Fashion. Does it really matter?

I don't know where or how to start this? However, does it really matter? To some, it's considerably a big deal but to others it may be secondary. To me, I don't know how to define that word. Maybe it's because I'm too lazy trying to get to know it or perhaps I'm too fed up watching the raving maniacs of Fashion Police giving remarks on how the Hollywood stars should dress on certain occasion like award nights (or even when they are just going to stores buying groceries or refuelling their gas!). Fashion is too subjective and personal. It is what it is! Fashion! You wear an Elmo shirt with a beautiful pleated skirt together with a ballerina pump, it is fashion! It is just how people see it, does it matter?


Everyone is beautiful in their own ways. How they want to dress themselves is really up to them. Fashion isn't just about donning the latest trend of clothes on your body or stuffing your feet into those killer heels (you know what I mean by that. It's killing your feet!) but it's about your personal style. The one that is pretty decent. The one that looks presentable on you. The one that fits and flows in you incredibly stunning. The one that does not need to KILL you (physically and financially!) and most of all the one that makes you feel comfortable and makes you feel YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL as who you are.


I was a person who is too conscious on how I look like but I am no longer that person. I accept myself as it is. I began to accept other people as they are. Everyone is unique and exceptional. Fashion, again, is just a guideline on how you want to wear whatever you want to wear. 


Editorial critique, guidelines and commentary can be found everywhere like in newspapers, magazines and websites to educate us about fashion and all. It is something beneficial in trying to find what suits you best. You just have to find it and make it your distinct style. I'm in no man's land when it comes to fashion let alone writing about it but I believe it is up to the individual on how and what they want to put on on their body.

Recently, I attended my sister in law's photography exhibition held at her bistro. It's kind of celebrating and appreciating the people and the beauty of Nepal. She took some amazingly magnificent and breathtaking photographs while trekking there. Fashion in Nepal? The people there are as fashionable as the New Yorkers in their own ways! One of the photos that caught my eye is Lady in Red, captured by Abang Arif. It was a lady in red saree. It is simple but divinely beautiful. Fashion it is!

I myself was a bit fashionable that day too. Got myself an emerald green saree last year but no chance of wearing it due to my pregnancy, so I wore it to the exhibition. I love it regardless, if there was any one who didn't like it. That's none of my concern. I felt fantastic wearing it and yes I was very comfortable and I love that feeling! Woohoo!!!


I took some photos with the people I love and would like to share it with all of you. Enjoy it!

Myself in the emerald green saree.

With the one I want to grow old with forever, my loving husband Shafiz Yusof.

My tough and rough little cookie.

My ever amazingly great Mom-in-law.

My super sweet Sis-in-law, Kak Roy.

Us with the ever talented Kak Soraya, the magnificent photographer.

My ever understanding and caring little brother, Hairul.

Gorgeous Syairah and moi.

My cheeky and naughty nephew, Syahiran.

My handsome nephews cum bodyguards, Ushuaia and Syahir.



Shoes Shoes Shoes

Louboutin, Blahnik, Ferragamo. They all have something in common when put together. Yes! Shoes, shoes, shoes! Just like the title. Is it a girl's best friend next to diamond? I don't know about others but to me, shoes are exquisitely and incredibly one gorgeous simply divine invention. Shoes have evolved enormously from just leather, canvas or wood covering and protecting your feet to something incredibly expensive and fashionable. It turned out to be a high fashion must have rather than just a necessity. It come in all magnificent designs, eye catching hues and of course varieties of styles and patterns. However, at the end of the day, it serves the ultimate purpose that is to protect one's feet.

I adore shoes or  may I say it, I worship shoes but those days were gone. I hardly wear heels nowadays. As much as I love to try and put them on but I feel that they're hurting me a lot. I love watching women in heels. Some can even run with their high heels on, I wonder how? I watched Sex and The City and am very impressed with the sense of styles all 4 main characters have to offer. Unfortunately, again, that's just a TV show. I bet in real life, most women can't really find their time to get and be well dressed all the time! Whatever it is, I did enjoy watching Carrie Bradshaw and the rest of the gang portraying diversities in fashion and styles. Just look at how Carrie would rather spend on Blahniks more than anything else in this world. That is one expensive hobby, a closet full of designers collections.

Last week I bought 4 pairs of shoes and they're all flatties. I feel that's more comfortable compared to high heels, stilettos, wedges, you name it! Besides that, I love my translucent Crocs. They are comfy and spacious and I don't feel my feet hurt at all. I am actually in my comfort zone without any intentions of getting out from it. I love shoes and yes I would love to wear heels again, but strictly to certain special occasion or event. I want to care and love my feet more than I love the shoes.

Oh shoes! You are so beautiful to me! I want you and I need you! Don't ever stray, just stay!

You hurt me, you make me cry. But shoes, you'll never die!

You are my protector, you are my lover, you are my happiness ever after.

Parenting.

 We are family.

Wow! It's a little heavy and a bit intimidating topic for me to write since I'm only a mother to a 10month old baby girl. Something moved me to write about this. Thanks to Syairah (my niece), who sought for my advice (although I'm not the best person around!) about relationship between parents and children. Parenting, in my opinion is very subjective and individual. As we know generally, it is a process of raising and educating a child from birth, or before, until the child reaches adulthood. What we don't know is what method and which is the best for us to practise while raising the child. This is very interesting as everyone has different ways of how they want to nurture and bring up their children. Apart from that, we wouldn't know sometimes, children themselves are too complex and complicated for us, parents to fathom what's playing on their minds and hearts. I can't write much about this title as I myself am still learning about parenting but one thing I am certain about is that I will strive to be the best parent to my children, InsyaAllah. I've read few books about parenting and guess what? Each and every one of them is dissimilar and distinct. So, it dawned to me that parenting is actually a journey consist of a lot of paths and choices for parents to choose to bring up their children in their own special means. Being a parent is challenging and requires great amount of effort. No one is well equiped and prepared to be a parent in this world. You just got to go with the flow and the combined positive approach to help your children grow happily without any pressure (that includes you, too). I've seen good parenting and I've seen poor parenting, I mean a really really bad one! However, I still believe that one is given the opportunity to do and choose what's the best for oneself, so people, choose wisely and you know what's best for you and your children. This will be a test for me in bringing up my beloved children, which I'll be evaluated by Him, The Almighty. I hope I can do well and accomplish it with flying colours. I want to be a better parent than my parents and I hope I can be the best parents to my children. Amin.

Chempaka Naura binti Mohammad Shafiz

Hello world! I am Chempaka Naura Binti Mohammad Shafiz.

       Shafiz is super duper excited to meet her for the very first time! Alhamdullillah.

         Look at her overwhelmed cousins, lovely grandmas and uncle welcoming her to this world!

13th November 2010,

Chempaka Naura was born on this day. It was truly an amazing and  incredible experience for me to embrace motherhood. InsyaAllah we'll try our best to be the best parents to her and to our future children. Woohoo!!! Look at those smiles of our family members when they met her for the first time! Fresh from oven.

Smile :-)

Salam to all. Happy celebrating Eid ul-Fitr to all Muslims around the world. It is indeed a  celebration of victory surviving the fasting month, the Holy Ramadhan, Alhamdullillah. "It is time for kindness and forgiveness amongst all", so my husband said. Well, it is indeed. It is time for us to purify our hearts and souls from guilt and evil. So, why don't we start with a SMILE? Yup, just a simple smile can make the world a better place to live in. However, how many of us actually really practise that? The reason I came up with this topic is because what happened earlier today at a shopping mall while I was doing some groceries shopping. I was standing at the Maybank ATM to withdraw some cash and there was a family standing and some seating not very far from me. I thought, hey it's Raya and why not just give s smile to all those strangers since I am in a happy jovial mood. Well, I tried (but maybe not hard enough!) to be as sincere as I could while throwing my smile to them, somehow I guess they just didn't get it! Yes! None of them smiled back to me. Am I surprised? Nope. Realising this, I just un-smiled myself, got things done and moved on. Like I care about that! I did, and that is the problem! I did care. It is so difficult for one to be friendly and kind towards another soul. It's a real hard work for a stranger to give a smile to another stranger. I am still trying to pose my most genuine smile whenever I see strangers but most of the time it is mistakenly interpreted. So, I smile to people whom I think would smile back to me and still thinking I'm not a lunatic.Although a smile confuses an approaching frown, most people would rather frown than smile, isn't it right? Come on people, why not start a day with a smile and get it over with. Start your day with some love by smiling. It is priceless. Ohh! Everyone will smile to everyone only in Hidayah Land (that would be in my most pathetic dream!). Am still smiling, but with a very sly smile. Hehe!!!

To My Other Half.

My dearest romantic, loving, adorable husband Shafiz Yusof,
You inspired me so much in every way,
You have made me a better person each day,
Oh how can I ever repay?

Thank you for loving me,
Thank you for wanting and accepting me,
Thank you for giving me everything and encouraging me to be me,
Thank you, thank you and thank you.


I love you and I love Chempaka Naura.
Both of you mean a world to me.
We're going to miss you whenever you are away,
So come back soon and just stay, stay, stay.


Love from Hidayah and Chempaka Naura.

Starting the Blog.

Hello everyone, although I'm not quite sure who's everyone on this case. I'm pretty sure that the very first person who's going to read my first post would be my loving husband, Shafiz Yusof. Yup, I know it's you, my love! Yes, finally I started a blog where I can write almost anything about almost everything and vise versa. Thank you for encouraging me to do this. I guess I must learn how to be more patient in handling this piece of technology compared to pen and paper. I believe it's about time. Change is good, so I'm prepared to change. Hello blog, here I write...