completely honest, it feels like I've already been in college before. I don't feel like everything is new and I definitely do not feel like the environment is completely different. I feel at home and very comfortable. This is very different from what I expected, but anyway, here's my advice for getting through the first week of college!*

*It seems a bit odd that I'm posting this AFTER college has already been in session, but you never know! Maybe there are some people transferring to a different university next semester. Or this could be used in reference for next year...

1) Go to class and get to class on time.

Now that you're in college, not all classes take attendance. I know, it seems very tempting to skip, but go to class! The first week is one of the most important weeks of the semester. Syllabi are passed out, you get to meet your peers, and find out where your comfortable spot is in the lecture hall. Aside from actually going to class, you definitely need to be on time to class. A lot of the professors do not tolerate late class arrivals and may ask you to leave. Plus, you might get a seat you definitely do not want (in the back where it's hard to see and hear). Being on time ensures that you are prepared for class and are ready for the day's lecture. You won't be that awkward person who disrupts everyone with the shuffling of your backpack and papers.

2) Look up where your classes are the night before.

This is especially important if you're attending a large university. Look up where you class is via a map that your university provides on their website. This helps you get an idea of what to expect when you actually get there and you won't be completely lost! Most universities and colleges have an app you can download. Usually there is an interactive map inside the app. At my university, they have an interactive map that I used my first couple of days on campus. Don't be afraid to pull out a hard copy of the map either. You're not alone - there's tons of freshman just like you who are probably lost as well. This will help you arrive to class on time and snag a good seat during the first week!

3) Begin reading as soon as you can.

Most universities have their class books already posted. If not, email your professor and ask before school is in session. This way, you will get the best deals on textbooks and you won't end up spending hundreds of dollars. Also, as soon as your professor begins lecturing, go home and read that book! If you're caught up with reading by the time midterms roll around, you won't have that much to study. If not, you're in big trouble. You can't cram 4 chapters of reading in couple of days before your midterm. The more reading you do ahead of time, the better.

4) Go over your notes on a daily basis.

After your professor has lectured, set aside an hour at home to review your notes and review them again before class starts. By doing this, you are reinforcing the material in your head and refreshing your brain of the previous class's lecture.

5) Sleep early and wake up early.

This is for you people who have 8am classes! I learned that sleeping early - no matter what - is a lot more beneficial to you than staying up at 1am to study and then waking up at 7am super tired. Also, early bird gets the worm. That saying speaks for itself.

6) Make at least one new friend!

Some of you may be going to a university that a lot of your friends are going to. On the other hand, some of you may be going to a university that you know absolutely nobody at. Whichever circumstance you are in, MAKE A FRIEND. The reason you should make new friends in college is 1) they will most likely be able to help you with class 2) they will probably share your interests a lot better than your high school friends. I'm not saying to ditch your high school friends, but rather expand your friend circle to a comfortable extent. The friends you make in college will most likely be the friends you have for life.

7) Don't fall for that "Get Involved!" spiel everyone talks about

During orientation, you will find that almost everyone there is coaxing you into joining an organization and getting involved on campus. They even appeal to you by saying that if you don't get involved, you won't get that "first year experience". This is a trap. It's okay to join a couple of organizations. But in your first semester of college, definitely think about your work load and how well you will do. If you think that you won't be able to manage clubs and school work, then don't join anything! Most people get so involved that they forget they actually have school. I like to think that university administration encourages you to join every single organization out there, forget about school, fail your classes, which in turn makes you pay more money to the university by having to re-take that course.

8) Buy books online

A lot of first generation college students' parents are so excited about college and don't know/realize that buying books at the university's bookstore is actually a lot more expensive than buying them online. Always always always rent and buy books online. This will save you hundreds of dollars.

9) Study in advance for your first midterm

A lot of freshman make the mistake of assuming it's still high school and they study the night before their midterm. Now unless, you have photographic memory (which is impossible), then you cannot simply take in all that material in one night. What will happen is that you will end up learning nothing and falling asleep while studying the night before the midterm. I recommend studying 4-5 days before the exam and leaving one day as a review day. The review day should be the day before the exam. This will allow you to space out the material and it gives you plenty of time to study.

10) Invest in a Contigo water bottle

Most likely, you will attend a campus that requires you to walk everywhere. Whether it's a small or large campus, walking makes your body work and the thirst becomes real. Always stay hydrated and use this water bottle from Contigo. It's really good for college students because you can easily hold onto it with the handle and the spout is covered so that germs cannot get into the spout and infect you with a weird virus. I love my Contigo water bottle! Some are even insulated to keep your water cold for those hot days on campus.

~Misbah

How to Get Over Writer's Block + Get Inspired

As a pretty frequent blogger,  I sometimes run out of blog ideas. I'll usually come up with a bunch of different topics to post, plan them out, post them, and then I run out of things to talk about. Writer's block is the worst especially when you end up getting really frustrated and it lasts a few days to weeks. If you're a victim of this disease currently, I GOTCHU.

Here's a few of my tips on how to cure writer's block and get ~inspired~ :

1. Go out on a nice nature hike or walk. 

I don't have many options to go for a scenic hike, because of where I live. I mean, there's tons of scenic places in Texas but I'm only willing to drive maybe 10 minutes away from home and all the scenic places are 30 minutes. Anyway, there is this nature preserve near me that is so beautiful! It's great for hiking and casual walking. You walk amongst the wild and site all kinds of wildlife on the hike. I've been to this preserve a couple of times and I absolutely loved it. Not only is going on a hike healthy (cardio!!) but it's also calming and lets your mind loose. Nature is great for obtaining inspiration.

2. Go window shopping.

So it might not be the best idea to go shopping if you're a shopaholic. Instead of getting inspiration, you might just spend your most recent paycheck. HOWEVER, a little window shopping won't hurt anyone! Spending time at malls, especially high-end outlet malls are really great if you're a fashion blogger who can't seem to put together the next outfit for Fall Fashion. I love going to malls and window shopping because that way, I can see what's the "new look" and how I would incorporate it into my style.

3. SLEEP.

Sometimes, the cause of writer's block can be due to lack of sleep. Go to sleep or take a nap! Either way, resting yourself is good for you.

4. Change your routine.

We are humans and when we get stuck in this same monotonous routine, we tend to forget the creativity and fun in life. Switch up your routine! Take a day to just chill and spend time with a friend or two! Spending down-time with others will make you feel happy and more alive, which in turn, will *finger crossed* cure your writer's block!

5. Go on Pinterest!

We all know that the hub of creative/cute/pretty/and all things every women would want is Pinterest. It's just the God of pretty things and DIY's. I go on Pinterest daily just to take a break from studying and doing other boring things. I don't necessarily pin things, I just scroll around, cry at things I can't have, and awe at things I can create.

Pinterest is actually really therapeutic.

6. Paint or draw

You don't have to be an artist for this one. I've seen pieces of trash on display at museums. No really, it was a piece of trash - smooshed Coke can on stick with a random paper butterfly glued to the Coke can. Painting and drawing is traditionally used in many treatment centers as a therapeutic medicine. It calms you and lets your creative juices flowing.

So these are my six suggestions on how to get inspired. HOPEFULLY, at least one will help you! If it doesn't, I'm so dearly sorry and maybe ideas will just come to you randomly one day. Do you have any ways to get over writer's block?! Tell me in the comments!

~Misbah 

Why I Will Never Again Fly With American Airlines

Before you read on, here's a few things you should know about this post:

• It is super long due to such a long story about what happened with my flight from ORD to DFW
• At times, I may not even make sense but I tried to proofread and fix things as much as I could.
• I did contact AA and have not received a response yet, probably because there were so many angry people who also contacted them, aside from us. 
• I get violent in this post so beware.
• I absolutely am disgusted by American Airlines and their #$&@ service. 

Our flight issues began from the VERY beginning of our trip. On August 13th, flight 2341 was supposed to depart from DFW at 7:45pm. So, our family all gets to the airport at around 5:45ish and by the time we pass through security and check in our bags, we get to our gate at around 6pm. Boarding was supposed to start at 7:25pm, but after 15 minutes of sitting at our gate, the flight was delayed an hour and would depart at 8:30ish. Nobody made an announcement at the gate saying our flight was delayed, but because I was aware of the crap service AA has, I made sure my phone notified me of anything ridiculous happening with our flight, which it did. So after one delay, another came, and another and another. We had about 5 delays, NONE OF WHICH any AA agent notified us about. When people finally started questioning what was wrong, the agents first told us they were having maintenance issues. Then the next delay, they said the screw was loose on the co-pilot's seat (WTF???). Then the next delay, they said they had to entirely replace the co-pilot's seat. After much patience and four hours later, they finally fixed whatever issue there was and we boarded our flight at around 11:30pm and arrived at our hotel near ORD at precisely 1:41am. 

UGH. 

So here's what happened when we wanted to come back to DFW:

On August 17th, flight 2374 was supposed to depart from ORD straight to DFW at 8:50pm. (The beginning of these paragraphs sound like an upsetting CNN documentary) We arrive at ORD at around 6:15pm and get to our gate. We wait and wait for our boarding to happen and then I get a notification that our flight is delayed until 11:30pm. Once again, nobody notifies us at the gate. Prior to getting a notification, I noticed that ORD staff began setting up cots with pillows and blankets. I thought they were for those who have an overnight layover, I was wrong. After waiting around at our gate, my family and I decided it would be more comfortable to lay down for a couple of hours until our flight would board. After 30 more minutes, I get another notification saying that our flight would depart at 11:50. Then after another 30 minutes, I get a notification saying our flight is CANCELLED. So you may be thinking, "Yes, Misbah, flights do get cancelled. It's not really a big deal". Yeah, keep reading. 

When I get the notification, the AA agents at our gate FINALLY announce it and say we all have to go to another gate (K10 or K4) and visit the rebooking center. They also said it was weather related, even though there was only light showers Sunday morning and everything was clear that night. So everyone disperses and rushes to the rebooking center where there are absolutely no flights available (I find that really hard to believe, but AA is known for lying). To make matters worse, we not only had a handicap with us but also someone who had a medical emergency (of course AA doesn't care). When we checked our flight status, apparently AA had already put all passengers from flight 2374 onto different flights on Monday to reach DFW. None of these flights were direct and they were not at preferable timings (2pm with 3hr layover in Kentucky). 

I go back to our original gate from the booking center and stand in line to get some compensation. I obviously was not about to stay overnight at ORD which meant I wanted a hotel, I wanted food, I wanted a refund from AA. And if you know me, you would know when I get mad, I get really angry. It's like the kraken is released from my body and you don't want to meet it. So I stand in line and I only have to wait maybe 20 minutes (better than 3 hours right?) and I ask the agent what the heck happened with this flight and if there are any flights available tonight since both my parents had work and I just wanted to get home. One of the agents tell me that it was weather related and that the small rain shower that went on Sunday morning was apparently enough to disrupt the entire flight system. THIS was a downright LIE because all of my other family members who also flew with AA all got directly to DFW that same night. So AA was just giving me bullshit and their agents were so kind and gave me an attitude. So another agent takes over after I give the other agent a look as if I'm going to tear her face off and he tells us that there are no flights available tonight, BUT he would give us a stay at La Quinta all the way in Schaumburg (?!?!?) as well as food vouchers to be used at ORD and a taxi to and from our hotel and ORD. I wasn't complaining at that point because at least I had a free place to stay with free food and free fare. Then he said that AA really just cancelled the flight for no reason and that's what AA does often. 

So we get to our hotel, spend the night there, and here's the taxi issue when going back to ORD:

The hotel receptionist booked a taxi for us since not all taxi companies were going to accept the voucher AA had given us. When the taxi finally comes, my sister shows him the voucher and asks, "Do you take this voucher?" and he says, "Yeah!". So we get in the taxi and about 5 minutes into our ride, the taxi driver says, "I can't take this voucher. I have to go to AA headquarters all the way in Washington DC to cash this." I was about to rip his head off. 

So we start yelling and asking him why he gave us a ride when my sister showed him the voucher and he said he accepted it. 

He's says, "I thought you meant the American Taxi voucher! I didn't know what voucher this was!!" 

So then we tell him, "Then just take us back if you don't take it because we're not paying for the fare!!!!!!!!" 

He says, "Okay then you pay the fare back to the hotel!!!". 

And we say, "NO. We're not paying anything!!!!!" 

So he pulls over and says, "Okay then I'll call the cops." 

And we're just sitting there and we tell him, "Yeah, okay. Call the cops. Cool." 

He then calls dispatch to ask if they take the voucher and guess what? THEY DO. So after all that, he then says, "Oh, I'm so sorry. It was a misunderstanding. Sorry sorry". 

Sorry doesn't fix the fact that I want to rip your head off mister. So I called his taxi company and sent in a complaint for not only threatening us but also relentlessly texting while driving - against IL state laws. 

**If you've made it this far in the post, I applaud you**

When we finally got to ORD at 12pm, we waited for our flight. While waiting, I decided to use the food vouchers and while in line to get some delicious veggie bagels, I see the following on my voucher:

Right above "EXPIRES", you can see that it clearly says: Delay - Mechanical. 

So pretty much, AA was tweeting me that it's been a difficult day for air travel, AA agents were telling me that it was weather related issues, and my food voucher was telling me it was mechanical issues. Way to lie, AA. 

Our flight finally left from ORD at 2pm and we reached Lousiville, KY at 3pm. We had a 3 hour layover which was extended to 4 hours after AA delayed our flight AGAIN and said it was due to weather. They were just making excuses. Also, I had once again tweeted AA asking what exactly had happened with flight 2374. They told me due to weather, the crew was displaced. OKAY. SURE. It may have been the truth, but I wouldn't know since AA is the equivalent of the boy who cried wolf. We finally reached home at 11:30pm. We could have driven quicker. 

Here's why I know for sure AA was lying the entire time:

1) Clear skies over Texas that night, nothing happening in Chicago

2) When they began to set up cots at ORD, they knew the flight was cancelled but didn't tell anybody and said it was delayed

3) While telling us it was delayed, they were already placing all 2374 passengers onto different flights for Monday

4) If it was really weather related, none of the other DFW flights my family were one would have departed that night.

This entire thing was deliberate and I want a full refund. AA caused both my parents to lose a day worth of work and money and we pretty much just wasted our money paying for a nonexistent flight. 

So that's my experience with AA and why I will NEVER fly with them AGAIN. My family keeps joking that Chi didn't want me to leave since I love it there and I was born there. Although I consider Chi to be my first home and a chunk of my heart will always be there, pieces of my heart also lay in Dallas where my real home is. I hope all parts of this post made sense and if it didn't, leave a comment. 

~Misbah

Chicago Trip + College Life

Hello everyone! You may or may not have noticed that I was on a short hiatus for the past week. Last week, my entire family took a trip to Chicago for my cousin's wedding! I have so much to tell and so many complaints about all the mishaps that occurred with our flight, but in this post, I'll be giving a short run through about the trip and the upcoming school year! 

C H I C A G O  T R I P:

8.13.14 Wednesday: Our flight was supposed to depart around 7pm Wednesday, but after 5 delays we finally reached Chi at 1:41am. Crazy right? Yeah, my next blog post will blow your mind.

My henna!

8.14.14 Thursday: By now, all the guests have been trickling in and settled in the hotel my aunt had booked for all of us. In the morning around 11am, we took a trip to the bride's house to eat brunch and deliver presents for her! At night, we had a small dinner at our hotel where the bride's family came and everyone showcased their personal gifts to give to the bride and groom. Prior to this dinner, the girls from the groom's family got our henna done! 

My sister-in-law and I at the brunch at the bride's house!

8.15.14 Friday: In the morning, both parties showed up at a local masjid where the nikkah (marriage by Islam) took place. This meant that the bride and groom were officially married! It was a very stretched out ceremony but nonetheless, filled with happiness. At night, a pre-wedding party took place which is called the mhendi (another name for henna). This is actually a Hindu ceremony, but our culture grasped it and for some reason felt it necessary to include this in religion. At the mhendi, people just dance and celebrate. Being a more conservative family, we left early.

The nikkah ceremony minus everyone.

8.16.14 Saturday: In the morning, we finally had NOTHING to do in terms of the wedding. Everybody decided to go sightseeing and do their own thing. We all had to be back at the hotel and be ready by 6pm for the actual wedding ceremony (even though they were already married). My family and I went to the Cloud Gate since Chicago was our previous home and we had seen almost everything already. At around 7pm, we finally left the hotel to go the venue. It was at the Bristol Palace, which was decorated wonderfully. The night was long and I was so happy to know that they had Nescafe instead of chai. During the entire week I probably drank around 50 cups of coffee/chai. This was also the night that all the cousins decided to stay up all night at the hotel and just hang out. We ended up staying up in the hotel lobby until 4:30am and by that time it was time for all of us to pray Fajr.

8.17.14 Sunday: In the morning, someone from the bride's family hosted a post-wedding brunch at the Hyatt Lodge on McDonald's campus (IT WAS SO WEIRD). The staff had "Hamburger University" badges on their shirts. It was so pretty there though! It was so quiet and beautiful - a much needed ending to such a loud and busy week. After the brunch, everybody pretty much headed out. My family's flight was with my aunt (the groom's mother) and it was scheduled to be at 8:50pm. Until 6pm, we chilled at the hotel and then headed out. What happened next is so ridiculous but long story short, our flight was cancelled due to no reason and we ended up staying another day in Chi. We left Monday afternoon and reached home at 11:30pm.

Hyatt Lodge @ McDonald's Campus

Although this past week was filled with mishaps, I'm so happy for the bride and groom and wish them the best! It was a week filled with joy and I was so happy for family to reunite :)

C O L L E G E  L I F E:

Alright so I begin college tomorrow! I'm a little nervous/excited because I'm not sure what to expect regarding the intensity of my classes, but I've been praying it won't be something that I can't handle. It's really weird to think, "I'm about to start the rest of my life tomorrow". College is so much more than going to school for another four to six years. It's about getting a degree to start the rest of your life. It's about gaining a new group of friends who share the same interests as you and who will stick with you. It's about beginning new again and dipping into the surface of what a non-sheltered life is. It's about finally being independent and taking your future into your own hands. Now that I'm in college, I can slowly feel myself maturing and becoming independent. In a nutshell, I'm super excited to get started working the education field. Inshallah (if God wills), I will be able to graduate in three years, with honors. That's my plan, and it will probably be one hell of a ride, but I'm going to do it. 

~Misbah

10 Travel Tips You Need for Your Next Trip

Hello everyone! As you may, or may not, know I will be traveling back home to Chicago in a few days! While packing for this trip, I've been met with so many challenges concerning how to fit everything in a carry-on and dealing with flight restrictions. After much trial and error and about 3 days of packing, I finally have everything stuffed in my suitcase and ready to go! Here are ten tips I found super useful to pack right and make it all fit!

Tip 1: Flatten out your clothes as much as you can, or roll.

I find flattening out your clothes the best way to save space. If you're traveling alone, I highly recommend stuffing your carry-on as much as you can since, typically, there are no weight restrictions on carry-on's! Don't waste extra money checking in a bag. If flattening out is not an option, or you're just not savvy at folding clothes, go ahead and roll your clothes! This will save you some space and will not wrinkle your clothes.

Tip 2: Place chargers in old glasses cases.

Woo glasses!

I don't know about you, but when I travel I bring all of my electronics. I need my iPad charger, laptop charger, and most importantly, my phone charger! I used to stuff all of these into a bag and place it in my carry-on, but they would get so tangled inside and it was just a mess. I have tons of old glasses cases because my family was blessed with imperfect vision. I stick the wire and the wall charger in them and bam! They save space and they don't get tangled. Plus, they're super organized.

Tip 3: Don't bring anything that's unnecessary.

This might just be the golden rule for any trip, but trust me, you probably do bring tons of unnecessary things. Don't bring your toothbrush/toothpaste! Hotels ALWAYS have toothbrushes and toothpaste you can use. Some even have mouthwash and floss. I never bring mine because it's just unsanitary. Don't take the entire bottle of contact solution/hair products especially if it's just a weekend trip. Don't bring your entire jewelry/makeup collection. Try to pick a few pieces of jewelry that fit with almost every outfit and wear them to the airport! It saves you the fear of them breaking. Also, I recommend buying small eyeshadow pallets that are in neutral colors so you won't have to bring every color out there. Bring one or two lipsticks, one eyeliner and maybe even some mascara. My BB cream that I use from Rimmel London is already travel friendly so try to pick up a smaller bottle of your foundation or BB cream.

P.S. if you'll be attending a wedding at your destination, do not follow this tip because girl, you need your entire jewelry/makeup collection and your closet to come with you.

Tip 4: Bring a large personal item.

I believe this was on sale for maybe $7? 

Okay so this tip is kind of cheating the system, but hey, they allow it. For travel, I don't bring my purse. I usually put my purse in my carry-on and my personal item becomes a small backpack I bought from Clarks. I place everything that doesn't fit inside my carry-on and other delicates into this bag. My jewelry, iPad, phone, wallet, and other just random small things go in it. I recommend buying a small backpack or larger purse to place everything else into. As long as it stows, it goes.

Tip 5: Put shoes in shower caps.

Honestly, I squish my shoes in by laying them on their side. They look like all nice due to pictures.

I'm a shoe addict. I have to have a different pair of shoes for every outfit and if you're like me, it becomes an issue. Packing shoes is not an easy task. I found that placing my shoes either together or individually into shower caps protects my clothes from getting dirty and it allows more leeway for me to stuff my shoes into smaller corners and nooks.

Tip 6: Layer your clothes to the airport.

When you're low on space, I highly recommend wearing some of the clothes you were going to pack, to the airport. For example, I packed two cardigans which were taking up quite a bit of space and I had packed my pajamas. To save space, I wear my pajamas to the airport with one of those cardigans and change into my nicer clothes when I land at my destination. I also wear the same thing when I come back home. This saves tons of space and honestly, who cares what you look like at the airport? It's the airport, not a fashion show.

Tip 7: Bring a book and some headphones.

Favorite book + representing Samsung

Long flights are THE WORST especially if you're sitting next to somebody who may be snoring or making odd noises. Personally, I've always sat with my sister on flights so I've never had a problem. However, that could change in the future! Either way, it's always a good idea to bring a good book or magazine. I also love to bring headphones for music and audio books! Plus, they block out most airplane noises.

Tip 8: Bring an empty water bottle! 

TSA has a rule against liquids higher than 3 fl oz. They never said I couldn't bring an empty water bottle to fill water with! So on my flight departing from Sea-Tac, a TSA agent kindly told us that they will let empty water bottles go through so you can fill it from a water station in the terminal. I find this so helpful because I drink water ALL THE TIME and I'm not about to pay for overpriced water at the airport or on my flight.

Tip 9: Buy a travel weigher.

A while back, my dad found this travel weigher thing at Kohl's. All you do is strap is onto your suitcase, lift, and it will tell you the weight in kilos and pounds. It's so helpful if you're like me and always worrying whether your checked baggage will be overweight or not (hehe overweight...).

Tip 10: Do not forget.

Last but not least, double and triple check that you have EVERYTHING. I forgot my facial moisturizer when I went to Vancouver and it was not okay. I always forget the tiniest thing when going on trips and it's the worst. I now use travel apps such as PackPoint to create a checklist so I will no longer forget and regret.

Hopefully these travel tips are helpful to at least one of you out there! Let's share travel tips together :D

~Misbah

Adorable and Affordable Gift Ideas

I know it isn't the gift-giving season for most people, but for me, I always give gifts to others just because I feel like it! I compiled a quick list of cute and affordable gifts you can gifts to others!

I love love love this little trinket dish from Francesca's! It's such a great gift for your sister and in fact, my sister gave me this as part of my graduation present. Currently, I keep it on my desk with my Alaska Airlines flight wings sitting on it :)

You can find it here.

This was also part of my graduation present and is also from Francesca's. This fluffy pillow doubles as room decor and a gift card holder! I currently have this hanging on a metal loop that's attached to my bed.

You can find it here.

My sister in law gave this to me for my 17th birthday because of my consistent dry humor. This is a great gift for anyone who is sarcastic or has a really great sense of humor. It's such a sad book that it's funny. 

You can find it here.

Washi tape is always a great gift for anyone! This decorative tape has so many creative uses and will always come in handy! I buy mine from eBay for a dollar or so - much cheaper than the ones you find in stores.

You can find it here or simply search "washi tape" into eBay's search box.

So the mason jar has tons of uses now - most of which are frickin' adorable. You could DIY this mason jar drinking cup, or you could just buy it - whichever suits you! I do love these cups because they're cute, convenient, and BPA free! I took my cup to my first hiking trip and it turned out to be a really good subject for photography.

You can find it here.

Hopefully, I have helped you stir up some ideas in your mind for a cute gift to give to your friend or family member!

~Misbah

July Favorites!

Can you believe July is over?! July is one of my least favorite months, because of how hot, humid, and sticky it gets here. However, it won't stop me from sharing with you a few things I compiled this month that are absolutely amazing! I've included not only baking items, but also beauty items. Enjoy!

B E A U T Y :

Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo/Conditioner: There should be no question as to why I put this on my favorites list. This shampoo is the best hydrating shampoo I've ever tried. The oil works wonders for my curly, dry, and often frizzy hair. It not only smells wonderful, but also detangles your hair while removing dirt and fixing any damaged hair.

Kirkland's Daily Facial Wipes: As you may or may not know, I love Costco. It has everything for cheap prices and it's all wholesale. I found these wipes in the beauty section as the generic brand for the Neutrogena facial wipes they also sell. The first time I bought cleansing wipes from Costco was the Neutrogena brand, primarily because I always think the generic brand is sketchy. After I ran out of the Neutrogena wipes, I decided to figure out what was different between this one and Kirkland's (Costco's generic brand). Well first off, Kirkland's was in fact cheaper and had a greater quantity. Next Kirkland's contained mainly natural ingredients versus the artificial scary stuff in Neutrogena. I was sold and decided to try it out. These wipes do the same deal as Neutrogena! They wipe off all makeup, even waterproof, and even moisturize!

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In: GIRL. This is heaven for your hair. I cannot express to you how amazing this leave-in spray is. All you do is spray it in your hair after you take a shower and oh my goodness, it really does do miracles. Your hair is completely tangle free and after your hair dries, it becomes so soft and lush. This is perfect for hair that is curly and frizzy!

etc! Golden Stud Set: Honestly, I've been looking high and low for a nice set of gold studs I could wear and at a local Rue21, I finally found them for $2!

B A K I N G:

Duncan Hines Simple Mornings Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin Mix: I made a batch of these muffins for the eid breakfast we hold every year and these muffins are so delish! They are so soft and delectable which is very typical of Duncan Hines' mixes.

Nestle Toll House Cookie of the Year: German Chocolate Cookie Dough: I have so many good things to say about this cookie. First off, it's german chocolate and I buy anything that has to do with german chocolate. Secondly, the taste is out of this world. These cookies are the most tasty, crunchy, and overall delicious cookies I've ever tasted (I've tasted tons of cookies). They are so moist and chewy and just melt in your mouth! The one odd thing about these cookies is that they come in frozen dough cubes, and when you bake them, their cube-yness stays. Here's a picture:

Cubes, but still delicious.

~Misbah

My Favorite Types of Coffee and Tea

I am truly a coffee addict. It's been hard trying to find the right brew for me - some don't wake me up and other cause me to fall asleep. I decided to compile a list of my favorite cups of coffee and tea!

C O F F E E : 

Nescafe Original: This is the one brand of coffee that really wakes me up (might be because it's extra forte??). Aside from the fact that it's loaded with caffeine, it tastes delicious! I usually sit down with blackberries and a cup of this coffee in the afternoon (I know, weird combo but it tastes so good). I'm very picky about where my coffee comes from as well. I only buy Nescafe from this indian store in a town nearby and it has to be imported from Uruguay. For some reason, the ones not from Uruguay taste different to me, although it's probably just a psychological thing. The indian store I buy this at sells this for $7.

Nescafe Taster's Choice Instant Coffee: This coffee is one that I drink on those super rainy and cold days. I wouldn't say that it gives me tons of energy, because it doesn't (plus the half life of coffee is 3 hours or so). I love any Nescafe coffee because in every cup, there's a unique taste that any other coffee I've tried does not have. This can be found at any grocery store for about $7 -$8.

Pacific Bold K-Cup from Kirklands: I love my Keurig. I love it so much that when it entered our home for the first time, I hugged it for a good minute. In the morning when I'm in a rush, trying not to be late to class, the Keurig is my BFF. I only use these K-Cups from Costco if I truly don't have time to sit down and relax with a cup of coffee in the morning. As for the taste, it's okay. It tastes just regular - nothing unique to it. You can get this at Coscto from about $30 - $40. 

T E A : 

Japanese Green Tea: I drink green tea every night. There are so many benefits to green tea such as: sleeping better and quicker, antioxidants, weight loss. It tastes amazing and this is a must for a start at being healthy. I would say I get this at my local asian store for maybe $4. 

Tapal: It's not very often when I drink Tapal, but when I do, it's very very very tasty and refreshing. In my home, we have tea time every day in the afternoon and when I feel very calm and it's been a great day, I drink this! I like Tapal because it's your classic tea and tastes great without milk (my family thinks it's necessary to pour milk into tea). I get this from a local indian store as well for about $5. 

~Misbah

Do's and Don'ts of the Masjid

I go to the Masjid almost every Friday and every time I am met with various challenges that deter me from my concentration during prayer. The following is a list of things that people (more centered to women) should and should not do at the masjid.

DO come into the prayer room silently and give salaam to everyone. 

DO NOT come in with your group of friends, laughing, and giggling. Many people are praying their 2 rakah masjid prayer. Some even do more for sunnah. When you come in loudly you are disturbing everyone. Please be respectful of everyone and their prayer. 

DO turn of your cell phones.

DO NOT keep it on or leave it on silent. This is one of my biggest pet peeves because during the khutbah, tons of cell phones go off. Some even go off during prayer and the ring tone tends to be the new hit song which is totally out of line for the masjid. Even if you silence it, somehow the phone may go off. So please be considerate and just turn it off. Also, please do not give your children your cell phone to play with. This actually leads me to the next thing.

DO stay with your young children at home if your masjid does not have a separate women with children area.

DO NOT bring your young children and expect them to be silent during the entirety of the prayer. They will not. They will cry, run around, scream, and cause all sorts of distractions. If you are bringing your child, make sure they are old enough to understand that they must be silent the entire time. I've had it with constantly crying babies and children who are always running around everywhere. And if you do bring your child, please please please do not allow them to bring in food. They are children and they will make a mess. 

DO come to prayer early. You get more sunnah for being the first in the masjid. 

DO NOT come to prayer during the khutbah. The khutbah is part of your prayer. If you are not there for the entirety of the khutbah then your Friday prayer is not complete. 

DO sit quietly during the khutbah and listen to what the imam is saying. 

DO NOT assume that it is social hour and begin gossiping with your friends. Treat the khutbah like it is your prayer. You wouldn't speak to others while praying would you?

DO come to the masjid properly dressed.

DO NOT begin putting on your abaya and hijab when you walk into the prayer room. 

DO (if you are selling things) sell outside of the actual masjid.

DO NOT sell inside the masjid. It not only causes congestion, but is also not allowed.

DO pray to yourself.

DO NOT pray so loudly that the entire room can hear you. I've experienced this many times where someone sits next to me and begins praying their two rakats and they pray so loudly that I can hear every word. 

In no way am I trying to offend anyone or be the "haram police" but I've been mentally compiling this list for a while and I feel like I'm not the only one who notices these actions being done at the masjid. Maybe this will help some of you out with masjid etiquette! 

Jummah Mubarak! 

~Misbah 

Summer Hotspot for 2014

The day after I graduated, I left for vacation to the Northwest! This was the first time my family and I were going via flight on a vacation in the US and the first time we were traveling up to Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver, BC. Here's a few reasons why I recommend you go on a trip to the Northwest, because after all, #NorthwestIsBest :)


1. IT'S FRICKIN' BEAUTIFUL.

This was taken in Canada, on our drive to Vancouver. Mountains, plains, and low-lying clouds was the norm. It was truly a scenic drive up to the city! Since we went to BC our first day on our week-long trip, I thought this was gorgeous. Little had I known where I would be in a few days. 

2. It was the perfect weather. Perfect for my curly locks and dry skin. 

This was taken from Canada Place and I've never seen such beautiful clouds in my life. That day, everything was perfect and serene. There was this amazing aura of calm. I am one who loves clouds and tries to stay out of the sun and heat as much as possible. If you're like me, you will LOVE the northwest.

3. It's almost like heaven on earth.

Yeah, so this was breathtaking. This is named the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens. The gardens are located on Vancouver Island, near Victoria. We took BC Ferries to get to the island (which was awfully pricey for a round-trip with car). However, it was worth every penny because this was a sight to see. I highly recommend reading up on the history of the gardens. You will be shocked. 

4. There are volcanoes and the Cascade Mountain Range.....everywhere. 

The first picture is of me in the lava destruction path zone of Mount Ranier. Yes, we did go up to Paradise Point at 5000 ft and we would have gone further had the road not have been closed. And yes, I am not afraid to climb up these things. It was truly amazing to look down and see the Cascade Mountains. The second is of Mount Saint Helens from the Johnston's Ridge Observatory viewing deck. I honestly wish we had enough time to trek down into the valley, however, we didn't since night began to fall and the drive to the volcanoes are all filled with animals jumping around on the road. The last photograph is from the first viewing deck of Mount Saint Helens. You could see elk down there (I didn't see any though). 

5. You will conquer your fear of heights. 

All of the above are from the Capilano Suspension Bridge park. The first one is called the Cliff Edge Walk and it's exactly what it's called. You walk on the edge of a cliff and your are amongst 50 ft tall trees. The second and third are of the one and only Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge sways back and forth as you walk across it. You are suspended and you are so high you can touch the tops of some of the pine trees! My father and I are the only ones in our family who are not afraid of heights. This experience for my mother and sister was a bit much. It was fun though! 

6. You cannot get enough of the Oregon Coast.

All of the above were taken at Cannon Beach where the famous Haystack Rock sits. The reason so many people love Haystack Rock is not only because it's this giant bolder in the middle of a beach, but it was constructed entirely from volcanoes. In fact, the entire Oregon coast was! The tide pools and sea life are a must-see at Cannon Beach. When the tide is low, you can walk right up to a starfish and touch it! There are anemones and urchins as well. Also, let's not forget about the volcanic rock sitting everywhere. 

7.  The constant scenery will make you never want to leave.

The Columbia River Gorge tour with GreyLion Pink Bus is AMAZING. It takes you to multiple locations, including Multnomah Falls. 

8. Portland lives up to its weird vibe.

This is Pioneer Courthouse Square, one of the most normal places in Portland. However, Portland is never really normal that's why there is a punny Ikea advertisement along with a bunch of other oddities. 

9. Seattle is a gorgeous city.

Seattle is one of the best cities around mainly because of the food. The first photograph was taken atop the ferris wheel near the bay. The ferris wheel is similar to the London Eye in that it has individual pods for you and your family to sit back, relax, and enjoy the cold, cloudy, and mostly rainy city of Seattle. The second was taken atop the Space Needle. Honestly, the Space Needle was a waste of our money. It didn't feature much but a view of the city - a view that seemed much to familiar to us. Unless you've never been up in a skyscraper, ditch the Space Needle and save the money for eating. The last photograph was taken at a restaurant called Falafel King. We ordered the shawarma and my goodness, it was the best shawarma I've ever eaten. Right across from where we were sitting, was coincidentally the first Starbucks! This was located right in Pike Place Market, by the way.

10. You will never want to return home.

Our trip to the northwest was the best vacation we have ever taken. It even completed our "Travel Around the US" bit. We have officially traveled to every region of the US and hopefully we'll be able to go around the world soon! We took Alaska Airlines and when we were coming back, we witnessed Mount Rainier, poking out from the low-lying clouds. Beautiful isn't it?

Also, be sure to follow my adventure and all my pictures from this trip on Instagram using the hashtag #trekthenorthwest

~Misbah