Today is the second day of Ramadan. It’s hard to feel joyous this Ramadan with all that is happening in this world especially while such a magnitude of human suffering is being displayed right before our eyes on our phones. Before social media, peoples’ suffering had a limited reach globally. Now, we all have a front row seat, so do not sit idle.
As an American, it is our civic duty to utilize the rights that the people before us fought so hard for. As Americans, we have the power to effectuate change through our freedom of assembly (protests), our freedom of speech (including social media), and freedom of petition to our government for a redress of grievances. So, call your representatives and let them know your grievances - especially those of which include injustices that our government is supporting with our taxpayer dollars. We have a duty to educate ourselves and others about how our taxpayer dollars are being used to sustain oppression. Keep sharing, liking, saving, commenting on every post of injustice you see in this world to boost them on the algorithm and continue the momentum of this freedom movement.
As a Muslim, Islam does not encourage us to be mere bystanders to any form of injustice; we are morally obliged to do what we can within our power to eradicate oppression without ourselves being the oppressor.
“O Believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for God even if it is against yourselves, your parents or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor:, God is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate from justice. If you distort the testimony (evidence) or refuse to give it, then know that God is certainly All-Aware of what you do.” - Quran Translation 4:135
Islam teaches that even in the midst of great crisis, society must still function. So enjoy this Ramadan to its fullest but, while we celebrate in joyous moments do not forget the people of Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Uyghurs, Rohingya, USA Natives and any other oppressed people in this world in our joy. May Allah (God) protect everyone and bring peace to all inshAllah (God Willing).
With peace and love,
Urooj, owner of Kahani
There’s something magical about tying the knot in a faraway place. Thailand holds a soft spot in our hearts because it boasts of all the beauty of its picturesque natural surroundings, has the most irresistible aromas of its delicious food and is the home country of my husband’s family. So of course, when we thought about where we would like to have our destination wedding, it was our first choice.
]]>It’s been a while, hello! We took a short hiatus, because Greg and I got married in Thailand!
There’s something magical about tying the knot in a faraway place. Thailand holds a soft spot in our hearts because it boasts of all the beauty of its picturesque natural surroundings, has the most irresistible aromas of its delicious food and is the home country of my husband’s family. So of course, when we thought about where we would like to have our destination wedding, it was our first choice. We are so blessed to have shared this special experience surrounded by our closest friends and family from all over the world.
Thanks to our amazing wedding planning team The Bridal Planner for bringing our dream wedding to life. The TBP team curated our organic wedding vision filled with a palette of creamy neutrals, climbing greenery, tropical florals and glimmering lights and made it even more beautiful and enchanted than we could have ever imagined. We worked closely with TBP to create a design aesthetic that was truly a reflection of us. With only the use of Zoom calls, texts and thousands of miles between us, our wedding planning team thoughtfully captured every sentimental moment in their design detail. The TBP team went above and beyond to make every detail of our special day memorable.
The welcome area.
Tablescape.
Dinner plate setting.
Night aesthetics for our dinner reception.
You may have noticed that we started using the little "®" symbol next to our brand name, Kahani. That’s because our small business has reached a new milestone. We are happy to announce we got our Trademark registration approved! Over the years, Kahani® has built a substantial reputation with our unique style, high quality products, and stellar customer care. Together, with our eco-consciousness and values, Kahani® brings to you an added exclusivity and prestige of our brand and products with our Trademark registration.
The coveted “®” symbol puts the public on notice that Kahani® is a federally registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A registered trademark gives my small business protections and rights from infringement under the Trademark laws ensuring it remains one-of-a-kind and elevates the Kahani® brand.
I knew my brand name was something special and that I had to protect it as soon as I was able to. I had been researching attorneys and finally found someone I really jived with on the Clubhouse app. After listening to Alli Elmunzer, Esq. sharing her trademark expertise on the Clubhouse app, I knew it was a match and the right time to invest in the growth of my small women-owned business. The trademark process is long and I was not always so patient, but Alli got me through it, and answered all my questions about registering my trademark. Not only is this a milestone for my small business, but for myself as a human - and I am so proud of this. I did not come from a privileged background and to be able to have this type of prestige and exclusivity for my small business, and most importantly for YOU, as my consumers, is truly an accomplishment. I plan to expand the Kahani trademark portfolio in the future, but for now, I am going to enjoy what we have accomplished so far.
Thank you for continuing to support my little small business. Because of YOU, we were able to contribute a portion of our quarter sales to Aghosh Alkhidmat USA in partnership with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan. Thank you so much for supporting us!
Aghosh Alkhidmat USA in partnership with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan is dedicated to humanitarian services. Specifically, for the relief of affected people across Pakistan and worldwide. Their services include disaster management, health services, education, orphan care, clean water, Mawakhat (interest-free loan) and other community services.
Partnered with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, Aghosh USA is carrying out rescue and relief efforts in flood affected areas of Pakistan.
If you'd like to learn more about this organization or find out how you can help visit https://aghosh.us/donations/flood2022/
PAKISTAN FLOOD EMERGENCY APPEAL
Pakistan has suffered an unprecedented climate catastrophe. Although, Pakistan contributes only 1% of global emissions - it is one of the most vulnerable countries to man-made climate change. Torrential monsoon rains compounded with melting glaciers from record breaking heat have caused devastating flash flooding and spread of waterborne diseases. This catastrophe has cost the lives of over 1,300 people including children and injuring thousands, destroyed thousands of crops, caused nearly 800,000 live stock to perish, submerged thousands of homes, decimated hundreds of roads and bridges, and have displaced countless families, women and children who are living under the open sky under the hot sun.
Over 33 million people have been impacted by these "Monsoon on steroids" leaving one-third of Pakistan underwater. This climate catastrophe has caused acute food shortage and a crisis of unimaginable proportions.
No matter how big or small your donation, every dollar makes a difference. Many US based 501(c)(3) charities have partnered with organizations on the ground in Pakistan for immediate relief efforts.
Unicef, UNHCR, Islamic Relief, Thaakat Foundation and more.
#givebackwithkahani
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Abdullah Ali is a self taught artist based in Lahore, Pakistan. Abdullah’s art is inspired by the strength of women. He believes women are the foundation of society and recognizes the glass ceilings and walls of discrimination women face. Despite the hardships, he believes women are not a symbol of sympathy, but a symbol of courage and beauty. His art work reflects the experiences of women emerging from adversity with strength, grace, and beauty.
To see more of Abdullah’s work, follow his art journey on Instagram. For commission inquiries and art purchases, you can DM @ipaintforall. International shipping is available.
]]>Tehshina Anser is a digital artist, illustrator, graphic designer and 2d animator. She uses art as an outlet to express her emotions and center her feelings. Her work focuses on themes of fantasy, nature, and symbols. She believes in creating art that evokes feelings of hope despite the chaos one may face in their lives. As a conscious observer, she absorbs the happenings around her, and incorporates them into her work including the people around her, nature, landscapes, and animals.
To see more of Tehshina’s work, follow her art journey on Instagram and visit https://tehshinaanser.artstation.com/. For commission inquiries and art purchases, you can message @tehshina_ on Instagram. Digital downloads are also available for purchase via direct message to Tehshina.
Syed “Suede” Saud is an artist and photographer from Lahore, Pakistan now based in NYC. His inspiration is drawn from his surroundings in New York City and his global travels. Through his experiences with a myriad of vibrant cultures and peoples his art is imagined and brought to life through different mediums. Suede wants the viewer of his art to become evoked by feelings of awe, nostalgia and connection and to enjoy their own moment with the art he creates.
To see more of Suede’s work and join him on his artist journey, you can connect with him on Instagram. For commission inquiries and art purchases, visit at https://artedesuede.com/bazaar/
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On August 14, 1947, following the end of the British Raj, Pakistan was declared a sovereign state. As a Pakistani myself, this month we will be commemorating Pakistani independence by sharing works by Pakistani creatives and artists. At Kahani, we strive to build an ecosystem of love and support within our own communities. So, let’s support the Pakistani artist community together.
Showing support on social media is completely free. So please go ahead and follow these artists - like, share and comment on their work and tag a friend too. And if you really love a piece, I’ll be sharing how you can inquire about a commission directly with the artist and purchase their artwork.
On June 18, 2022, we got Nikah-ed (our Islamic marriage) in a small intimate ceremony. Since, we are a multi-cultural couple (my hubby, Greg, is Thai and I am Pakistani) this is the first of our wedding festivities. We will be honoring both our traditions in March 2023 and heading to Thailand with our friends and family for our "big" wedding.
An important part of Kahani's foundation when I started my small business back in 2020 is building an ecosystem of support within our own communities, fellow small business owners, and creatives. Our Nikah was the perfect setting to highlight some of the amazing women-owned small businesses I've gotten to know over the years. It was an especially real “treat” to be able to cater a few of my favorite sweets on this occasion.
We had our cake made by Ruj Bakes, a small baking business with a mission to fill other homes with sweetness and joy. The owner, Aruj, did such a beautiful job making our cake vision come to life. It really was rather more of a art piece with delicate detailing in the silver edged ruffles and the gorgeous pairing of baby's breath flowers. And so tasty too! For inquires you can reach out to her via email that is listed on her Instagram and website.
The macaroons were made by Dominique at Pretty and Tasty Macaroons. I met Dominique at a pop up I did in Keyport and knew I had book her for our Nikah. It was so easy to share our vision with Dominque and she offers and assortment of flavors. She nailed our color theme too. To place an order you can send her a DM Instagram.
The cake pops were made by Loriana at Choco Sweets by Lolo. I met Loriana at a pop up I did in South Orange. She made the cutest treats for her Valentine's Pop Up and I've been following her journey since. To place an order you can send her a DM on her Instagram.
These delicious cookies were actually a gift from my best friend who had a order made by Meryl at Bungalow Baked, a local business down in Jacksonville, FL. They were perfectly packed to make the trip up to New Jersey flawlessly. Right now, she only offers local pick up in Jacksonville, but interacting with a small business' social media is a great way to support too. If you are in the Jacksonville area, you can send orders/inquiries via DM on her Instagram or place on order online.
For our Nikah favors, as you may know already, reducing waste is a integral pillar of Kahani's mission statement and lifestyle, so we opted for an eco-friendly option, succulents. We headed over to our local plant nursery and friends at Terrace Plant Shop in Metuchen. They hooked us up with a great affordable price on these cute baby succulents. I put them in a mini Kraft box, wrapped with natural twine, and added a label that read, "Let Love Grow" (so cute right). This is so on brand for Kahani and made for a perfect favor eco-friendly to our guests. Back in April, we hosted our first Candle Making Workshop at Terrace. It was a whole vibe and so much fun to enjoy in their lush green atmosphere. So, stay tuned for our next collaborative event. You can visit Terrace at 416 Main St, Metuchen, NJ 08840 or shop online.
Lastly, we want to highlight and thank Muslims for Progressive Values. Without them we would not be Nikahified. Our officiant, Jamal, did such an amazing Nikah ceremony before a mixed cultural and religious audience. MPV, is a non-profit organization that advocates for human rights, social justice and inclusion and envisions a world that reflects Islam as a source of dignity, justice, compassion, and love for all. They offer a number of services including marriage, spiritual counseling, lectures, curriculums, and more. I wish a group like this existed when I was younger that shares my own school of thought on justice and equality for all in its truest sense. Let’s continue to invest in our future generations, so that they can continue to have this amazing advocate and support for all Muslims. You can support MPV online and on their social media (@mpvusa).
Through Kahani, I hope to continue to build an ecosystem of comradery amongst the small business community. When you support Kahani, you not only support our mission to bring beautiful positive energy into your own homes, but for us all.
Be sure to like, follow, and share these amazing small businesses that made our special day so much more meaningful. Thank you!
Cake: @rujbakes
Macaroons: @prettyandtastymacarons
Cake Pops: @chocosweetsbylolo
Cookies: @bungalowbaked
Succulents: @terraceplantshop
Marriage Services: @mpvusa
Photography: @jimvllaz
P.S. Shout out to our amazing photographer, Jim. We took a chance on a friend of a friend and he did NOT disappoint. He was all up in THERE to get THE shot. He's been a videographer for a long time, but is building his photography book. So, let's water his growth on social media and see him thrive too.
]]>This past weekend, we had our first pop up event at a global retail store brand, Kiehl's. We set up shop at the Kiehl's store in the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. The team at Kiehl's was so amazing and welcoming of my small business.
Kiehl's is supporting our local small business community by giving them a stage to showcase their brand, products, services, and share their customer base. We are so grateful for the team at Kiehl's at Westfield Garden State Plaza for reaching out and allowing Kahani to be a part of this initiative.
Kiehl's was so generous with their space, time, and even put together cute free gift bags for us to offer to their customers who made a purchase with Kahani. The Kiehl's gift bag included samples of their Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask, and Super Multi-Corrective Cream.
Kiehl's was founded in 1851 by John Kiehl. It began as a homoeopathic pharmacy in New York City‘s East Village and to this day still occupies that very same space. Kiehl's specializes in skin, hair, and body care products. If you are interested in a skin consultation, the team at Kiehl's would be happy to help you find the best products for you to achieve your healthiest skin.
Thank you to Kiehl's and the Kiehl's Team 031 store for their stellar sales assistance and generosity. We also would like to thank all of Kiehl's patrons who supported my small business, Kahani. We will definitely be back, so be sure to follow Kahani on Instagram @KahaniCo and the Kiehl's Team 031 store @weheartyourskin for our next collaborative pop event at Garden State Plaza.
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Vanessa Turner is a self taught pastel and charcoal artist residing on the beautiful island of Bermuda. Through her botanical and portrait work, she explores the harmony of culture and nature and depicts how each of us has an ancestral environmental connection. Turner creates art to nurture you, heal you and empower each one of us.
To see more of Vanessa’s work and join on her creative journey you can connect with her on Instagram and view all her available works on her website https://www.vanessaturner.com/artportfolio/ .
Aislinn Finnegan is London based illustrator focusing on concepts of race, identity, and femininity in an attempt to disseminate and celebrate aspects of black culture and beauty in a world dominated by “Western” concepts and aesthetics.
You can find her collection works for purchase at https://bettershared.co/collections/aislinn-finnegan and follow her on Instagram.
]]>Mahder Tella (Mahdi) is a 3D portrait artist specializing in string art and mixing this medium with roofing nails. Her artistry also includes photography, painting, digital art, and resin sculptures. She is inspired by the beauty, power, and great pain from her home region of Tigray. She is an advocate for the end of the war in Tigray, Ethiopia, which is the target of widespread human rights abuses.
As one of the founders of The Tigray Art Collective, she brings together creatives to use art as an instrument of advocacy to amplify awareness, inspire healing, and innovate creative realities for Tigray.
Learn more about The Tigray Art Collective at www.tigrayartcollective.org and follow Mahdi on Instagram.
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Destiny Darcel is an illustrator and graphic designer. She started drawing during quarantine and has grown quite a following with her authentic, relatable and visually stunning works of art. She celebrates culture and color with a pinch of sass in her works. She hopes that the viewer of her work can see themselves and their best friends in each piece.
Shop for prints at https://destinydarcel.com/ and follow her on Instagram here.
Andre S is an abstract artist that derives his pieces from his past experiences in sketching and photography. His fusion of expressionism and abstraction create unique works of art that are designed to evoke deep emotion from the viewer.
Learn more about Andre and shop his art at https://mrandres.com/
Because of YOU, we were able to contribute a portion of our sales from the Boho Cafe Holiday Pop Up in the amount of $50 to MESH. Thank you so much for supporting us!
Montclair Emergency Services for Hope (MESH) is a local, faith-based charity dedicated to providing basic and essential services to Montclair’s most vulnerable homeless adults and families. MESH partners with local churches, synagogues and other community members to provide meals to needy adults and families in Montclair, NJ and the surrounding areas. They also provide overnight respite at local churches and synagogues during extreme weather.MESH provides nutritious meals, 6 days a week, to needy adults and families.
If you'd like to learn more about this organization or find out how you can help visit https://meshmontclair.org/
#givebackwithkahani
In this video, I share behind the scenes making in my studio of The 2021 Winter Collection candles. Check it out!
Enjoy the chill lofi vibes of this silent vlog (music and video sounds only). Watch Studio Vlog #004 here. Like, comment & subscribe.
Because of YOU, we were able to contribute a portion of our third quarter sales in the amount of $102 to Save the Children. Thank you so much for supporting us!
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Founded over 100 years ago, it was the first global organization devoted solely to serving children’s needs and securing their rights. They work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
Save the Children champions the rights of the world’s 2.3 billion children.
If you'd like to learn more about this organization or find out how you can help visit https://www.savethechildren.org/
#givebackwithkahani
]]>Fall is finally here! It's one of my favorite seasons and I'm ready for all the fall tings. As the cool airs comes in, I can't help but get in the festive fall spirit. There's so many fun activities to enjoy in fall like going to a pumpkin patch, apple picking, hay rides and of course it's candle season! So, we have three new amazing scents for you to set in those warm cozy vibes.
Baskets full of fresh picked apples from orchard farms are some of the fondest memories of the fall season. Enjoy a true apple harvest with this ripe fruit aroma combined just a touch of spice. Infused with natural essential oils, including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange, and cedarwood.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
Middle: Apple
Base: Clove, Vanilla
Sugar, spice and everything pumpkin, but this is not your basic fall candle. This delicious comforting aroma starts with toasty top notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove then flows into silky buttercream and pumpkin. With base notes of smoked embers and vanilla infused with natural essential oils, including clove leaf, cedarwood, copaiba, cypress, elemi, cinnamon bark, and olibanum - this scent gives a unique fragrance to this classic fall fragrance.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
Middle: Pumpkin, Buttercream
Base: Smoke, Vanilla
Fallen leaves on the ground, bumpy hay rides up and down - it's that time of year to wrap yourself up with the scent of autumn air. This warm and inviting aroma starts with top notes of cinnamon, citrus, and chrysanthemum. At its' core, the sweetness of apple and berries combines with green leaves and base notes of pecan and cedar. With its infusion of cinnamon leaf, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver, and sandalwood essential oils gives this scent its earthiness feel.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Citrus, Cinnamon, Chrysanthemum
Middle: Apple, Berry, Green Leaves
Base: Pecan Cedar
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Lemon Peel, Orange Peel
Middle: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Orange, Tangerine, Agrave, Citrus
Base: Sugar, Lime, Peach
Available exclusively at Kahani. Shop today.
It’ll be almost one year since Kahani launched - it’s about time I introduced myself. Hi, I’m Urooj. I’m a Pakistani-Kashmiri woman and founder of Kahani. I’ve always wanted to own my own business, and I am so happy you are all on this journey with me. My candles are handmade in my home studio in Piscataway, NJ. When I started Kahani last year, I was looking for an outlet where I can express my creativity and step away from the rigors of my day job as a paralegal. I wanted to create something with intention, meaning and do some good while I’m at it. So, a portion of my sales are donated to charitable causes close to my heart.
Kahani is inspired by storytelling and culture which is a meaningful part of my product design. I also spent a lot of time and research to create a product with the environment and you in mind. That’s why my candles are made with soy wax and are mindfully crafted using clean and sustainable materials that ship in eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. And it also creates a beautiful unboxing experience for you to share.
From time to time you’ll see in my Instagram stories highlighting different products from other small businesses, because I believe it’s important to support one another, especially my girls out there. For our creatives, poets, musicians and artists, I founded an initiative on the Clubhouse app called Candle Light with Kahani - an open mic that features a special artist for the night. (It’s super fun, tap in for the next one.)
Through Kahani, I hope to bring beautiful positive energy into your homes with my candles and curated gifts.
Kahani did its first ever sponsorship supporting the comedy community on Clubhouse's HOT ON THE MIC founded by its' hilarious supreme leader Leah Lamarr. We are so proud and delighted to have had the opportunity to do this thanks to the support of our Kahani patrons. Here at Kahani, we are dedicated to supporting creatives, art, music, poetry, and storytelling in all its forms.
This past Wednesday's HOTM Afternoon Delight show was hosted by Paul Elia and Danish Maqbool. This dream team comedy duo literally had the audience rolling through an audio app on their phones. It was good vibes and lots of laughs the whole show. If you haven't checked out HOTM's Afternoon Delight live comedy show on clubhouse, the show is scheduled Monday thru Friday at 12:05pm PST / 3:05pm EST. Each day has different hosts featuring talented professional comics performing comedy sets right to your home. It's a place where comics come to vibe with the audience and work on jokes/sets - letting us all in on the comedy process.
Danish is a Pakistani-American standup comedian and actor right here from New Jersey. You can find him on season 2 of Ramy playing now on Hulu. He also hosts an incredibly funny podcast called The Dmaq Hour. Check out his website https://danishmaqbool.com/.
Paul is a Khadean/Iraqi American stand up comedian, actor, and co-creator of Lowkey Outside Comedy Show. Lowkey Outside is a live, socially distanced comedy show in SoCal with a mission revive stand up comedy. Check out his Instagram for his upcoming shows: https://www.instagram.com/paulelia_/?hl=en
Check out Hot On The Mic and Leah Lamarr's (@leahlamarr) Instagram page for an exclusive 20% Off Kahani promo code valid until 8/7/2021. Tune in this Friday, August 6th to HOTM Afternoon Delight's 100th show - Don't miss it!
If you are a small business consider sponsoring one of the Hot On The Mic comedy shows. It's coming full circle here with community supporting community. Reach out to Leah Lamarr on IG for more details about sponsorship.
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In our latest Clubhouse: Candle Light with Kahani open mic we heard from creatives all over the globe sharing their artistry from unique instrumentals, honeyed vocals, lyrical poetry and shared works of art from painters based in Mexico through PTR. This round we featured an exceptionally talented musician and harpist, Mariana Or.
Mariana is a classically trained professional harpist. She has over ten years of experience as an orchestra musician and has been a musician for over 17 years. She's played for almost every Mexican orchestra including OFM, OFUNAM, OFICM, OTBA, OSEM and more. She loves jamming, improvising, playing concerts and collaborations. Mariana is truly a uniquely talented artist with the ability to pick up an entire genre of music with just her ear. She shared with us her latest musical conquest, her adaption of the harp to Bollywood sounds and voices. It was a beautiful fusion of harmonious melodies.
Mariana is the founder of The Harp Room on the Clubhouse App and shares her sweet sounds there. You can also find her music on her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arpamariana/ .
Kahani hosts a monthly open mic event on Clubhouse where we spotlight an artist, but also open the stage for others to perform or showcase their art, music, poetry, and stories. We welcome all creatives, storytellers and listeners.
Join the Kahani Club on Clubhouse for latest on our next event - click here!
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