Heaven was aptly named

The debut single from Emeli Sande is exactly that. Pure, gritty, a halo of a voice. The Neneh Cherry of 2011 has broken through - reaching souls with her octaves and late 90's inspired beats.

Check out her official video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883yQqdOaLg

Did she say yes...?

Undoubtedly the sweetest proposal ever. This is the kind of thing we should be focusing on. Celebration of love.

Check out the link below for 4 and a half minutes of 'awwwhhh' time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&hl=en&v=xzEkLz-_6fM&gl=US

Marc Jacobs Celebrates Ramadhan

I absolutely L-O-V-E this; one of my all time favourite designers dressing the windows in their United Arab Emirates store to celebrate Ramadhan. Such a sweet and genuine thought for their customers  - and what a way to give importance to their customers too. I especially love how the forefront manikins have been dressed in green and yellow, colours of celebration. A few pictures from Marc are below, enjoy x

We are One World

An uneasy calm ripples through the streets and towns of Birmingham and beyond. The anarchic chaos that has saturated our TV screens, Twitter and Facebook pages, minds and hearts begins to subside.

People are grateful to be waking upto news that doesn't confirm the worst but are hesitant to let down their guard.

After days of so much anger, so many misunderstood emotions, so much 'nobody understands me' spilling out onto the streets I hope that the horrendous actions of people illustrate just how broken our society is and how futile parts of that society are towards the people of power; the government.

History repeats itself with the Tories - first with Thatcher and now with Cameron. People cannot be fooled, or suppressed. We are One World - we need to construct a well voiced society together. We need to put selfish needs behind us and re-build together.

I have the utmost respect for all the people at the 100 strong Vigil in Birmingham last night held in honour of the 3 boys who became victims of mindless egotistical behaviour and rampage. It's a heart-breaking shame that it took the death of innocent people and a grieving father for everyone to come to their senses. Tariq Jahan has become a beacon of light with his strength and grace amidst the turmoil that must be in his heart.

Cameron should take heed, that while he dithered about with his namesake cabinet and gave fruitless, unyielding speeches, it was a normal man - not a man of great power, that spoke the most sense and broke through to the community.

So too should the Police take heed that while they dithered about, normal people were doing their job. Our brothers, fathers, friends and neighbours uniting together to protect each other. Too keep the people safe, our beliefs safe and our communities safe.

To the Muslim and Sikh communities and those who helped with the clean ups - be proud.

We are all leading the way being One World and keeping Love and Peace in our hearts.

It's Time to Bring it Back

The world is in turmoil, time to re-focus. Love and Light. Let's enrich the world with positivity.

Here's a simple kick-ass track to get you back into that feeling; Beyonce - End of Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lecD2WwnME&feature=BFa&list=PL0579823B828D6C76&index=1

Cameron's Big Society Crumbles

The already cracked mould now segregates and falls away as real emotions overspill from Cameron's Britain.

Whilst opportunists use the riots as an excuse to free ride and act out - many wait for Cameron and the outcome of his 'crisis meeting' that he is set to chair.

Many MP's have already united calling a stop to the riots as many now focus on mindless looting and violence. Diane Abbot, Labour MP for Hackney earlier tweeted; 'Message needs to go out to copycat looters that it's illegal, immoral and profoundly stupid. Trashing your own community.'

While Cameron sweats, ignorant youths exploit needless opportune moments, people look to non existent police and Britain deteriorates by each second; businesses, livelihoods and communities - rebuilding not only seems a long time coming but an expensive overhaul.

Anarchy for anarchy's sake as loss of meaning is now dissolved. 

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." - (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

London Etches a Burning Message

People watch, people scare. Police shadows quiver apprehensively.

The UK watches on as scenes of burning, looting and violence spreads outwards across South London - Hackney, Tottenham and now images of buildings blazing in Croyden and videos of youths and gangs vandalising shops as far as Birmingham too.

The domino effects of a single policeman's actions are spiralling further out of control before our very eyes. Three days into the riots many are disengaging from the stem of the issue - the now infamous 'stop and search' incident that took place on Friday in which reporters say an unarmed black man was shot and killed.

This specific incident has ignited most of Britain - the prejudice in many peoples hearts and certainly businesses and buildings alike.

As the powerful lay back and enjoy the show, the riots enrage more and the war between minorities and the state becomes apparent - the unemployed, the oppressed and the young angry.

As the public wait to see what happens next, many youths are asking: 'Cameron are you getting the message?'

Ramadhan Mubarak

That time of year has descended upon us again - and has taken over our being before we even knew it: Ramadhan Kareem.

As Muslims in the UK sit back having opened the first fast of the month, the ambiance and atmosphere that only Ramadhan alone brings into our homes, dinner tables and amongst each other always leaves me serene.

One of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar which many know simply for fasting, as eating is prohibited between dawn and dusk during this month. However the semantics of the next 29 days go much deeper due to the purely spiritual nature of this month.


This is a month for reflection, forgiveness, being grateful and humble for what we have and remembering those who do not have the same. This is a month of charity and charitable behaviour. This is a month for spreading love and peace to one another and purifying our hearts.Togetherness with each other and solidarity with Allah.

 

May Allah give us all strength during this month, answer our prayers and cleanse our souls. Ameen. 

Because Life is too short and Happiness is Fleeting

Everyday we should take a moment to appreciate what we have, be grateful and celebrate the different forms of love we share...

Thoughts go out to all those affected by the weeks news x

Little Tidings of Joy...

...to brighten up a dreary day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bTLgeqCaYMY

If Kittens can DJ maybe I have a better chance of it too.

Enjoy x

Lasers and Light

So it's been an absolutely crazy few days but before it gets any busier and the world fills up my sight and imagination I just had to take a few seconds to gush about the new sound which has re-invented my playlist...

After a long while, Lupe Fiasco is back!! His new album Lasers has been playing on repeat for the last 72 hours and I don't think I'm going to have had enough any time soon.

His hip-hop vibe is always one of a kind, lyrically outspoken and pushing boundaries but produced with the freshest beats - it's going to go far. Its also really refreshing to hear a whole album that isn't stereotypically based on sexual innuendo and instead inspired by real life, real issues and emotions.

Here's my favourite track from his album, the powerful 'Words I Never Said' ft. Skylar Grey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22l1sf5JZD0

You had me at First Looks...

The delectable designs of Daniella Helayel have simply opened up my eyes to a bright new world. The 10 year old British label has launched a show stopping collection of lace dresses which I foresee will be gracing many a covetable body and glossy page very soon.

If anyone would be so lovely, a size 6 would suffice me well...

Pictures from Afghanistan, April 2011

Beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, sweet, innocent. Real Life.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/05/afghanistan_april_2011.html

Scratching snippets of a heart

If there's a pastime I love more, its reading poetry. To me there is nothing more divine than leafing through crisp yellow pages seeing how people past have put their hearts onto a page and so openly devoted their love to another.

Forever the nostalgic romantic I've translated two pieces of poetry - one from the sublime Rumi and another quintessential edit from The Reader which I find so innocently real.

Tel est l'amour: voler vers un ciel secret, à cause d'une centaine de voiles de tomber à chaque instant. Première à laisser aller la vie. En fin de compte à faire un pas sans pieds

 

Lorsque nous nous ouvrons
vous vous-même pour moi et moi je vous
lorsque nous plonger
vous en moi et je vous en
lorsque nous disparaissent
vous en moi et en vous i
alors je suis moi et vous êtes-vous

Waves from Memory

This is the first time I'm blogging from my phone, hurrah! Alas, sitting in the backseat of a car having enjoyed a little shopping detour and Gosh I just was hit with the biggest wave of nostalgia. I'm not sure what did it, was it the sights or smell or the heat? Something just made my heart yearn for the by gone days - the familiarity yet strange unknown feeling you get when you visit a country that's a home from home, or a home that will always be in the heart. The roots that always leave a tender space in the heart.

Who knew a simple shopping excursion could be so reviving for the heart and mind...x

The Postman is late but hey ho...

As with any journey who you travel with can be more important than your destination, you never know who you'll encounter along the way - who knows maybe fairytales come true after all.

Destination Not Home

So the decision was made - I had about 4 days to prepare then before I knew it I was on a plane that was taxiing off the runway and within the blink of an eye (more or less three hours) I was in destination not home.
I always love that first breath of air you take when you arrive in an unknown location - somehow the mixture of the air and dust swirled together is intoxicating; it speaks of promise and adventure, unearthing new experiences.


I guess in the short term, my expectancy was just that - losing myself amass the sea of another vivid culture. Seeping amongst the smiles warmed by sun, but coming towards the end of my journey I had an epiphany of sorts. This journey was not about losing myself or fading into the mountains, it was about coming alive. Experiencing a change which re-ignited the sparks of my heart.

None of this could be done without all of the beautiful people I met - the beauty of the world will always remain as it is but human ties are what stay with a person forever, that connection once forged and can never be erased. The loving and generous culture of the locals made me feel as though I was returning home after many years and not vice versa!

So many memories made which I hope are prolonged.

x

Beauty in every crevice

Sitting in the faint gleams of sun, browsing my usual morning blogs and news sites, I come across a stunning picture first on The Sartorialist then in more detail on Garance Dore's worldly fashion visual website:

Something about this shot just had me taken at the first look; the perfectly coiffed hair, the class and preen of the black dusted with gold elements but what drew me in most to the beauty of voice of Brazilian Vogue were her lines. Each of those strokes on her face seemed to tell a little story, of fashion, of taste, of the world. It showed a woman happy and comfortable in her own skin, and for that reason stands out from the crowd more - an original amongst the botox clones.
So next time you worry about laughter lines, I hope you think of this and laugh a little harder and smile a little wider. Its the best make - up and its free.