In this video: I talk to Imaad of @thelondonnikah about Interfaith Marriages. Imaad shares with us his own story, going from leading prayers in a traditional mosque for 12 years before completely changing course to where he is now, leading interfaith marriage ceremonies around the world. He has performed 200 marriage ceremonies to date, and therefore has a ton of great insights and advice to share.
Talking with Imaad and hearing his views on religion and spirituality was incredibly refreshing and inspiring. He also shares some practical tips and advice for interfaith couples who are looking to get married.
A little background: mainstream Muslims believe that Muslim women must only marry Muslim men. There has been some dissent on this, including an Imam who declared it is permissible, and a Muslim country that passed a law allowing women to marry outside of her faith. But despite all of this, the collective majority still puts these restrictions on women and most women tend to comply to this rule (however reluctantly).
Full disclosure: In my marriage, Tom converted. It was primarily for the purposes of convincing my family and community, but also as a way for me to ensure our kids would be raised Muslim. At the time I had also believed the mainstream idea that my husband had to be Muslim, which is something I no longer believe. I’ll talk more about my beliefs and how they have changed since I got married in my next video, stay tuned.
I sincerely believe this is one of the reasons why so many of my beautiful, successful, thriving Muslim sisters in the west are unable to find someone suitable to marry. For years I’ve been getting messages from Muslim women who are looking to marry outside of their faith. I’ve happily given my advice, telling them to follow their hearts and their gut instincts while also respecting their families. It is my hope that watching this video will give people some insight into interfaith marriage and the challenges they may face, and also some courage and hope for their future.
My Valentine’s Day lookbook includes five outfit ideas to inspire! This year Tom and I are going to do a little staycation in Chicago, and my absolute saintly in-laws are coming in to watch our little ones. I was trying to pick an outfit for my night out and I decided to just film it and create a lookbook video. I hope you enjoy! If you do, please subscribe to my channel. As always, I appreciate you – thanks so much for visiting!
What I Eat, My Workout Routine, and My Recipe For The Perfect Cappuccino
I wasn’t always a morning person with a morning routine. Far from it. For the old me, if I was up at 5:00 a.m. it was because I hadn’t gone to bed yet. But just like almost every other aspect of my life, having kids changed all of that. I know that quite a few people are in need of their caffeine fix as soon as they wake up so they can actually start their morning, that is why coffee subscriptions from companies like Iron and Fire as well as other coffee companies are pretty huge! Who wouldn’t love to wake up to that glorious smell, however, I wasn’t just about to do that yet as I needed to figure out my routine that included my kids.
All of the sudden I had zero alone time, and my to do list was never ending. By days end, I felt frazzled, irritable, and like I was suffocating.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom, I love being around my children – just not every.second.of.the.day.
I realized I needed to carve out some ‘me time’ on a consistent basis. The occasional massage on a weekend or bubble bath on a weeknight wasn’t cutting it. Evenings were too hectic and busy so, I decided I would have to wake up early and just fill my mornings with all of the self-care.
It wasn’t easy for me to wake up that early at first, but over time the value I found in taking the time out for myself, was worth more than that tiny bit of extra sleep. Sipping my green tea, meditating, journaling, bullet journaling, working out, and eating a healthy breakfast on a consistent basis has been a game changer for me. I’m much more relaxed, focused, and productive now during the day.
In this video I share my morning routine that I’ve been doing consistently for over six months. I show you exactly what I do each and every morning to combat the inevitable chaos that life and kids bring. What I do, what I eat, my (struggle bus) workout routine (leg day) and bonus: how to make the perfect almond milk cappuccino! Something for everyone in this one!
I had so much fun filming this vlog style video, which is new for me. What can I say? 2020 is going to be all about trying new things! I hope you enjoy, and please subscribe for updates on any new posts! (You can also follow me on instagram @zahra_sandberg for more updates and random fun stuff!)
Some of the products I mentioned in the video I’ve linked below. Note: Some of these are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase something that I’ve linked to, I may receive a small commission for directing you to that product.
I thought it would be cool to put together some casual winter outfits to solve my own daily crisis: what to wear when it is cold AF outside. I hope you enjoy the video! Scroll below for links to what I’m wearing.
I tried my best to find links to everything I’m wearing, although some pieces are thrifted and others are old, and a few pieces were rented from Nuuly – use my referral code to rent from them here: http://fbuy.me/ohJCF.
(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you end up buying something after clicking on it here, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you.)
I could never have imagined how much a simple bullet journal could alter my existence. Years of working at home as well as being a full-time mom has me constantly stressing out. From forgetting doctor’s appointments, events, and deadlines, to the sheer number of apology emails I’ve had to send as a result of my unorganized life. I even wrote a blog post (more like a letter to myself) about how not to be bitter, most likely to combat all of my negative feelings.
It wasn’t like I didn’t try, I had to-do lists everywhere, on notebooks, post-its, in my phone notes, and on my google calendar, but I still felt frustrated. No matter how much I did in a day, I never felt like I was on top of things. Even worse, I felt like I wasn’t even moving the needle towards my goals. I’d often find myself worrying about my to-do list, even when I was doing something fun and should have been enjoying the moment.
Then I discovered bullet journaling. The simple, rapid logging method of journaling that is intended to keep track of all things as well as keep us mindful of our most precious resources, our time and energy.
I actually started my first bullet journal a couple of months ago, in a regular journal I already owned, just to test the waters. What I quickly realized was I was doing a lot of busy work, and leaving myself very little time to accomplish the things I really wanted to. For example, instead of working on a project that I knew had a deadline, I’d find myself spending way too much time organizing a closet in my house, or responding to emails in my inbox.
I also realized I didn’t have as much time as I thought I did, since I was taking on almost all of the responsibility for housework, and ALL of the responsibility for the breakfast, lunch, dinner, school drop-offs, pick-ups, and after school activity drop-off’s and pick ups.
As a result, I’ve asked Tom to chip in with drop-off and pickup of Sophia on the two days a week she goes to daycare. The reason why we have her there two days is so that I can work, (and also so I don’t go completely insane). Despite knowing this, the other nonsensical thing I used to do is drop Sophia off late and pick her up early – because my mom guilt made me think she probably wants to be home. In reality, she actually loves daycare, playing with other kids and doing all of the fun activities. Having Tom take on that task and letting her stay the full day, gave me three additional hours of working time, six extra hours a week!
Another aha moment I had was that even though I was constantly thinking about my career, my blog, and how I wanted to create so much more, I wasn’t actually doing much of it. I had a really great intern over the summer last year who created a posting schedule and gave me her tips/suggestions – and I fully planned to do it all, or so i thought. Realistically though, because I am home with the kids, I didn’t have enough time to do any of it. I realized I actually could have done a lot of it, if not all, but I wasn’t taking advantage of my evenings and weekends at all to make my dreams happen.
Last but not least, I realized I grossly underestimate the time it takes me to do work, writing blog posts, shooting and editing videos, and even just planning and preparing to shoot. Now instead of making my daily log to-do list have 20 tasks, I’ll prioritize my top 3, and then list whatever else I will get to if time warrants. It is a simple but profound realization that I can’t just will everything to happen – I need to plan ahead and give myself the time (and grace) I need.
This year, my goal is to live intentionally every day, and keep myself accountable with my bullet journal.
If you are interested in bullet journaling, there are no shortage of amazing tutorials available online. I’d suggest starting with Ryder Carroll’s, the man who created the whole concept. If you want to make yours artsy and fancy, or just want to watch really cool and oddly satisfying bullet journal set-up videos, check out AmandaRachLee on youtube and have a field day with all of your recommended videos.
And here is my really simple, minimal bullet journal set-up for 2020, which I think is perfect for beginners.
Thanks so much for visiting! Please subscribe to get updates every time I post. xx – Z
Currently in California spending Thanksgiving with the family, while also pondering what I’ll be buying for gifts and for myself this holiday season.
You may notice with most of the items, the theme is All Things Cozy…
Here’s whats on my list:
Who doesn’t love a great coffee table book? The latest from Kelly Wearstler, iconic Interior Designer (and uber stylish mom) is chock full of gorgeous art and inspiration
I make everyday at home just a little bit luxurious by lighting my favorite scented candles by Jo Malone. I am also a big fan of their bubble bath and perfume. Most people have a certain perfume they like to stick to which is ‘their scent’. Not me. I want everything! I love smellies! I’ve even thought about trying out some of the best pheromones perfumes too, which are supposed to be the new craze. We’ll see. All I know is I’m super easy to buy for in that respect.
I’ve shared my love of this toner here before, but I have to again because it is just that good. I’m obsessed with this clinically proven Ayurvedic skincare line – I use this toner daily, as well as the Ritual Body oil.
Perfume is such a wonderful gift because scent holds memories for a long time. Le Labo makes it even more special with their personalization option. Fleur D’oranger is my favorite at the moment, it is bright and fresh yet still sophisticated.
Jewelry always fits. This chain link piece is on trend but it is truly a classic. It can easily be worn short or long, and charms can be added for a truly unique look.
Six weeks have flown by I am beyond excited to finally show you my first completed One Room Challenge, which is also the first room that we have ‘finished’ so far in our new home! Note: finished is a relative term around here…
I’ve learned so much these past few weeks, including how to do some things I never thought I could do! Like installing wallpaper by myself, finding websites like www.sydneyhomecentre.com.au from where I can source affordable renovation materials, or working with a stone cutter to design my own sink. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone, in a good way. Overall I feel much more confident in my abilities, and I’m excited to continue making over more rooms in my house!
So before we get to the reveal, let’s take a quick peek at the before:
Now I know there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with the original bathroom. It just didn’t have my personal stamp or the ‘wow’ factor (that the expert remodelers like the ones at
https://wilmingtonremodelers.com/ can offer). Honestly speaking, I dearly craved that for my powder bath. Though it was a secret wish that I had kept hidden in one corner of my heart for a long period, I felt that this was a perfect time to get what I desired. But the problem is that my bathroom is tiny and designing it as a minimalistically appealing space was a bit challenging for me. But then, it suddenly occurred to me that it would be fun to make it really bold and playful. I think the hand-painted Mitchell Black wallpaper accomplished that task very nicely. We were not looking for a massive renovation, we just wanted to change a few things as you can see, however, we are not completely ruling that out just yet as in the future we may want to check out a bathroom renovator service to see what they could do with the available space.
The after:
The next biggest change we did was the install the custom sink. We swapped out the old pedestal sink for a vintage looking brass vanity. For the sink, I went to a local granite yard and searched through tons of remnants until I fell in love with this piece of quartzite. I worked with the team to express my vision for the sink, and they made it happen. Tip: don’t be scared to ask the professionals how to do things, in my experience experts LOVE talking about what they know best. Also, when they offer installation, do it. This sink needed to be sent back because of improper measurements (cough) and the backsplash was redone to accommodate for a small gap between the sink and wall. Since they were doing the installing, they did all of this without any extra charge. I honestly don’t know what we would have done if we tried to do this ourselves.
My favorite part of quartzite is that it has gorgeous veining like marble, but it is much more durable. (Side note, I also learned quartzite stone, despite the similar name, isn’t related to the very popular quartz, which is a man-made material).
Keeping function in mind, I really wanted to add something to store toilet paper, garbage bags, and extra hand soap and towels. My original plan was to put the trunk under the sink. Unfortunately, the one I found that I bought without measuring didn’t fit under the sink because of the new plumbing. That’s not to say I regret having the plumbing done, mind you. It’s always best to keep plumbing up-to-date and well maintained which is why you should reach out to professionals in your area (you can find Plumbing repair Santa Monica if that’s where you’re located) if you ever notice problems such as leaks or low pressure. By the time I realized that, I had lost the receipt because, well, I always lose receipts. Anyway, then I thought I’d just ditch the trunk and buy a cabinet, which turned out to be quite a difficult task. After searching high and low for the perfect small-but-not-too-small cabinet, I gave up. So I revisted using the trunk after all. The bathroom is a long and narrow space, so breaking it up with the trunk did not crowd the room at all. Plus it gave me a place to add a little greenery. (I need some green in every room, even if it is faux eucalyptus because this room gets zero natural light). I had wanted to put flowers in a vase, but in this house with kids using this room constantly, I needed a plant that could get knocked over and withstand a bit of bruising without breaking.
For lighting I wanted to keep the black, white, and brass color palette and also give a touch of an industrial vibe. The mirror, which is probably my favorite piece, is a vintage find that I have owned for almost a decade. For years I couldn’t decide where to put it, and it is so heavy I was hesitant to hang it. There it stayed in our basement storage gathering dust, and I even considered selling or donating it before we moved, but thankfully I didn’t!
Lastly, the art that inspired it all is up on the walls. They are photographs I bought from Gamal Sabla, a street artist I met in New Orleans. I loved how the photos are filled with bright color and unique scenes from the city.
Now that I’m done with this powder bath, I am already excited to get started on my next project, my attic walk-in-closet makeover. Follow me on instagram @zahra_sandberg and check out my ‘home’ highlights to see what I’ve done so far!
First off, if you came here last week looking for my One Room Challenge update and didn’t find it – I’m sorry! To be quite honest, life got in the way. Also, I hadn’t made any significant improvements so I didn’t have a whole lot of excitement to share. However, today is a different day – and what a wonderful day it is! After weeks of having to wash our hands in the kitchen, we now officially have a sink in our powder bath!
As much as I want to show it to you now, i need to hold off for the reveal because it is my favorite part of the makeover (after the wallpaper of course). I can’t show you everything or it won’t be as fun, am I right? I feel extra proud of this sink because I personally went out to the granite yard, found this gorgeous stone remnant, and had it made exactly how I wanted it. For a seasoned designer I know that isn’t a huge task, but since it was my first time, it feels huge. Exploring granite yards for remnants, and spending way too much time in internet rabbit holes googling things like ‘apron front’ and ‘mitering’ was incredibly exciting and fun. Without the help of various professionals, including the plumber who installed the sink, none of this would have been possible. Well, thanks to companies like City Plumbing and Rooter in Santa Monica, I never really had to worry about how my sink was going to look.
I found a really cute trunk that I will use for supplies like toilet paper and garbage bags, and I plan to have paper napkins and tissues, and also some type of faux floral on a tray on top of the trunk.
Now all that is left to do is hang the art and vanity mirror, and accessorize!
The hardest part of this whole project has been forcing myself not to do too much. At one point I considered adding trim and paneling the entire room, or adding tile to the bottom half of the wall for contrast. When I really thought about it, I was just trying to do more for the sake of doing more, not really keeping true to my design vision. The lesson I learned is – sometimes you need to add something, sometimes all you need is to edit.
Stay tuned for another update next week! I promise there will be pictures 😉 Feel free to peruse the ORC website for tons, I mean TONS, of design inspiration.
I was recently approached by a friend who was looking to refresh her wardrobe. She is a busy working mama and hasn’t put much effort into her style for years, as thirty something she admits she is still wearing clothes from her high school days. I’m all for making your clothing last, but it doesn’t hurt to change it up at least once every decade or so! Her goals were to elevate her basics, and add in a couple of skirts for work meetings. Modesty and comfort were also a top priority. I haven’t done any styling work in years, but the idea sounded like a fun challenge! I asked myself, If I were building a Fall wardrobe from scratch, what would I want in it?
I also thought some of you might be interested in doing a little closet update as well, so I put this little blog post together for you!
To start, I came up with some basic Fall Wardrobe Essentials. A great pair of denim, a cozy sweater, a cute everyday sweater, an ankle boot and a flat shoe, a trench coat, and a sweater coat. I added a cute necklace because I believe in wearing jewelry every day – currently layering coin necklaces is one of my favorite looks.
I suggested a variety of tops that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits. 1. Simple black shirt with an unexpected neckline 2. Printed button down blouse 3. Special occasion/dressy blouse 4. Cozy sweater 5. Basic tee 6. Basic turtleneck
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Upgrading denim is the easiest way to make your wardrobe current. High waist denim is still my favorite and I think it always will be. A longer, looser straight leg fit is really hot right now, but a cropped style looks really great with all the fall booties. Priority would go to the blue jeans, then black, but I have a soft spot for a winter white denim look too.
1 |2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Midi and maxi skirts and dresses are a must-have for women on the go. They are also a modest dresser’s best friend. Just throw on a moto jacket, some boots, and you instantly look chic and put together.
1| 2 | 3 | Loose, belted pants are not only comfy AF, but they automatically take any outfit up a notch. Dress up with heels or boots, or dress down with sneakers.
What do you think of my picks? Any other must-haves you recommend?
It is week 2 of the One Room Challenge (ORC) and I already know it is going to be a wild ride! If you don’t know about the ORC, check out Week 1 where I explain it all, and while you are there you can take a peek at my before pictures! Also be sure to check out all of the incredible design inspiration being shared, where 20 professional interior designers and hundreds of guests (like me!) are participating in this challenge. If you follow me on instagram, you can see all of my home updates in real time, or check out my ‘home’ highlight!
So, now on to the powder bathroom progress. I’m happy to say we officially have wallpaper! I’ve been wanting to try wallpaper for years, I mean YEARS now, but the fear of the installation process and the commitment always held me back. Enter: Mitchell Black peel and stick wallpaper. I partnered with Mitchell Black to try out an amazing bold original design that in my opinion, completely transformed the room. The best part about it is that the wallpaper is so heavy duty, you can stick it over and over again if you mess up, which I did a lot. Tip: watch the installation guide video before you begin, there is a little trick to how to smooth it out while peeling the back – it almost looks like you are doing a ‘wax on wax off’ motion. Once you get the hang of that, the install is actually really easy. One more tip, if you have any holes or dents in your walls from previous lighting or anything else that was removed, take the time to patch it. There are a few tiny areas where I can see the old light fixture screws were in the wall. It probably wont be noticeable to most, but if you are a perfectionist like me, it may haunt you for life.
Moving on! The vanity I chose is brass and the company also sells a marble sink to go with it. You can see it here in my design concept.
To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with the sink that they sell with the vanity. I wanted it to be a little more luxurious. So, I took a trip to the granite shop, and picked out an absolutely stunning piece of Quartzite slab. It was a remnant which saved the budget a lot. Quartzite is also a lot more durable than marble, and for a main floor bath in a home with kids, I need durable. I asked to make it a 4″ apron front sink, and miter the edges together. I also added a curved shape to the backsplash, to counter the straight lines in the wallpaper.
Installation of the sink was supposed to have happened already, but we had a couple of issues that caused a delay. Most important lesson, and if you get this particular vanity do listen up – be absolutely sure to measure for your vanity after you have installed it. I took my vanity measurements from the website, ordered the sink, and realized after that it was completely off. I had to saw (well actually my dear husband had to saw) several inches off of the brass in order to have the sink flush to the wall. When they came back to install, we still had a small gap between the wall and backsplash that would need to use epoxy to secure. So now our sink install will happen towards the end of the month. You live you learn I guess!
Other than that, I am sourcing a trunk that I will use for supplies like toilet paper and garbage bags. I am also debating on whether I want a small shelving unit where I can add some decorative objects and floral. Since it is a long and narrow space, I think I could add this functional design feature without making it too cramped.
Stay tuned for my weekly updates and be sure to head over the the ORC website to view all of the other entries!
all images and content, unless otherwise noted, are property of zahra sandberg. Please request permission prior to use of any of my images. if you have further questions, email me at zahra{at}lovezahra{dot}com.
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