Cause I will be labelled as a cheapskate tradition destroyer part 3 (trendsetter edition)

Yoyoyo fellas! It's been awhile since I update this space. Now it's time for 'Cause I will be labelled as a cheapskate tradition destroyer' series. Part 1 was for the general stuff. Part 2 was for the special Bridezilla edition. Now Part 3 is for the trendsetter edition.

:: This is the part where we throw colorful confettis and play party horns ::

I was blogwalking one day browsing through Facebook and stumbled upon my friend's blog post that he shared on Facebook. His name is Rizal Yaakub and y'all can view his entry here. I really find his post interesting that I'm inspired to write a response post to it. I ain't gonna critic his post. Since he's talking about wedding trends, I figure that some trends are so cliche and why don't I make my own trend. Cool huh?

1. Bachelorette party
   The key focus of this party is to celebrate freedom (and loss of it). It must consist of the things that the bride-to-be likes. In my case, my party gotta have chocolates, laughter, music, dance and me getting a henna tattoo of a dragon at the back of my lower waist. In fact, everybody's getting a henna tattoo. And it gotta be private as in a small group of 6 to 7 girls getting together and enjoy ourselves as you know single people. And, Adrien Brody movie marathon. And it gotta be in a private place where there's lots of privacy. And at the same time, cheap. Kartika Sari party at my house yo!

2. Post-wedding photoshoots
   I'm going to borrow someone's DSLR and a super high mega pixel camera phone and let them shoot away. I just have to feed them good food and butt kiss them now and then. PS: Butt kiss means boost their ego by complimenting excessively. Okay. Maybe I'll have to pay for the paper and the printer (and the ink). Dude, I'm slightly old-fashioned.

3. Anniversary dinners
   It has to be done at home where there's only two of us cause I need an excuse to wear LBD/LWD/L-insertanycolour-D. Cause I wear hijab already, I ain't gonna wear short dresses in public. Ain't nobody got balls for that!

4. Engagement ceremony/get-together
   This involves me wire-tapping my dad and/or male relatives so that I can hear how they negotiate me cause I'm an interested party. I also can act as an observer to observe the setting. This will only be a low key setting whereby only immediate family members from both sides are to attend. No dulang hantarans yet cause it ain't official yet. It's GST season. Save your money!

5. Wedding discussion meeting
   Military style background music are to be played at all times. Hey, have you been to a wedding? It sometimes feels like you're in an imaginary unrealistic battlefield cause you're too scared/unsuitable for the real thing. I blame my anxiety.

That's all I guess. I'll put more later if I have the chance.

Cheers.

Cause I will be labelled as a cheapskate tradition destroyer

Since there are lots of weddings and engagements going on amongst my circle of friends, I figure that since I have no job, no life and no boyfriend, why don't I make a list of my dream engagement and wedding.

For my engagement:

• Just bring the ring because that's the reason why you guys are here in the first place
• Please keep it in a durable, no-frill container that fits nicely in your pocket
• Hantaran is negotiable. It depends on how much you're willing to pay without taking up a loan and living on Maggi all year long. I don't measure myself with money
• No balas pantun please. I want to keep it as simple as possible
• No dulang-dulang hantaran. Save that for the akad nikah (solemnization)
• Do not overdress. It ain't official yet.

For my (ahem, our) wedding:

• The theme is either white or cream. No offence, that red baju melayu looks really great on you during Eid but on our wedding, it made me cringe.
• A simple akad nikah would do. Either in my house or at the masjid. Preferably at the masjid cause can fit many people and we can like solat berjemaah while we're at it
• To miss or mrs makeup artist: DO NOT MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A DRAG QUEEN PLEASE
• No falsies and plucking my eyebrows either
• Simple makeup will do lah. I just want to look pretty and fresh, not like a children's colouring book
• Please keep hijab styling as simple and sweet as possible. I want to be able to breathe
• Reception is optional
• If there is any reception: no tepung tawar and no songs from Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Kesha and Katy Perry shall be played. Lifehouse is approved
• To the caterers: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE PEEL AND DEVEIN THE PRAWNS. I know peeled and deveined prawns ain't pretty but please, I don't want any incident of a prawn jumping out the dining table. The same rule applies to other crustaceans as well. However, I don't really mind raw oysters with shells intact.
• To our family: No fighting, no badmouthing, no usurping the ceremony or any acts that amounted to a wedding coup d etat
• To the jurunikah: please go easy on him. He's nervous
• Dulang hantaran rules: desserts are either to be fresh fruits or chocolates. No cheesecakes. Please make sure you know the size of my clothes and shoes. No flashy patterns like those designer brands like to put. For cosmetics and skincare: please know my skin and hair type and skin tone
• Better yet, scrap the dulang hantaran and use that money for a romantic getaway
• You know what, scrap the getaway too. Save it for the house instead
• Oh yeah. Card rules: Keep the design minimal and simple. Not to mention, unscented

So, yeah. That's all so far. Cheers!

Ramadhan Review Special: Arranged

Synopsis

Two young women — one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim — meet and become friends as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. Over the course of the year they learn they share much in common, not least of which is that they are both going through arranged marriages.

This film is actually based on a true story of an Orthodox Jewish woman named Yuta Silverman who is also an executive producer of this film.

The film started out in the library of a public school where first year teachers had an ice breaking session. Nasira Khalidi, a Muslim of Syrian descent was up first. Followed by an Orthodox Jew Rochel (pronounced: Ro-Hel) Mashenberg. At first, they didn't talk to each other. Their friendship began when some students began to make some prejudicial remarks towards them. Nasira was teaching the class while Rochel was there to assist a blind student in that class as Rochel specialized in special children education and they were called to Principal Jacoby's office because of that. Another thing that strengthen their friendship is that both of them are going through the process of arranged marriage hence the title). Rochel went through a process called sadkhan which involves an arranged date set up by the matchmaker while Nasira went through the usual family coming to her house to meet her family. What I like about this move is that they portray Nasira's family as non-judgmental and not oppressive. Contrary to what's been reported by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and whatnots, when it comes to arranged marriage, both Nasira's parents did not force her to enter into arranged marriage. They actually want what's best for Nasira and took into account of Nasira's personal opinion. And, when Nasira finally found a match, they gave their blessings seeing how happy Nasira is. Meanwhile, Rochel was struggling in meeting a match of her own. Basically, she was pressured by her family to get married quickly (reminds you guys of something right?) in order to avoid diminished prospects of her sister Naomi.

On another note, this film also criticizes the liberalists and the secularists. For example, Principal Jacoby who is a secular Jew felt that it was her job to modernize both Nasira and Rochel which I think is unnecessary. In some way, I felt that Jacoby was disrespectful of both of their culture and try to force her beliefs to them.

In my opinion, this film is worth a watch. It is a feel good romantic comedy film with a hint of culture. Yes, you guys get to learn some culture, especially when it comes to Orthodox Jewish culture. This film also portrays that people can be modern and keep up with the current time while adhering to their faiths at the same time.

This film shows how individual relationships can transcend age-old divisions and shows that in the search for love, true friends know best.

Rating: 4.5/5

Now, on to the trailer:



Starring: Zoe Lister-Jones, Francis Benhamou, Doris Belack and Mimi Lieber.

For more info, head on to Arranged Official Website

Credits to Cicala Film Works on Youtube

Weddings, meddings, leddings, jeddings

Meet my second cousin, Nazree everybody

My parents have received loads of wedding invites lately. Must've been the season to get married huh. Well, we went to my second cousin, Nazree's wedding. His twin Nazreen got married 5 years ago and now it's his turn!!!! Yayness! I'm really happy for him since it's about time for him to get married though I feel that who am I to say that it's about whose time to get married. But, I'm happy for him nevertheless. We're not that close but we met for the first time in my grand-uncle's house(his grandfather) in 2005 and clicked ever since. I still remembered the time he gave some duit raya and I was wondering who was he and how did he know that I have 4 siblings. It turns out that he's my second cousin (yay!) and he likes to bully me (boo!). We were in a rush yesterday so we couldn't meet him and his wife and congratulate them in person, so I'm taking this opportunity to say...

Congratulations on your wedding cousin! May you have a blessed and happy life with you wife (and children) ^_^