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Today I was craving something sweet and dates were calling my name. I finished these tiny treats a little while ago. (1)Split dates in half (leaving one side in tact creating a little boat) (2) Mix goat cheese & wildflower honey and fill the date boats with the mixture (3) Warm some honey in a small pot on the stove - do not cook it just barely warm it (4) Coat your stuffed date boats with the warm honey (5) Roll the honey-coated stuffed date boats in crushed almonds and you're done :-) As you can see here, I left some plain and the others I coated with honey and rolled them in the crushed almonds. Both are really good. Enjoy!

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★ 33 ★ FASTING UPDATE || One Q & A || The Ramadan…:

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This is what we had for suhoor.

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Last night, about an hour or two after breaking my fast with dates, watermelon, & tea, I had this lovely concoction.

It is soft and tender bone-in chicken breast in a bath of cheddar, potato, onion, & broccoli chowder with some thick and sweet cornbread on the side. The pan I cooked this in had been sitting in the fridge for about 2-3 days so all the flavors were nice and set-in by the time I ate it.

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This is what I broke fast with on Day 3 (6/30/14) - dates, watermelon, & unsweetened cardamom tea. I plan to periodically document my fasting journey this entire Ramadan so if you're interested be sure to: (1) subscribe to my Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/ZaaynabLeVon) (2) follow me on the Gram (@zleseye) (3) like my page (www.facebook.com/zleseye) #RamadanDay3 #Ramadan2014 #TeamIslam #Muslim #SummerFasting #IAlmostPassedOutTodayButIMadeIt #Alhamdulillah

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Why I'm Documenting My Ramadan Journey

It’s too sacred.

That’s what I was telling myself before I mustered up the courage to document my journey through Ramadan 2014/1435.

This is not my first Ramadan fasting and in previous years I wouldn’t share with others the small/big details of what this Muslim goes through during this holy month of fasting. I suppose I felt that it should just be kept between myself and Allah.

I still feel this way to a certain extent so I a bit hesitant about posting and a tad bit concerned about how these posts will be received.

Despite the above mentioned I decided to document and share my journey online because I was once a non-Muslim with interest in and curiosity about Islam. I was also once a new Muslim who was slowly but surely learning what to and not to do as it pertains to properly practicing Islam.

There will always be someone in the shoes that I once filled. These Ramadan Chronicles are aimed at those people. I pray that my seasoned brothers and sisters in this deen may support me in this and possibly gain some goodness from my posts. Even more so, I pray that these chronicles reach and touch the new Muslims who may not know exactly how Ramadan works as well as the non-Muslims who have questions about and/or respect for Islam.

So, this is for that young girl who is secretly practicing Islam because she is afraid her family will denounce her if they find out.

This is for those who may not have a physical community of Muslims surrounding them. Their only means of access to the Islamic community may be via the internet.

This is for the quiet and the meek who may have questions or curiosities but their shyness won’t let them ask.

This is for those who ridicule Muslims while not knowing what Islam is or is not.

This is meant to show you the unmatched beauty of Islam and the power of Ramadan.

This is for my non-Muslim family who think I’m strange or different. I am … and with that, here is a window into my life so that you may better understand me and my way of being.

I’m doing this because of my unshakeable love for Allah and my gratitude towards Allah (Most High & Exalted) for turning my life around and allowing my once wretched lost soul to enter into the fold of Islam.

I’m doing this because the inclination of my heart outweighed the fears conjured up by my mind.

Please receive it well and with kindness as it is intended.

~Le’Von (A Black American Hijabi Revert)

FOLLOW MY JOURNEY www.facebook.com/zleseye www.youtube.com/ZaaynabLeVon the gram & twitter (@zleseye)

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Ramadan 2014 / 1435

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the trick to getting what you want is to be grateful for what you already have

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Are You Hot in All That ?!

How many times has someone asked me if I am hot in all the clothes I wear? Not sure - quite a few. Answer is ... ... ... sometimes I am a bit warm. I don't really like to use the word "hot". One of the reasons I cover (even when it's greater than 80 degrees outside) is because I have unshakeable faith in My Creator and I believe the practice of covering my body is a pleasing act to The Almighty.

So I'm walking up and down the aisles of my main thrift store one day and this

petite woman says: "Oh, I like the way you have your scarf."

Me: "Oh, thank you. I just threw it on."

Petite Woman: "Oh, so how long did that take you?"

Me: "This one was less than 15 minutes."

Petite Woman: "So sometimes it takes you longer than that? Do you wear it in different styles?"

Me: "Yes ma'am. Sometimes is takes a while and sometimes I wear different styles, depending on where I'm going. My friends and I share tips and styles with each other, especially when we want to get dressed up."

Petite Woman: {and now for her real question} "So, you don't get HOT in that?!"

Me: *thinks to self* "I knew it!" *says out loud* Well, no ma'am. I don't stay in the sun very long if it's too hot. I have different ones so I wear the lighter ones during the summer, see *holds out the end of the scarf for he to touch it* this one is very breathable.

Petite Woman: Oh okay. *compliments me on the scarf again, smiles, and turns to continue her shopping*

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... and then there are times when I will match my outfit from head to foot. Have you ever been to one of those modeling gigs they have at shopping malls? Well, I wanted to give it a shot and this is one of the head-shots I took for it. Surprisingly I got to the final round but declined because the fee was a bit steep and I didn't really have a passion for modeling - just wanted to see if I could win the competition ;-)

Anywho, a popping shade of tangerine and and a turquoise-y blue is how I felt that day. The off-white was just there. The over-accessorizing was purposely done ... gotta have my jewelry and a flower in the headwrap. Shoes were gold to compliment the jewelry. They told me I had to wear colors that would POP on a white background - did that.

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a covered woman is as a pearl in its shell

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The dress looks black and white but really it's a shade of light grey and dark grey. I used to always always always match my outfits exactly but now I'm mix-matching colors and it's working out just fine. Dark and light taupe were used as contrast colors - shoes, bag, head-wrap, scarf, & belt. Felt like wearing brass - arm cuffs, necklace, and earrings.