Giveaway time!!! It's almost the end of the year and what better way to celebrate then get a FREE henna session OR FREE SMhennadesigns product! Giveaway ends December 31st at 11:59pm, open to US residents only, ages 18+. See Rafflecopter's Terms and Conditions to enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

UPDATE ON SMHENNADESIGNS!

I have made several changes to SMhennadesigns in the past few weeks and i'm excited to share! 

First, I would like to share a few words. I'm not very good at writing about myself but feel like its important for me to express myself. For as long as I can remember, I envisioned having a well settled business doing something I LOVE, something that I always have been passionate about, something that would always take my mind off of things. That is of course, Henna (well, one of the things, at least).  For those that don't know already, I have never taken any sorts of classes to learn Henna. I was self taught, and used my friends/family as canvases for my art.  

I dream of being the next Ash Kumar, or the next Paval Ahluvalia (SUCCESS WISE). I want to someday share my knowledge and secrets of my success (When I do get there).  I want for people to see my art, and recognize it. I want to inspire and be inspired by everyone I come across. Slowly, BUT surely I will get there one day. I have learned to believe in myself, and in my skills.  I have learned that I am a lot closer to reaching my goal, than I was yesterday. I have learned to never give up.  

There were/are many people who tried to bring me down in the past, but that gives me a better reason to keep going. Not only to prove them wrong, but to prove myself right. Luckily, Alhamdulilah I have many people who support me now and the number one are my parents! I would never, ever, ever be where I am today if it weren't for their love and support. and I still have a long way to go, InshAllah 

I am happy that they don't push me to only focus on my Nursing career, but that they have an open mind to my Henna business as well (and all the other crazy things I come up with). I am also happy that I DO have some close friends/loved ones who support me with even the tiniest things. That really means a lot because that is what keeps me going!  There have been many times when I felt overwhelmed with my job, Nursing career, personal life and my business. I would tell myself, that is it! I can't do this anymore (YIKES! that doesn't seem like an option at the moment, no no no!) Alhamdulilah, every single time I feel that way, something good always comes my way. I believe that my passion will lead to persistence and success! and that ONE day, I will reach my goals.

Ok, I am done, I think =) 

As for the update, here it goes. Please let me know what you think: 

                                                               Big Banner:

Flyers:

New Business Cards:

Sorry for the poor quality pic! will post GOOD pics of it once they are printed!

So, I was extremely bored of my previous design, and all the other templates from the website I was using (Vistaprint). I decided to create my own design, from scratch. Something that was original and something that I can live with! Hence, I created the floral boarder, which I used for everything above and designed it to my taste. I wanted something very simple, yet professional. Something that reflected my work and taste. Of course there had to be the color purple involved, because everyone knows my obsession with the color (:

Feel free to let me know what you think. Any suggestions, comments, questions are appreciated 

Update on SMhennadesigns Aug2012

I'm working on another website at the moment, can't wait until it is published! I honestly hated the old one, it was so boring (although purple is my favorite color). I hated the layout, hated that I couldn't do more to it, basically it wasn't ME. Hopefully I will have the website published fairly soon.The downside is that I can't use my old domain name (www.smhennadesigns.com) since Vistaprint wants me to pay to use that domain name now :/  Any suggestions on what I can use for my new one?
*UPDATE 8/16/12* MOST OF MY WEBSITE HAS BEEN DONE-CHECK IT OUT. ALSO, I WILL BE KEEPING SMHENNADESIGNS.COM YEY!! FIGURED THINGS OUT JUST HAVE TO PAY MORE THOUGH =( OH WELL. 

Next, is my logo. A wonderful, patient, creative friend of mine helped me with my logo (or watermark) for my pictures. It is so much better than what I had originally created. I am thankful that she had helped me out because I love the new one better. What do you think? (see below of my old and new one)

Old: (you may not see smhennadesigns.com written on top since it will blend in with background)

New:

It looks so much more uniformed and simple, and looks great on my pics =) check it out: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.153154228148513.32489.152581648205771&type=1

Unfortunately, if I do end up changing my domain name, my logo needs to be changed as well! ugh...

Still working on changing my business cards because i'm bored of those too now lol. It was just to get started, and I didn't like it SO much to begin with as well. *sigh* It's a lot of work to do on my own along with work and school, promoting my business, managing it, expanding AND creating new items/ideas/designs quickly.  

Any volunteers ? :D feel free to help a friend out if you can help with any one of those things. I'd love  you forever! ok...well, maybe I'd love you enough to share my reeses with you! (and you might know how much I love my reeses!) 

I came across a post on facebook about a craft event in the city. I checked it out, visited the site, facebook page and really liked what I came across. I was so inspired and excited by it and found such great crafts to collaborate with my own crafty side. So I decided to attend. It's something I wanted to do for ME. Something I always wanted to take time out for but never really got the chance to. And so I went. At first I was a bit hesitant, since I walked in there by myself but as I looked around I became more comfortable because of the setting and the crafty people! The place was called LOVE SHINE (http://www.loveshinenyc.com/servlet/StoreFront)  and the amazing event was The Crafty Chica's visit to NYC (check out her site:http://www.craftychica.com/) . There was great live music, cupcakes and crafts!! whats not to like. I was so ecstatic to meet her because I was already so inspired by her work. It just gave me reassurance and opened up my mind to so many possibilities. I would love to make art my full time job, because I love it passionately, more than most of you may know.  If I could do something I love, AND make money doing it, this is one of the things I would do. 

Since then, I gave myself a little push with my Henna business. Although I work a full time job, am still continuing my education, I always make time for my art. I have to, for me.  I hope to one day be an inspiration to someone, anyone. Whether they be right down the corner from me, or from across the globe. I want to touch someones life, and one way is through art. I want people to remember me, know me and my work. I want them to see how much of my passion is put into it and I know one day, I will get there. InshAllah. Until then, I will keep climbing the ladder until I reach to the top.

For now, that is all. and I haven't blogged for a WHILE, I know. It's something I did for me, whether someone read it or not.  but I'm back and want/need to share my thoughts!

I would like some feedback from YOU! Usually I just write to just vent and lay out my thoughts so I can work them out better when I have them in front of me. But I don't know what my blog readers like to read about. I would like to know what topics you would like to read about more? my QOTW's? my jewelry making? my Henna? a lil more about my crazy/busy life? about my religion, Islam? or culture? idk.


Is there anything you would like to ask? If so, leave a [decent] question in the comment section below and ill be sure to answer them =)

SMhennadesigns Update

Gift Certificates now available!!!

Perfect gift for any age, and any occasion! 

A flyer I made

Rack Cards: Since I get a lot of questions about Henna, I thought I'd have these out at my events. All your Henna Questions Answered!

 Back Side

Another Flier I made, Idk which one I like better!

Please tell me what you guys think! I would really really like some feedback so I know what my clients like best and what I can add/change/fix all that good stuff! Just for you guys!

Ban on sugary drinks, Hell yes!

So I was extremely excited to read in the paper this morning about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to ban large size sugary drinks in their ambitious effort to combat raising obesity! The ban is to take place by next March and it would affect restaurants, delis, movie theaters, and bodegas. This wouldn't apply to grocery, drug or convenience stores. 


According to metro NY- not all soda and sweet drinks would fall under this ban. The list of drinks that fall under the proposed ban are:

• Coke
• Pepsi
• Sprite, etc
• sweetened cofee or tea
• energy drinks(ex redbull)

The 16 o.z. drinks that do not fall under the proposed ban are:

• diet soda
• milkshakes and other dairy based drinks
• alcoholic beverages
• lattes
• cappuccinos
• fruit juices (with at least 70% real juice)

I think this is a great start! When people are forced to buy smaller drinks, for example-they're not gonna carry 2 16 o.z. bottles to the theater. That is the goal, but obviously people make their own choices and those that are addicted to soda and other sugary drinks will do what they have to do.  Our society needs to start somewhere due to the rise in obesity, and in the future years I hope for this 'drug' to decrease its addicts!