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Latest RECIPES

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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 →

Find Your Favorite Recipes

The Instagram Life

"A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better "A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah." 

- Ibn Taymiyyah (7th century Islamic scholar and theologian)

It's been more than 24 hours since our power came back. Everything feels surreal. The house is still pretty cold because as adviced by our energy company, we are keeping the thermostat under 68 F which actually makes some parts of our house way colder. Still not running any appliances except our fridge and freezers.

At least there is no more "smoke" coming out of our mouth as my 4 year old calls it. I will be lying if I said me & Mr. "M" along many others I know don't have PTSD from the events that occured Monday onwards.

This picture was taken on Monday in 28 F. Mind you, I had pulled my balaclava down just for this picture. 

Our power had gone out 7 hours prior to this moment. And, while we attempted this selfie, our kids who had very excitedly come out for snow had starting rushing back into the house. As amusing as the snow was to the kids. None of us lasted long enough outside to even build a snowman.

Maybe some other day. 

And, definitely not in Texas.

The boil water advisory continues.  So Houstonions keep an eye on that. 

One more night to go is what we told each other this morning. Last night was anxiety inducing as we prepared for a possibility of burst water pipes due to another freezing chill coming our way. Many of our neighbors actually turned their main water valve. We didn't. 

Just one more night to go. We did it this far, we will do it tonight. And, hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. 

For those of us who are blessed enough to stay warm and put all this behind. Let's look around. Within our neighbors, community, and social media groups. There are many who weren't as lucky. Let's find the ones who need help. Or the ones who are on the ground helping others. There is a reason we are here today. So we can help those who truly need it. Make that Friday count even more. 

#JummahMubarak (Happy Friday)!

We got this! 

#houstonstrong #texasstrong #winterstorm2021 #prayfortexas #texassnow #wegotthis
#theunmodernwoman
#houstonblogger #americanmuslims
Experience Arctic Freeze at least once in a life t Experience Arctic Freeze at least once in a life time. ✔️

Candid shot in more than a decade. ✔️✔️

Thanking Allah & asking for His forgiveness from cold weather ✔️✔️✔️. 

If you are still without power, hang in there. Ours came back after 40 plus hours, and we are praying that it doesn't go back again. After experiencing temperatures in the low 40s inside the house, it is safe to say this woman now understands what hell freezing over means. I believe that's what happened Monday night for some of us in West Houston. On a not so lighter note. Apparently, there is a place in hell that is so cold which is equally terrifying as the traditional hot hell we all know of. But, more on that another day. 

If you have running water then fill up your tubs if you haven't already. A lot of places in and around the greater houston area have a "Boil Water Advisory" in check. Before ingesting water, please check if your area falls under that advisory or not.

Still keep your heat at 68 F so the Texas grid is able to handle the load. More on that some other day too. 

Check my stories if you haven't already to see how you can prevent cold air seeping in through your doors and windows. Share below any tips that are helping you right now.

More than anything. Hang in there. 

Pray
Help those you can. But safely.
Try to stay warm. Pun intended. No, seriously stay warm. Stay in one area of the house and bounce off that human heat to each other. 

It works. I swear it works. Or, maybe just maybe my mind has finally gone numb from staying in frigid temps for too long. 

Either way.

We got this! 

#prayfortexas

#Winterstorm2021
Just like that he is five. The child who truly sh Just like that he is five.

The child who truly shaped the kind of woman I have become today. The one who made me question my own sanity,and everything I had ever believed in. But, who helped restore my faith in myself and Allah. The one who taught me that all is well that ends well.And, if it isn't well,then the ending is yet to come.

This one is for my sisters who are dealing with a high-risk pregnancy,or #postpartumdepression in any shape or form.

Mr. "E" had stopped receiving enough oxygen & blood from my placenta at 24 week mark. I was told that with every passing day our chance of having a stillborn baby was increasing. I had to have numerous ultrasounds & non stress tests done during my last trimester. Talk about being at the doctor's office first thing in the morning 3-4 times a week.

We somehow made it to 37 weeks, & I had to deliver with Labor & Delivery, entire NICU staff plus my mother & husband present in the room.18 people basically. Because no one knew what to expect once the baby came out. Kid had to be rushed to ER twice in his first three months of life. Once when he was only 50 hours old. He persisted though.

But, as you all know.Soon after I had severe PTSD, and PPD that even turned into Psychosis for two weeks. I am that woman who came very close to taking her life because she thought she wasn't a good enough mother. Thanks to those darn hormonal changes.

Yet, I am also a woman who is stronger than anything out there, & is not scared of anything anymore. We all have fears,I am sure you do too. I promise you that it does get better. You lose some friendships & people close to you in between, but even that ends up being a blessing in disguise.

If you are feeling blue, talk to someone, and remember no matter how hard it gets.He loves you & He is watching you.Even in times of despair.Sometimes it feels like He is not listening.But, He always is.Just like our mothers, sometimes He choses not to respond right away.But, He is always there when you truly need Him.

And, lastly there is absolutely no shame in getting help to take care of your mental health.

Please continue to keep me & my family in your duas ♥️. 📷 @_lezuphotography
Don't worry! We are not throwing our hands up. No Don't worry!

We are not throwing our hands up. Not yet. Or ever for that matter.

The theme for this year's #InternationalWomensDay is #BalanceForBetter .

The idea is to promote balance in the workforce, & demand increased representation of women in the society on a social, economical, & political level. .
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But, I say we should go even further. And, not just promote balance at this level, but also on a personal level. .
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Balance in our own lives. Balance in the every day roles we play as a woman. Balance in knowing when to stop, & when to give it all. 
Balance in acknowledging our self worth. Balance in giving our physical & mental health equal amount of importance.

Because, remember. .
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Nothing you do will ever be enough. Yet, every single thing you do is more than enough. 
The world will never be yours, but the world is yours to explore.

For every ten steps you take forward, you will need to take two backwards. 
And, that's okay. Because, balance is also knowing when to stop, when to take a break, when to fight, & when to let go. .
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This one also goes out to the wonderful supporting men we see among us. .
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Know that whether you are a husband, a brother, a father, or a son. You are the Yin to our Yang. Every single encouraging word or action of yours ensures that there is indeed hope for balance in not just our lives, but the lives of our children. Our future generations. Your daughters & your sons. Our daughters & our sons.

Happy International Women's Day ladies & the not so gentle men!

To my lovely ladies, this Women's Day I want you to take a moment, sit back, take a couple of deep breaths, & thank your own self. Appreciate every single act you do from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep. .
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And, then think about one more thing or habit you would like to commit to, for some more balance in your life. .
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As always, We got this ;)
When you receive a beautiful shot of Broiled Moroc When you receive a beautiful shot of Broiled Moroccan Salmon (a very easy yet deliciously healthy recipe on the blog) from Huda @hennazart , & you just have to share it with the world.

Folks, I am right here. Recovering & slowly getting better with every passing day. After my last story update that you can still view on my highlights titled "surgery". I kind of went in a place I haven't been to in a long time. .
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Alhumdullilah, I am not in it deep where I am stuck, & struggling to get out. But, let's just say when you are in bed for a good 90 days, completely dependent on others, then the "creepy crawlies" can also find ways to come back & mess with your thoughts. .
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And, since I came here to share this "healthy" food picture with you. It's only fair to first off apologize not on stories, but on my actual feed to let you know why I haven't been responding to a lot of you. And, tell you that The UnModern Woman is right here. Practicing what she preaches. Self care & putting mental health first. .
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I am humbled by the love & support that continues to pour in through my direct messages. Some of you went as far as emailing me to just hear one line from me. 
I don't just miss communicating with you. But, I also miss communicating with my fellow bloggers & influencers. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts & prayers. Because, while I am able to sit for short period of time. I still have a good couple of weeks to go before I can go back to being functional at home with my family. .
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Nonetheless you all are always on my mind. But, this mind just needs a little bit more time off before it comes back with a bang. 
In case you are wondering, the recipe for this Salmon can be found at www.theunmodernwoman.com 
Happy middle of the week people : )
"Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the abi "Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to act in the presence of fear."
. - Bruce Lee
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.

I am in bed, unable to even use the restroom without assistance. Yet the sound of fireworks outside marking the end of 2018 & welcoming 2019 are making me smile, be hopeful, and believe in Allah (God) & His blessings even more.

As I write this, I hope that you & I have an even better year up ahead.
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I hope for health, and strength, and happiness, and an infinite amount of love & support for all of us.

Those of you who haven't been following my stories must be wondering where I went. 
I am right here. Just recovering from a major surgery that took place on December 4th.
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And yes, this is the last "proper" selfie of the year 2018 that I took with none other but Mr. "M", the one person besides my mother who has put up with 3 unpleasant days in the past 27 days since I had this surgery. I did fall into depression for 3 days last week. It wasn't pleasant, but it's over.
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Also, don't let the all natural, makeup less smile in this picture fool you. This selfie was taken right outside the hospital I had my surgery in, and truth be told my heart was filled with immense fear from this point onwards. This was  seconds before I walked in to not know if I will actually make it fine or not.
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As morbid as it sounds, 4 hours before I took this picture, I also finalized my will. Because, hey just in case I wanted to cover all grounds.
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There is a lot more I want to share with you & that I will. I will also respond to each & every one of your messages as soon as I am able to. But, as of now I just want you to know that The UnModern Woman is still here. .
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Recovering from a major surgery that involved 4 procedures, but Alhumdullilah (all praise to God) healing at the same time. .
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As we enter the new year. Remember, you got this.

We got this!
If I told you that a bull dog was viciously barkin If I told you that a bull dog was viciously barking just 4 feet away from me as I smiled to take this picture, will you believe me?

It's funny how Allah (God) has blessed us with numerous coping mechanisms to use in times of fear & uncertainty.

The obvious one being asking for his own love and mercy of course, & then he has made this mind of ours that signals our whole body to stay calm & make calculated physical actions to protect ourselves.

Those of you who have been here since July know that in Ramadan I launched TheUnModernWoman.com  I had designed it from nothing but a blank page myself.

What you didn't know was that I had also written down 52 blog posts topics which included 30 of my own recipes to share with you every single week after Ramadan ended.
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In Surah Anfal (Chapter 8: Bounties), Allah says that they plan, but He is the best of planners. 
Well, I planned but He had other plans for me, & while I shared blog posts & recipes that you all loved. It wasn't every week.
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That's because even though I continue to be active on Social Media, my health started deteriorating from September & I am actually on bed as I write this caption.
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Couple of months ago my uterus & bladder prolapsed. Thank you Mr. "A" for refusing to get out & keeping me in active labor for 23 plus hours.

Yes, you read that right. My third delivery was anything but smooth & even though it's been more than 2 years now. My body has never been the same.

So while I prepare for a hysterectomy & bladder lift surgery, just so I can walk on my own two feet & do community work & explore the world with my family as I want to.
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Hang in there with me.
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2019 will be full of Awesomeness & tons of recipes.

I am not going to lie. Since I have never had surgery I am a little fearful. I believe in Him. But, I am also scared.

So if you or anyone you know has had a hysterectomy at a very early age, then please let me know how your experience was. This woman loves writing words of hope, but today she needs them from you.
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Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Oh & enter the giveaway if you haven't already. And, don't forget to check my story highlights titled "Giveaway". 📷 credit: @nidanfaisal
🍁🍁$250 GIVEAWAY🍁🍁 You asked & we list 🍁🍁$250 GIVEAWAY🍁🍁 You asked & we listened! [Giveaway Closed]

Easier steps for new entrants. Previous entries are accounted for and are already in the bonus pool.

I recently posted about how humbled I am that more than 1000 of you have shown your love & support here.

So to celebrate our growing community and, with Thanksgiving approaching. I have collaborated with 5 awesome blogger friends to give you a $250 gift card for Williams Sonoma (also redeemable at Pottery Barn, PBteen, West Elm and Mark & Graham). To enter:

1. Like this post

2. Tag a friend in the comments down below who you genuinely think might benefit from my content.

3. Follow

@theunmodernwoman

@drcardamom

@cookingwithshazia

@familyfooddiaries

@insidemyescapes

@simplycreatejoy
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Bonus Entries:
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•ONE extra entry for each additional friend you tag. One comment per tag please. One tag = one entry.
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. •TWO extra entries for completing the survey link in my bio @theunmodernwoman
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[Entrant must follow all 6 accounts. Will be verified].
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All of the pages mentioned above inspire me in one way or another. Check them out & you will know why : )

Giveaway ends on MONDAY, Nov 19th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be announced on TUESDAY, Nov 20th between 12:00-2:00 PM  at @drcardamom 's stories.

Disclaimer:

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram and/or Williams Sonoma. US & Canadian residents only. Void where prohibited by law. [Entries tagging brand/business accounts will be automatically disqualified]

Good luck everyone ❤
"There are far, far better things ahead than any w "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." - C. S. Lewis

Remember this as we approach the end of yet another year.

And, do not wait for 1st January to think about your New Year's Resolution. .

Some people say that New Year's Resolution is nothing but a bunch of  c  r  a  p  we feed ourselves to satisfy our ego that we are trying to improve. Only, to go back to the same old habits within days.

I say every positive wave of energy means something, and we should always take advantage of the times we get "high" on emotions & promise to do something healthy for ourselves and our loved ones.

It can be something as small as promising ourselves to smile more often. Or, taking care of ourselves before we take care of others around us.

Start thinking about it already. What is one thing you did past 11 months, that you wish could be different?

Start practicing to change that thing one day, one moment at a time. You might succeed right away, or it might take many days or even weeks. .
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Keep at it. .
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At the same time. Think about one more thing that provided immense happiness this past year. It can be your children, your life partner, your friends. Maybe an achievement at work or school.

Or something on an extremely personal level, like you eating healthy & exercising. Maybe, a spiritual change that made you feel elevated. Maybe, it was the book club you joined or the Non Profit organization you are volunteering for.

Build on it, and build yourself in the process!

Have a lovely weekend people : )

Ps. I have been MIA since the past couple of days because Mr. "A" & this mommy got sick. We also have our lovely family visiting from out of town. So things have been fun & crazy at the same time. You will see more of me very soon, and I will get back to your messages shortly too.

Thank you to those of you who checked in on me. 
This shot was taken by none other than my beautiful niece @nawal_asam_
When your Monday is off to a good start because yo When your Monday is off to a good start because your first ever interview as a lifestyle blogger just got published.

Yes, you read that right. Thank you for the write up on me in the "Inspiring Stories" series @voyagehouston

Last week was kind of rough. When Taya Abu (paternal uncle) left us, it left a void in my heart. Sometimes it takes losing someone to realize how much their existence truly means to us.

Maybe, it would have been different if I could travel to be there & attend his funeral. But, I couldn't & not being there, able to mourn once in for all really took its toll on me.

While Mr. "M" & the kids did a good job of distracting me, it wasn't till we sadly found out about an unexpected death of a very young father in our local community. The realization came that I shouldn't be mourning someone who is not here. But, celebrate all the times he was here & the life he did get to live.

I have many beautiful memories of having long intellectual conversations with him, & that is what I should cherish. If anything doing charity in his name & praying for him. Which I am still doing will truly help him and keep him alive.

Look around you. Be grateful that you have your loved ones still alive and breathing. Even the ones you don't truly love but are related to by birth or relationships.

There is a reason Allah (God) send them to you. Find that reason to love them & in turn love your own self.

If you would like to read more about how I got started as a blogger, what challenges I am facing with it, and my two favorite childhood memories, then check out the link in my bio. The interview is linked under "Features". Or you can simply copy paste this link in your browser & go for it too
 http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-sana-siddiqui-unmodern-woman-west-houston/

Do come back here & let me know what you think of it.

Happy Monday people : )

 

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