Hijabi Bridesmaids.

We have never seen hijabi brides maids before that dressed alike... and my sister insisted that we dress alike. I tried to convince her that six hijabis dressed exactly alike walking together would look very freaky. People are already intimidated by hijabis, and too many of them looking alike would surely freak some people out. We decided that we would buy the same color fabric, and each bridesmaid would design her own dress... using the same fabric and same color. That way, we'd be alike.. but still be different :D

The result was fabulous. Not the creepy hijabis we were afraid of being. I think we are the first hijabi bridesmaids ever.

Big sis is off

Finally got married to the man of her dreams. After a long story of heartbreak and pain. Ten years of fighting to be together and finally they are. May Allah grant them a happy peaceful home. In the end, love does conquer all (One way or another).

This morning I woke up to find my sister wasn't in her room. She wasn't in the living room either. She wasn't arguing in the kitchen about who left the milk carton out. She wasn't talking to one of her friends loudly in the corridor. She was gone. With her clothes, bags, shoes, books, cosmetics, and little things that she always left lying around. All that's left of her is a big empty bed with nothing on it but the wedding dress she wore yesterday. Crumpled up and unnoticed, after being so carefully handled the past few weeks, after being the center of attention for so long. It's purpose was fulfilled. Has no use now.

My mother is in denial. I don't know what to feel. My younger sisters had trouble falling asleep yesterday.

The wedding. Something that she spent months planning was over in just a few hours. Is now a blur. What's left is a bunch of pictures of lots of happy people, and one beautiful very happy bride.

Yes, my sister is off.

Peacock feathers for Bridezilla

I know it's rude to call my sister bridezilla. She wants her wedding to perfect. Sometimes she over does it. Like she did couple days ago.

Bridezilla wanted peacock feathers for her wedding centerpieces...and decoration in general. I don't know were she got the idea. She started obsessing as to were would be the place that sold them in batches and there was only one. 

Darb el Barabra (My sisters call it Barbados for code)

Darb el Barabra is a local souk in Cairo. It sells everything..dried flowers, plastics, silver wear, leather, fake flowers, bee lights, fabric, cats, stationary... they sell everything... in bulk.

When I suggested that she go there... I didn't know she'd me taking me and my two other sisters with. But one day I found myself being dragged out of bed, getting dressed...and on the way to Barbados.

For three whole hours we searched the alleys of Barbados. Asking around for anyone who sells peacock feathers. It was obviously something that no one asked for very often. The store keepers kept eyeing us suspiciously and telling us that they stopped selling it because of bird flu.... ummmmm yeah.....

The other thing that bothered the shop keepers was that we were not the usual customer type. We look different and dress different from most Egyptians and most of them insisted that we were foreigners. YOU ARE BEEUUTCHIFUL..... one guy called after my sister.

After my sandals were caked with soil, and my blisters were about to pop... someone finally lead us to a store that sells them. We bought 101 peacock feathers at a bargain price. Don't ask me why we chose 101... someone said 100 would be unlucky. The store keeper was a cute fellow with a beard that everyone called "The Sunni". He made small talk with my mom about the swine flu as we chose the largest brightest feathers...

When we got home bridezilla was happy. Thank God! My cat was happy too...she kept sniffing and chewing on the feathers until we had to put them away.