Friday Night Lights

Well, hello there!
My name is Sumiyya Abdul-Rasheed and this is another Monday blog.

If you don't know, I was just doing a Tyler Oakley(who's last  name I just realized is the same as Annie Oakley)-style intro. If you don't know who he is, check him out. He's pretty funny and has great videos although lately he's just been doing a lot of Q&As(Q and Slays :D). Also he does Top That videos with Becca Frucht on Popsugar's channel. So yeah, anyway, check him out.

Today I really wanted to talk about something really awesome I went to this past Friday. It was at one of the local libraries in my area called Hickory Grove. The event was called Friday Night Lights.

Basically what it was was teens hanging out on a Friday night with also kind of an open mic night/talent show feel to it. If there was something you wanted to perform(song, poem, rap, flip, etc...) then you could just get up there and perform.

I came late to the event but luckily I made it in time to have a slice of pizza and some drink and I, of course, made it just in time for the talent portion. So here's how it went down:

The first performer was a girl named Jade. She did a poem which was really nice. I could see that she had a poem book(like me!) so this was really her passion.

The second one was a girl named Kimberly. She sang Angel by Natasha Beddingfield. It was nice but her voice could maybe use a little training. Otherwise she sounded great.

The third one was yours truly :D I did a poem too. It's one of mine called Window of Wonder. I thought it would be really cool to get up there and do it so I did and it was awesome. A lot of people seemed to like it.

The next performers were two kids. They both did flips. Not at the same time though.

The next performance was by two brothers who I think were Muslim and also who I think were twins. Anyway, they both started beatboxng and then one was beat boxing while the other was rapping and they killed it! It was sick. I think they might have gotten the best reception. At least from me.

Then some other boys decided to rap as well but there was a great confusion as to what was going on. Then one started rapping and it was kinda wack to be honest but he did his thing and some of it was okay.

Then Kimberly got up and sang again. She sang Lights by Ellie Goulding this time. It was nice as well.

Then the final act and I think it ties for first in my mind with the twins'(?) performance was by someone named Bernard. He sang a song which I later learned was Chocolate by The 1975. He played guitar while singing and both his guitar playing and his singing were totally amazing! My sister and I were like: If he doesn't have one already, he should make a YouTube and do covers because that was just so amazing. Also, I think I might just have to check out more of the 1975's songs because although honestly after hearing the original song, I didn't like it all that much but it has grown on me and been stuck in my head.

Here's a picture I surreptitiously took of him: 

So after all that we had to tidy up while waiting for our parents to come. So Laila and I helped.

Then we left and went to the store. And that was my Friday night.

It was pretty epic ^_^

So signing off for now, bye, au revoir, annyeong, adios, sayonara, ma'a salaama!

Sumiyya <3
 

Graduating

What is up? 

I'm on time for once, eh? :D

What I wanted to talk about today is that my mom is graduating tomorrow. 

That's right, tomorrow she will finally be done with college. She will finally have a BA in both ESL and Instructional Design. She will finally have time to breathe. She'll finally have time to chill. She'll finally have time for us. 

It's been 5 years since she started and was thrown into the throng of homework and back to back assignments with hardly any break between classes. It's been a long 5 years. There have been times when she just didn't want to do it. There have been times when she actually didn't do it. There have been times when she excelled above everyone else. But finally, this is the time, when she's through with it all.

I'm so excited for her and for us and our life for the rest of this year before we move to Saudi. I also kinda wonder: "What will she do now?" Homework was the thing that kept her busy. I mean, of course there were other things but it was mainly that. Although, I also think that now she'll be able to sleep do much better. She can go to bed earlier. She doesn't have to stress so much about grades and all that good crap. She can relax. 

That's why I'm excited and happy for her. Her graduation is way bigger than when my father graduated because it's been 5 years in the making and it's finally here.

So, since she won't be able to go to her graduation party because it's in Iowa(or somewhere over there), we are actually throwing her a surprise graduation party. We're pooling all our resources and getting help from our grandparents an aunts and uncles and we're really hoping to make this a special event, dedicated solely to her. 

So this is pretty much it, I wish her the best, and I love her, and I congratulate her a million times on finally graduating. 

Signing off for now, sayonara, ma'a salaama, annyeong, adiós, au revoir, goodbyeeeee!!! 

Sumiyya <3 

Making My Way Downtown

What's up?

Long time no blog. 

Yeah, I know, I know. Sometimes I just get lazy or feel like "What's the point?" But I've got to do it if nothing but for myself.

So anyway, I'm back and I'm just going to talk about what I did yesterday and some other stuff I've done that I can really talk about. 

In my last blog I talked about the tea party we were going to. Well we went I that and it was pretty nice and everyone was saying how nice and grown-up we looked. It was really nice.

The other thing I want to talk about is Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day which was also fun. I got two different flavors: Hazed and Confused and Triple Carmel Chunk. Both were delicious.

The last thing I wanted to talk about(which kinda goes with the title) is that I went walking downtown for basically the first time. We were taking pictures or our cousin who's doing a Flat Stanley thing in her class. SO she sent us a flat replica of herself and we went and took pictures.

And so that's it for now. Bear with me guys.

Signing off for now,

Annyeong, ma'a salaama, adios, au revoir, sayonara, bye!!!

Sumiyya <3

I'm Still Here

Hello there! I know that I have not posted anything in about two weeks. That's two posts missed. So today I decided to get back on the ball and make up for yesterday's missed post. And on that subject, I've been thinking: maybe I shouldn't just stick super hard onto a Monday only schedule. I mean, there are times when I really want to post something and I think "No, you have to wait until Monday." So I think that I'll still do Monday posting but if there's any other day of the week wherein I really want to post something, I should just do so.

So anyway, I'll be catching you up in my life for the past two weeks.

The first thing I'm going to say is: I'm writing this blog post from my laptop. And I know what you're thinking "My laptop?" "Did I read that right?" The answer is: yes, you sure did read that right. Yes, I Sumiyya Abdul-Rasheed finally, FINALLY, have my own laptop. It's a 10.6" Gateway Windows 8 laptop. It's small and cute and super adorable and it's all mine! I'm still so happy. It's called Mini-Bar. I was thinking of chocolate when I named it(you know me, chocoholic extraordinaire). Although only recently I realized a mini bar is for drinking and I probably should've called it Fun-Size(like me!) or something like that.

So yeah, I got it a exactly a week ago(last Tuesday) and I've been loving it since. Also, I have not completely abandoned my iPod now that I have a laptop. I still use my iPod quite regularly and I balance my online time between both of the devices.

Second thing I wanted to talk about is: I nominated my sister for a TV Show! So I got an email from FIDM Fashion Club saying that there was a new show coming out called Threads and basically designers anywhere from 8-16 compete on the show for cash prizes and scholarships. It sounded so cool that I thought: "I have to nominate Laila. She's a great designer and it'd be a really nice opportunity for her." So I nominated her and then we had to send in information about her and also pictures of her designs and so we did all that. Then they called and Laila and my mom had an interview with the people and now it's all over and I just really hope she gets picked for the show.

Third thing: Saudi. So my father has been in Saudi Arabia for a while and he's really liking it. Especially in the city he's in. So what's going to happen(InshaAllah(godwilling)) is that he will come back for the Summer which we will all spend here and then we will all move to Saudi at the end of Summer. So we're trying to get prepared. Especially because apparently we'll be going to school with people who speak the tiniest amount of English. We need to practice our Arabic and fast.

Fourth thing: Tea party!!
My mom's cousin's mom(therefore my great-aunt) is having a mother-daughter tea party this weekend and we're going so we've been getting ready and finding all the accessories we need to go with our outfits and all that. I honestly cannot wait for it.

Fifth thing: Spring Break
My older brother is coming down for Spring Break. He'll arrive the day we leave to go to the tea party so we won't see him right away but we will spend the rest of the time after we come back with him. While we're gone to the tea party he'll hang with my cousin(who came down a while ago), my little brother, and probably my uncle too.

Sixth thing: Life
I've been really evaluating how my year is going so far and I've come to the realization: not so good. The only thing from my "resolutions" list that I've stuck to is brushing my teeth more often. I've been trying to exercise and stuff but I am so pathetically lazy and I really don't feel like it sometimes. I'm trying really hard to think about what language(besides Arabic) that I will sit down and say: I'm learning this one and staying dedicated with it until it's complete. I know I said Spanish and I really do want to learn Spanish. However, there are other languages I want to know as well. But I've decided that I'll learn Spanish for now. Throw myself into it and when I'm done and I know it pretty well that's when I can learn another language. I don't have to rush with it.

So, I think that's pretty much all that's been up these past couple of weeks. Thank you, whoever you are, for reading and I'll hopefully write again next week or if I want to post before that then soon.

Signing of for now, au revoir, sayonara, annyeong, adios, ma'a salaama, goodbye!!!

Sumiyya <3
 

Visiting and Leaving

Hey!

I am making today's blog super short because I am very busy and shouldn't really be writing right now but u just had to tap this out really quick and give an update because I missed last week. 

So, if you were wondering why I did not post last week it is because I went on a road trip to Ohio to visit my older brother. We stayed from Sunday morning until Monday(which was my mom's birthday!) late morning. It was such a short trip because supposedly there was to be a storm in the area and my parents wanted to clear out before it hit. I don't think that storm even ended up coming. Anyway, we rushed back gone and I was kinda mad about that but oh well. 

The reason we went up there in the first place is that my father's job offer in Saudi was going through well and they were getting ready to have him come over so he wanted to go and see my brother before he left. 

Though, even knowing that my father was leaving soon, we didn't know how soon. And to our surprise, soon was Saturday. 

Yes, he's gone now and my brother is still in Ohio so that means for a while we are a 5 family. :D Also my younger brother is stuck with a lot of girls. 

Anyway, that's pretty much it. I do have some really exciting news but I do not have the time so I will tell this exciting news at a later date. Although, I don't know if it'll still be exciting/good news next week. 

So, signing off for now, annyeong, sayonara, adiós, au revoir, salaams, byee!! 

Sumiyya <3

Going Vegan?? Plus OOTD

Hola!

Bienvenidos a mi Lunes blog!!! 

Hey, what's up? If you don't know, I'm Sumiyya(it's kinda easy to see that so I don't know why you wouldn't). Anyway, today is Monday so that means another pointless blog that little to no one will read. :D Welcome!

So, contrary to the title, no I'm not going vegan. You see my father has adopted a "semi-vegan lifestyle" where he basically eats like a vegan and occasionally has chicken or fish. 

Except his vegan lifestyle mostly consists of entirely raw vegetables(not cooked at all) with no extra flavoring whatsoever. Also of burgers made out of any type of bean he can find. He's been seeing great health results so starting this past Saturday he decided that we should all try this vegan lifestyle with him. I tell you since then I've been living a food nightmare. 

Don't get me wrong, normally I love cabbage, spinach, lettuce, and broccoli but when these vegetables are completely raw with no flavoring at all except the occasional sprinkle of the juice from green olives. The burgers have been great though. Also he's made meatloaf(also out of beans), lentil soup with brown rice(which we had started eating even before the vegan thing), and mashed potatoes made from cauliflower. So not everything is bad about his vegan lifestyle but the raw spinach, okra, broccoli, and all are just completely grossing me out. 

So now let's get on to my OOTD!

Today my outfit is what I call "Schoolgirl Chic"(you'll notice that with me, a lot of things will have chic in the name XD) 

So for my top I have two shirts on. One is a black long-sleeved shirt with a ruched turtleneck from a brand called J.Jill(never really heard if it). I got it from the thrift store. 

The second shirt, which is in top of the turtleneck is a grey and white shirt. It looks like a white blouse-with a slight ruffle front and sorta puffy sleeves-with a gray vest over it except it is attached and the white doesn't go any further than the chest area. The brand is Love Always, another brand I've never really heard of and this shirt is also from the thrift store. 

For my bottoms I am wearing a NoBo(No Boundaries) skater skirt that I got from walmart. It looks like this: 

Also underneath I am wearing black footless tights which are actually also in the above picture. They are also from the  brand NoBo and both items were purchased at Walmart(so was everything else in the picture :D)

For accessory type things I am wearing black gray and white argyle socks that look like this: 

And I'm wearing a black scarf(which is a commonality in my outfits unless I wear another color scarf or another with it). 

Also I have my handmade black and white ring and my white Timex watch. 

Last but not least for a pop of color, I have on electric blue fingerless fishnet gloves. I don't know the brand, just that my grandmother bought them off Amazon. 

So that's it! Hope you enjoyed today's blog. I will see you(not really) next Monday. 

Signing off for now, sayonara, ma'a salaama, bye, annyeong, au revoir, adiós and hasta el lunes!!! 

Sumiyya <3 

Trying New Things

Konichiwa!

Today is Monday again! I'm happy or today because today is the area switch meaning I'm not on the kitchen any longer. Well, at least not until another 3 weeks from now. :)

Anyway, what this blog today is about is: We went to the mall on Saturday! Cool, right? We don't often go to malls on Saturdays as a general rule seeing as there are usually a lot of people there on that day but we made an exception apparently and so to the mall on Saturday we went. 

Now, we were supposed to go there to shop for clothes. However, mall clothes are pretty expensive(at least for us) and so even though I saw a couple of things I wanted, I decided not to get them because I wanted to make sure I really wanted then before spending a quarter of my budget on them. 

So we basically just window shopped and also we went to Books A Million and read manga.

Also, on the title of the blog, I tried two new things. Well, kinda three, seeing as going to the mall on Saturday was kinda new too. 

The first thing I tried was a Starbucks drink. I had a Caramel Frapp and it was pretty good. 

I also sampled some of my sister's Double Chocolate Chip Frapp and I have to admit that was way better. I think if I get Starbucks next time I'll get that. Hopefully in a Grande next time not a Tall. 

The second thing I tried for the first time was Godiva chocolate! Godiva chocolate is really expensive a lot of the time which is why I never really tried it. 

The chocolate bar was sooo good. Unfortunately I had to share. :( But what I did eat was pretty good. Also in this picture is a bookmark I got at Books A Million(actually I bought both there). It totally describes me and I love it!

Also I wanted to do a quick OOTD for Saturday. Here's what I wore: 

Scarf: Hobby Lobby

Over garment: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Glasses: 99c and up store

Gloves: Claire's

So that's pretty much it. Mall "shopping" I pretty fun. So is trying new things. 

Well, signing off for now, annyeong, adiós, au revoir, salaams, bye, sayonara!! 

Sumiyya <3