Well what can I say.. These adorable babies were just a pleasure to photograph 😍😍😍

Cake smash fantastic!!

What a wonderful day I had yesterday, cake smash with this adorable little boy :) plus other news to announce coming sooooooooon!!

Well.. As some of you may know I converted to Islam in 2012.. Just before I got married to my wonderful husband. This was entirely my choice and something that I wanted to do.

Having converted and celebrated Ramadan (yes I have fasted for the full duration.. Since 2012 and have found it such a wonderful month of appreciation) plus the normal celebrations such as Eid, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) birthday, Haag, and many more celebrations I did still have a few questions..

One of those questions was what it would be like to be covered... Whilst I celebrate my faith and am extremely proud of being a Muslim part of me was scared at what people would think if this western woman covered up.. Would it be critized, frowned upon, made fun of.. I guess I didn't want to be different from other people and I guess I should stop worrying about what other people think and look more inside about what's truly important..

So today is the 1st February 2015, a very dear friend of mine shayla (who I must say I haven't yet met.. But is truly a wonderful woman and inspiration to me, shared an interesting article.. (The picture is below)..

Whilst it would have been extremely easy for me to avoid the subject and pretend that I didn't see it.. I felt the need to look at this date deeper.. Having never heard of this day before I wondered if it was real.. Well it is extremely real and is celebrated all over the world..

So.. I decided to participate in this wonderful day.. Nervous oh yes! Scared.. Yep!.. Worried... Indeed!... Would I bottle it.. Maybe...

I did some research and the activity invited you to wear a hijab for the day 'to feel what it was like'..

After telling a few colleagues and arranging a lunch I knew then that I wouldn't back out.. or would I..

I went shopping for a hijab last week.. It was hilarious.. I walk into the shop and there is a man behind the counter and about 1,000 different color hijabs... Where would I start! How would I choose.. patten, plain, silk, cotton, flowers, stars... Arghhh!?! I ended up picking a cream one and asked the guys opionin.. He looked at my like an crazy woman!! So I nervously bought it (included a pack of pins.. No idea why or how to use them!!)

I get home and decided to try it out.. Honestly I didn't like it one bit, I couldn't breath.. I couldn't swallow and felt awful..

I took it off and left it in my closet, dreading today..

Well today arrived, I nervously got dressed.. Make up check.. Clothes for work check.. Car keys.. Check.. Hijab.. Deep breath let's give this a go..I adjusted it (not perfect I know that but hey it was my first attempt!)

I left the house nervously.. If you know what it feels like to wear glasses or contacts and you feel the strangeness to yourself then you will kinda understand what it's like to feel how I felt..

I pull up to my office.. Get out the car and bham! All eyes on Rachael... 👀

It was like I was naked.. 🙈🙉🙊

So... Fast forward to this evening..

How do I feel now...

****AMAZING*****

The day turned out so well I met some amazing friends for lunch (pictures will be uploaded soon :) ) and had a blast. I loved being covered and as the day wore on I forgot all about wearing it, I really don't know why I was so nervous..

Whilst I have not decided to cover all the time, I am much more confident in wearing my hijab now and from the compliments I got from my fellow sisters I look mighty fine in it!!

So in the next few days I will be buying a few more hijabs in different colors.. And perhaps will wear them more depending on how I feel.

This is a little of topic on what I normally blog about, but I want people to get to know me.. What Rachael is all about and when you meet me, understand my background and how diverse I am..

Soooooo enough talking! Hope you like the pictures and alhumdullah always xx