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The Unmodern Woman

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Skylar Bowker, Designer

Welcome Y’all!

I am Sana, and I love to create & share wholesome & indulgent recipes of various cuisines. I think quite often about how and why, and don’t hesitate to put my thoughts in words about topics such as Motherhood, Womanhood, Mental & Physical Wellness. If you love cooking, yet also like to be mindful of how your body is fueled. Do you love being a woman, but would also like to see society change its standards about what’s “appropriate & normal” for us and our fellow human beings. Then come on in.

This is the place where we “Defy cultural norms, one thought at a time.”

Learn more about me →

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The Instagram Life

Some things just hit different. The past few days Some things just hit different. The past few days have been particularly rough as we all had our eyes on something, someone, or some people we thought would make it. Baby formula. At the very least, right. 

But, no. On the brighter side, the opportunity to catch fresh fish when you haven't eaten properly in a long time due to someone hurting you & intentionally holding off food from you sounds like a teeny tiny miracle we needed to hear about. 

Miracles!

As much as they are in Allah's (God) hands. We humans are perfectly capable of making them happen at times. Of course, if He wills that is. 

This Naat (poetry sung to praise the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h), recited by Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi, is not just one of my all-time favorites but also a reminder of the resilience we all have in us IF we choose to cover the distance ourselves. 

Happy Friday! 

#jummamubarak❤️ #faaslonkotakalluf #naat #happyfri̇day #houstonmuslims #pakistaniamerican #fridayrituals #pakistaninaat #muslimmom #naatshareef #qariwaheedzafarqasmi
When you embrace yourself with #nofilters & no edi When you embrace yourself with #nofilters & no editing. 

While I don't believe in filters, I have at times edited #chinacne , which I have been struggling with for the past couple of years. But "why now?" Is what I would ask myself or often remark in front of others. "I don't understand. I never had it in my teenage years except for the monthly pimple that always coincided with my monthly cycle." 

We all grow up with a version of things we love, proclaiming we would die for. Only to realize nothing is black & white & at times embracing what we love comes with accepting the good but also the bad while challenging it simultaneously. 

On a personal level, it has been the massive changes my body started going through from 2017 onwards. Cue massive weight gain, diagnosed exercise intolerance (anyone remember the time when I could do aerobics for 90 minutes straight & still get a second workout in later in the day?), hair fall, acne, & intense body swelling #MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) that to this day hasn't left me. These are just the "visible" issues. After years of asking "why, " I have learned that there are often "environmental exposures" at play when younger people go through a barrage of health issues & the visible stuff is always our body signaling us of the foundational issues it's dealing with. 

#Pakistan is no different right now, but it can be. 

Whether it's people like me sitting outside the country with our hypenated Western identities or the OGs residing there. It starts with addressing the root cause. We know what it is now. For things to change, we have to change ourselves first & then rally for it collectively. A "Maumin" (believer) never loses hope. And that's what we will choose to do today. All, while pursuing justice, health & wealth. 

Happy Independence Day, Pakistan!
Because he is the only one who is okay with being Because he is the only one who is okay with being on Mommy's "social media." 

It was a Poetry Cafe at school. And his poems were a surprise for us. 

Kids are resilient, they say. Kids are stronger than we think, they say. He wrote about our cat Saoirse (Ser-Sha). Many kids did. It was beautiful. 

But this mommy got teary-eyed because Saoirse came to us when we had just started to accept that we had lost a lot as a family.  Being displaced overnight with little kids is no fun. But being displaced overnight because of no fault of yours hurts & scares you even more. 

Especially when you have three little ones looking up to you. And, no justice up to date for the perpetrators responsible for harming you & your family. Saoirse is our life. But, she is also hope & freedom for our family. She is what taught Mr. "A" & his older siblings to laugh again. All this time, we thought his first love was basketball, followed by soccer. But, no. 

You let them write on their own & they surprise you. It's freedom. It's Saoirse. 

May Allah (God) grant freedom to everyone who rightfully deserves it. May the kids who deserve to be in school writing poetry get to go back soon. Because they, too, deserve...

Freedom!

#poetrycafe #houstonmuslimblogger #muslimmomblogger #shalwarkameez #pakistaniamerican 

Outfit: @nazi_creationss
Does wishing everyone #eidmubarak🌙 on the third Does wishing everyone #eidmubarak🌙 on the third day still count?

I have to admit. I have lost my voice. The flow, the writing, the thoughts that used to come naturally to me don't anymore. My brain has admittedly seen some damage & while it's a relief to know why my executive function was down for so many years. I also feel that I was robbed against my own wishes. 

Isn't that how it happens? When you get robbed, it's never with your wishes. But, it's always by someone greedy for something. Whenever I thought about posting & being real here, I haven't been able to. It hurt too much to write sob stories upon sob stories because that's what it has felt like in the past many years. 

To show up. Or to not show up. To show up because I receive heartfelt dms checking in on me to this day. Or to wait. Heal. Then show up. Because heal. That's what I have always wanted. Not for me but for us. You, me & everyone you know. 

Whether it's your third day or second day of celebration. Know that your pain matters, but more than that, your healing matters. And it won't just appear magically. You will need to find it & at times, fight for it. 

Eid Mubarak to you & your loved ones. The third slide is a classic example of reality vs. Perfection.  I did my own Henna using stencils sent by @hennazartshop , but guess what? Patience is everything. That means letting your #mehndi (henna) dry before you peel off the stencil.
Houston Winter Storm PSA for our transplant neighb Houston Winter Storm PSA for our transplant neighbors. 

1. Run your dishwashers & laundry now. In case we lose power, you don't want to be worried about dealing with dirty clothes & dishes. 

2. Get the entire family to shower today. In case, we lose power & possible access to water for a day or two. 

3. Fill up your bathtubs & any large pots with water. In case water gets affected, you will at least have water to flush the toilets. 

4. Candles are helpful. Dollar Store, Walmart, HEB , Home Goods, and Home Improvement stores. You can find them anywhere. A hurricane lamp works wonders in spreading more candlelight. 

5. Have snacks handy. Somehow everyone's appetite increases if they are stuck at home. Especially if the power goes out & you have limited tech distractions. 

6. Charge all your devices now, and keep them charged in case we lose power. 

7. Fill up your gas tanks in case we lose power for longer days, the roads clear up & you want to go to a hotel or drive to Austin, Dallas, or someone else's home who has power. 

8. If you lose power & the house starts to get too cold. Folded towels & blankets under the front, back & garage doors, plus on the window sills, help trap heat inside the house. 

9. Have your layers (winter clothing) ready. In case we lose power, your family will want to bundle up.

10. If you are working today, your employer will likely have you leave early. Plan to be home by max. 6:00 p.m. We don't get frequent snow or cold temperatures. Our infrastructure here is not meant to accommodate icy roads. Snow means black ice on Houston roads. Most people don't have snow tires here in Houston because we don't need them. You might have moved from a cold city & think you will be fine on the road. You won't. Plan to go out only in extreme emergencies. 

11. This is a PSA. Take it as one. We will hopefully not lose power or water access. But, the possibility of that is 50 percent given the last track records of our city. So, don't panic, but be prepared. 

#houstonwinterstorm2025 #houstonweather #houstonbloggers #houstonmuslims
When you are dead tired, but wore "Jhumkay" (South When you are dead tired, but wore "Jhumkay" (South Asian earrings) after a long time, and have to capture the moment. 

This year might not be off to the start we all imagined. Neither was last year and for my family, neither was the year before that. But, with every hardship comes ease. That's HIS promise. And, as long as we remember, everything & anything is possible. 

After what my family went through in 2022, I thought I would never wear makeup or jewelry again. Or, maybe laugh out loud again. But, then, time heals certain things. The scars remain, but time teaches you that nothing is permanent & nothing is everlasting. 

The good & the bad. We just have to know when to take the back seat & surrender. Leave it up to Him. As He knows, and with His justice, truth always prevails.

One way or the other. Time. Heals.

Friday has almost ended. But, Jummah Mubarak (Happy Friday) everyone!

#tawakul #toxicmold #houstonmuslims #hopeforhealing
There is a new Halal Food Truck in town. West Hous There is a new Halal Food Truck in town. West Houston, it is this time. If you have tried ZN Pizza & @znbiryaninfishhouse , then you are no stranger to their food. 

This time, they have brought their burgers, chaats, Biryani, and the infamous Karachi Style Club Sandwich at Foodies Truck Park 1989 N. Fry Rd in Katy. 

To celebrate their opening, they are offering 30% off their entire menu for tonight & tomorrow from 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. 

The best part is that there is ample seating & play areas for kids. Perfect for the weather change we are finally experiencing. 

Oh & in case you are wondering, that is, in fact, Mr. "E" & Mr. "A" going playfully going at it in the end. Because maybe boys will be boys. 

#houstonhalal 
#houstonfoodscene 
#zingerburger
Throwback to World Thinking Day 2020 with the Girl Throwback to World Thinking Day 2020 with the Girl Scouts, where I was honored to lead Ms. I's troop and another troop in representing Pakistan 🇵🇰 Celebrating the spirit of resilience, creativity, and hope. 

From applying Mehndi (henna) to wearing vibrant Lehngas & Shalwar Kameez to serving Kalakand & Naan & to educating attendees about the country's finest natural resources, it was a day filled with pride as we shared our beautiful culture with the Houston community, showing the richness and diversity that make our world stronger. 

Pakistan has faced many challenges, but the strength and hope of its people remain unbroken. The recent Olympic gold, the first in 40 years, is a testimony of resilience and determination that defines Pakistanis. If you know, you know. 

There is no doubt that love for one’s homeland only grows when shared, enriching the communities we are a part of.

Jashn e Azadi Mubarak! 

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#14thaugust
#pakistanindependenceday
#proudpakistaniamerican
#pakistaniamerican
#worldthinkingday
#overseaspakistanis
#houstonmuslims
#pakistanzindabad💚💚💚
Anyone up for some homemade Chinese Chicken & Corn Anyone up for some homemade Chinese Chicken & Corn Soup?

Some Mondays don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. We all have those days when everything takes a little more time and energy. Whether finding comfort in a simmering pot of soup or simply crossing off the next thing on our to-do list as we send our kids back to school, it’s a reminder that we are all in this together. Let’s give ourselves permission to slow down and appreciate the small wins.

But as we find solace in our meals, let’s not forget the mothers struggling to feed their families. We must do everything in our power to prevent such unimaginable suffering.

While we are doing the best we can, and that’s enough. Now, let’s extend that care to others, too. 

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#mentalhealthmondays #mindfulliving 
#TUMWMentalHealthMondays #chickencornsoup
#pakistaniamerican
#pakistaniblogger
Today was a 'takeout' kind of day. I took Ms. "I Today was a 'takeout' kind of day. 

I took Ms. "I" for school-related work in 96F weather & my #dysautonomia couldn't handle it. Dealing with health issues from toxic mold exposure means sometimes I can't cook, and that's okay. It's essential to listen to your body and take breaks when needed, especially when managing family life. Remember, self-care isn't selfish. It's essential. If you're struggling with health or feeling overwhelmed, permit yourself to rest. You deserve it.

 What are your go-to ways to make things easier when life gets tough? Let’s share and support each other. You never know who might silently benefit from your tip here. 

#FamilyTime❤️ #healthawareness
#toxicmold #houstonbloggers

 

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