From Zahra

Blogger Spotlight – Asma of Haute Muslimah + Announcing the winner of the Heritage S GIVEAWAY!

First of all, Congrats to the winner of the Heritage S Scarf Giveaway!
And the winner is:

Entry #247Safura O.

When I first started blogging I spent a lot of time trying to discover new blogs and finding the ones I now love to follow and interact with regularly. Which by the way was a really cumbersome process, I kept finding a handful of the really popular blogs over and over again, and had a hard time searching for blogs by location or even by subject matter – but I digress – that is a subject for another blog post. 
 One of the first blogs I found and instantly related to was Asma’s blog, Haute Muslimah. I love that she is so stylish and always finds ways to keep her outfits conservative within the standards of Islam. I also love how she mixes high fashion style and trends with pieces that most people can afford. Her blog is a mix of high-fashion editorials, everyday outfit posts, recipes, and a little bit of motherhood. The best part though, I always end up cracking up reading her posts – she writes so candidly and I feel like I am just talking to my best gal pal. 

Also, another great thing about Asma, before I knew her at all, I wrote to her telling her how much I loved her blog and asked her for some advice. I was a new blogger and I thought I could do a guest post for her about my closet renovation. She suggested we do a guest outfit post but that I should keep the closet feature for my blog since it is probably really great content. Turns out, that was my most popular post on my blog until that point! 
Asma currently works for Lucky Magazine as a part of their Style Collective, and she writes and blogs for other publications and has actually been published in a book as well. Check out my interview with Asma below, and make sure to read her blog at http://hautemuslimah.com/ and follow her on instagram/twitter @hautemuslimah! 
Asma, you have been an influential blogger for a few years now, how did you get started? So many blogs don’t last very long, what keeps you motivated to keep it up?
Gosh I’m so OLD in the blogging world even though I haven’t even hit 30 yet! I’ve been blogging for almost 5 years now and often find myself wondering if I should give it up altogether. But I don’t, because it’s something I absolutely love to do. It’s my creative outlet, and I’d be blogging even if no one was reading it. I occasionally take time off (to have a baby, or when I’m sick or visiting with family) but I always come back to it.

What was your most exciting moment in the fashion industry thus far?
Meeting editors, publishers, and the folks who make the fashion industry run is what I find really exciting. But meeting celebrities is so cool- not even going to lie. With that said, just a few highlights that come to mind: Chatting with Jessica Alba, going to private parties and meeting folks like Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, meeting Seth Myers during Fashion’s Night Out (back when it was a thing), hanging with Kelly Wearstler, even meeting her kids, getting asked to go on TV (random show about a guy with a dog so no, that didn’t happen).
Who are your favorite fashion designers?
My favorite designers: Raf Simons when he was at Jil Sander, Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein. Haider Ackermann, Rick Owens, and Tess Giberson is a new favorite.
You have young children, and everyone knows it can be hard to get kids to eat good healthy food. What is your favorite easy (but really tasty) meal to cook for your family?
We actually eat pretty healthy. We introduced vegetables like kale and broccoli into our kids’ diets as their first foods. We tend to eat brown rice and whole wheat items. I think one of my favorite dishes is this simple pasta that I make with whole wheat/brown rice pasta. You can even add fresh spinach to it as well. (http://hautemuslimah.com/2013/11/pasta.html)
What is on your wish list for Spring?
Oh gosh I need to update my wardrobe with light, summery skirts and more florals and maybe some new black and white pieces. Oh and definitely gladiator sandals.
Any advice for budding bloggers? Any tips on what not to do?
Blogging Tips and thoughts I’ve accumulated so far:
http://hautemuslimah.com/2013/02/5-tips-to-a-better-blog.html
Follow Asma at www.hautemuslimah.com or on twitter/instagram @hautemuslimah!

Follow Me! @zahra_sandberg

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Last week we took a quick trip to escape the snow for some sunshine in Key Largo, Florida☀️ We spent every moment possible outside, Tom and Adam got their Scuba Diver PADI certification (yay!) while Sophia and I spent our days either swimming or drawing marine life and landscapes. This was my first trip after my sister passed last November, and even though I look so happy here, there were so many moments I felt the grief and sadness, as if it happened just yesterday. I am still figuring out how I want to show up in this space, as I have changed so much as a person since the loss. I just don’t feel called to post some of the things I shared before. Maybe that will change someday, or maybe it will just naturally evolve into something new. I think I will take this year to just process it all. (Even the idea of taking an entire year to think through something is a huge shift for my usually hyperactive type A personality) My focus at the moment is just living in the moment with my family and friends, spending time doing things that make me happy and healthy. I hope to share some of that journey here with you ~ thanks for following along ❤️
I had planned to shoot this outfit in collaboration with @lenacoutureofficial right before my dear sister passed away. Saba, the designer, was more than understanding if I didn’t want to anymore - but after thinking on it for a while I decided I wanted to - in my sister’s honor 💗 She was always my biggest hype woman. When i would feel like I’m not good enough or that I should quit (which was often) she would tell me I was unique and great and to keep it up. When I think of my sister, beauty and love is all that she embodied in her being. She expressed that on the outside also - as she loved to wear everything glam, bright & colorful, and full of bling. Hair done, nails done, everything did - that was Nusrat. For this shoot I took the time to get glam after a long hiatus - and makeup and hair took so long because I think I forgot how to do it, but afterwards I was surprised how I felt transformed. When I wore this gorgeous outfit that I know was designed with such love and incredible attention to detail by @lenacoutureofficial, I felt all of that beauty - like a walking piece of art, and very much at peace. Thank you so much to @divmophoto for capturing the feeling so well 💕
Ski weekend with my favorites ❄️❄️ So proud of Sophia for skiing on her own for the first time!
There are some trees with seeds that only grow after a fire. Their seeds are completely sealed with a resin that have to be physically melted off by a great fire in order to propagate. So to do we as humans, gain wisdom only after great pain and suffering.*
A month ago (and one day) I lost my sister and best friend to cancer. I am still completely gutted and broken. But, I’m also so so grateful to have had felt the love that now brings me so much heartbreak. ❤️ I am so inspired by her - and I will forever live my life to honor her memory. Miss you sis ❤️
Classic outfit combo: oversized blazer + denim 🖤fendi mules @shoeslutz
Just a mom who loves mums 🌸 🪴
Cozy for a coffee date ☕️
French. Toast. Egg. Bake. Save this recipe for a weekend or holiday brunch - it’s SO good and fool-proof! I’m not even a sweet person and I love it. The pecans are a non-negotiable IMO - I get honey bourbon vanilla pecans for this and it is just heavenly. Enjoy!