Seasonal Serenity

Seasonal Serenity

About:

Palestine Awareness

By: Shaima Ahmed, Mashael Faisal, Eshaal Nawaz, Daniyah Mirza and Alisha Fatima

May 14, 1948: The nation of Israel was declared by David Ben Gurion and was recognized by the USA on the same day

May 14 1948: The day when the Palestinians homeland was stolen

For over 7 decades Israel has illegally occupied the Palestinian land and ever since violating the basic human rights of the Palestinians people Israel has violated 28 resolutions of the United Nations Security Council Refusing the right to vote security and many more

On October 7 there was a resistance by Hamas, the freedom fighters This led the Israel military to continue the genocide on the innocent Palestinians civilians Over 22,722 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces, more than half of them being children and women The death toll this year is the largest Palestine has witnessed since the 1948 Nakba Still the call for cease fire is like a dream toward the innocent Palestinians It has been over 70 years of them losing their homeland their children their families.

According to Al Jazeera the largest news network in the Middle East and North Africa region approximately only 1000 Christians are left in Gaza Both Christians and Muslims being subjected to ethnic cleansing

It has been 74 years and 94 days (still counting) and the cease fire is yet to be called the illegal occupation is yet to be investigated by international law The right to resist is yet to be understood by many people The ignorance is still there Humanity is still a foreign concept for the state of Israel

But in the darkness, there is still hope as more than a million across the globe are protesting for Palestine to be free, they are protesting and fighting against genocide and adopting Palestine's culture such as the Keffiyeh as a symbol of freedom. You don't need to be a Muslim to stand for Palestine, just human

From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!

Sources to follow:

1 letstalkpalestine

2. palestine.academy

3 eye on palestine

4 sbeih jpg

5 celebrities4palestine

6 bdsnationalcommittee

7. afafpall

8 hamza_w_dahdooh

9. hamdaneldahdouh

10 khaledbeydoun

11 rosypirani

12 aljazeeraenglish

13 middleeasteye

14 alijadallah66

15 mohammad h masri

16. motaz azaiza

17 abdallah alattar1999

18 anasjamal44

19 gahnaim

20 gazanewslive

Boycott list:

Fast food places/restaurants to boycott

1 Mcdonalds

2 Kfc

3 Dunkin Donuts

4. Baskin Robbins

5 Dominos

6 Costa coffee

7 Hardees

8 Subway

9 Nandos

10 Gloria jeans

11. Cinnabon

12 Texas chicken

13 Carrefour

Brands to avoid (groceries included)

1 Nescafe

2 Kitkat

3. Fruita vitals

4 Nido

5. Cerelac

6 Nestlè water

7 Cereals from Nestlè

8 Buitoni

9 Coca-Cola

10. Pepsi, dew, Miranda, Fanta, sprite/7up

11 Lorèal

12. Tommy Hilfiger

13 Maybelline

14. Sunkist

15 Garnier

16. Cadbury

17 Lays

Television/media channels/companies to avoid

1. Disney+

2 CNN

3 New York post

4 National geographic

5 Sky

6 Fox news

7 Paramount

8 20th

Alternatives:

Fast food places/restaurants alternatives:

1) kababjees fried chicken

2) Karachi broast/Jan broast

3) Kremsi/Drop coffee +

4) Soft swirl

5) Pizza max/broadway

6) Melbrew

7) Kaybees

8) Optp/yoshi's

Brands alternatives (groceries included):

1) Imtiaz coffee

2) Local chocolates

3) Meezan juices

4) Almarai whole milk powder

5) Deva Baby Food

6) Cola next/dare next/rango next

7) Ponds

8) Conatural

9) Khaadi /beechtree/sana safinaz/threads and motifz

10) Kurleez/all kolson chips

11) Rivaj cosmetics

12) Golden pearl

13) Mahrose

14) Kashees

15) Hico ice cream

16) Next cola

17) National tea

18) Tapal

19) Fruitien

20) Dayfresh

21) Adams

22) Shoop

23) Saeed ghani lotion

24) Himani

25) Sunlight dishwasher

Television/media channels/companies that can be supported

1 Shark tv

2 Al Jazeera

3 Rescue org

Icy Beats

By: Anita Bhojani, Masahel Fasisal, Karen Santamaria, Amael Amin, and Marjan Shahid

Santa Tell Me - Ariana Grande

Hallelujah - Pentatonix

Winter Bear - V

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Car's Outside - James Arthur

Christmas Tree - V

Crystal Snow - BTS

My Favorite Time Of Year - Pete Masitti

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Frank

Sinatra, B Swanson Quartet

Jingle Bell Rock - Aespa

Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra

Baby, It's Cold Outside - Don Cornell

Snowman - Sia

Winter Things - Ariana Grande

Last Christmas - Wham!

Underneath The Tree - Kelly Clarkson

Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Pyotr Ilyich

Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, OP 71 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Winter Biz Charts

by Amael Amin and Eshal Dagha

Scentels:- Filza Wahab by

Amael Amin

Q: When did you start your business?

A: I started Scentels last year but wasn t completely focusing on it due to studies and all I would say that I started giving my full attention to Scentels in the past few months only

Q: Why did you decide to become a business owner?

A: I became a business owner because I had that passion and vision for something that I wanted to create and share with everyone

Q: What services or products do you offer?

A: I offer variety of scented candles including my newly launched Pearl candles introduced in Pakistan for one of the first time

Q: How do you advertise your business?

A: To advertise my business I use social media platforms like instagram and Facebook

Q: What are your company's goals?

A: My company's goal is to expand our customer base , increase brand awareness and continue creating high quality candles

Q: What made you choose to start a company in this industry?

A: I chose to start a company in the candle industry because I've always loved the cozy and relaxing atmosphere that candles create

Q: How would you describe your company's success so far?

A: My business is still in the early stage but we are making progress and working towards our goal and we are excited about the potential opportunities ahead

AEBAK ES -- Aisha by Eshal Dagha

Q: When did you start your business?

A; July 2022

Q: Why did you decide to become a business owner?

A: I've liked the concept of entrepreneurship since I first learned about it in grade 5 Growing up people around me also always started new small businesses and I made it a goal to start one of my own even if it isn't for long

Q: What services or products do you offer?

A: Baked goods but mainly brownies

Q: How do you advertise your business?

A: Though Instagram posts and stories

Q: What are your company's goals?

A: To get people to love brownies again So make sure people actually enjoy what they're eating

Q: What made you choose to start a company in this industry?

A: I've always enjoyed baking And I've always wanted to start a small business There was no point in baking so much with not many to keep eating everything I made, so I thought it's time to do something about it I perfected my brownie recipe and took to the Internet

Q: How would you describe your company's success so far?

A; It's definitely picking up a lot now It started very slow But after all the school events and trying to be extra active on the page the hard work is paying off It is difficult to manage it along with college though because it takes time and effort but it's always worth the effort

Snow Senerity: Winter Self - Care

By: Anita Bhojani, Karen Santamaria, Alisha Fatima and Ainyn Sofia

1- Take a break from social media at least for a day

2- Write a letter about your achievement this year. Then, you will realize that you have been through a lot of things

3- Cook a healthy and nourishing soup

4- Take up a new hobby.

5- Make yourself a hot drink and make time to actually sit and drink it whilst it's still warm! Be present in the moment and enjoy it

6- A few times a week, wrap yourself up in a blanket and just take ten or 15 minutes to wind down

7- Going on walks

8- Baking

Winter Marvels: Top 3 destinations

By: Anita Bhojani, Alisha Fatima, Karen Santamaria and Mashael Faisal

1) Arena - family recreational sports complex

Youth these days prefer to spend their winter outdoors rather than indoors, and what's a more fitting activity to do than ice skating in this sports complex there's a decent-sized skating rink where you can go with your friends and your families, the complex also has other sports and activities accompanying the ice skating, such as bowling, indoor cricket and even rock climbing.

2) Bahria Adventure Land

During the winters many students are on winter break, families prefer going on trips to places such as Bahria town adventure land, which is an amusement park It has many thrilling rides including a roller coaster and even a swimming area plus there are many places to eat too It takes around 3-5 hours as there are so many rides

3) Winter land

Winterland in Karachi is the perfect destination for those who want to beat the heat this summer This one-of-its-kind winter wonderland offers visitors a chance to enjoy live snowfall in sub-zero temperatures as well as a number of other winter-themed attractions Considered the first indoor ice park in Pakistan, Winterland is open to people of all ages and is easily accessible from all parts of the city

Narnia's Winter Rhymes

By: Karen Santamaria, Anita Bhojani and Mashael Fasial

A Warm Winter

by

Karen Santamaria

In winter's icy grasp,

A cozy hearth we'll find,

The flickering flames we'll embrace, And warmth will gently bind

Soft blankets plush and warm

Envelop us in bliss

The crackling logs we'll adore

As winter's chill we'll dismiss

Comfort oh so sweet

In winter's icy hold

A haven we will seek

Where warmth and peace unfold

Its Cold Let's Stay Inside

by Karen Santamaria

In the stillness of the night

I hear the whispers of the snow

A symphony of silence

As Winter's arms envelop me

The chill seeps into my bones

But I am not afraid

For Winter's touch is gentle

And I am safe in its embrace

The trees stand bare and still, Their branches reaching out like fingers

Whispering secrets in the wind,

As Winter's breath caresses my skin.

The world is hushed and still,

As Winter's heart beats in my chest, And I am lost in its beauty

As it holds me close and never lets go

Party on Christmas Eve by Anita

Bhojani

Fanning crystals of frost grow over hibernating trees, Orion glints in a dark sky over rolling seas

The smell of gingerbread permeates the town's air,

Although the dead of winter- there's not a moment of despair, for it is Christmas Eve,

On such a beautiful night by the balcony, one is in no rush to leave

A chukar's love, by

Mashael Faisal

You are like the moon in the night's embrace, Gleaming in the darkest space

Brightening all that's around

Chukar's love in love I've found

You're the moon, close but untouchable

An elusive glow so unforgettable

Without you, it's dark and dull,

Moon-like love, I can't control.

Chukar's love echoes in my heart

Unrequited, yet it won't depart

Feel so close yet so hard to get hold of

You are like the moon; For without you, everything around feels so dark and dull

You are like the moon to me; for I can never get close to you, My love is like one of the chukar's unrequited yet so true.

Whispering tales, by Mashael Faisal

Her name was like poetry; It flowed fluidly through one's lips, dancing like a song Whispering tales of stars along And when it was to be written; It gave life to every sentence

In life's script, it was adorned with grace, A verse of love, and a timeless embrace

Frosty Sagas

By; Karen Santamaria and Mashael Fasisal

Heard a Knock? by Karen

Santamaria

The relentless tapping on my bedroom window woke me, and I peered out into the inky darkness Rain poured, and lightning briefly revealed a ghastly figure, drenched and distorted I froze in terror unable to move

The figure's grotesque face pressed against the glass, and its bloodshot eyes bore into my soul Its lips parted revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth A guttural voice whispered "Let me in "

My heart raced as the room grew colder I clutched my covers, praying it was a nightmare But the glass shattered and the creature slithered in its malevolence filling the room I was trapped by the ungodly presence

Stuck Between Reality & Memories

by Karen Santamaria

In the dimly lit, decaying asylum, Sarah sat alone in her room, her eyes darting nervously. Schizophrenia had taken hold of her mind, tormenting her with hallucinations and whispers She clutched her trembling hands desperately trying to hold onto reality

One chilling night, the whispers grew louder and more sinister Shadowy figures danced at the edge of her vision, their cruel laughter echoing through the empty corridors Sarah's heart raced as she struggled to differentiate the real from the imagined

As the days passed, her grasp on sanity slipped further The asylum's cold, stone walls seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, feeding her paranoia Sarah began to scribble frantic notes convinced that they held the key to the truth behind her torment

One evening a malevolent entity took the form of her deceased father his eyes hollow and accusing He whispered that she was responsible for his death that her schizophrenia was her punishment The room seemed to close in, and Sarah s screams pierced the night

The asylum staff, hearing her cries, rushed to her room They found her curled in the corner her eyes vacant and devoid of recognition Her grip on reality had been torn away completely

Sarah's tragic descent into madness, fueled by schizophrenia, was a horror story that would forever haunt the corridors of that asylum It served as a chilling reminder of the terrifying and relentless nature of the human mind's darkest afflictions

The First Snow of the Year, a short story written by Mashael Faisal

As the season's first snowfall blankets the world in serene beauty, I stand on my front porch letting the snowflakes seep into my pajamas Instead of retreating, I take a deep breath, feeling the chilly wind tousle my hair The frost nips at my nose strangely comforting

Amidst the melancholy the first snow serves as a reminder that this too shall pass I watch as the delicate snowflakes continue their graceful descent creating a soft white blanket on the ground The world seems hushed, and the only sounds are the distant laughter of children playing and the occasional crunch of footsteps in the snow As I step off the porch, a sense of renewal washes over me

The untouched snow is a canvas waiting to be painted with new memories, and I decide to embrace the season's magic leaving behind the weight of my worries In the midst of the serene landscape, I find solace and a glimmer of hope that, like the first snowfall, promises a fresh start It's the jolt back to reality I need My mother scolds me for standing outside in the cold, but the first snow has already whispered its calming truth

Winter Delights

By: Anita Bhojani, Mashael Fasial and Alisha Fatima

1) Tiramisu

Tiramisu is an Italian dessert made up of ladyfingers soaked in coffee, layered with mascarpone cream, and topped with cocoa powder

• Ladyfingers: Balocco Savoiardi Biscuits work well for this recipe

• Mascarpone: can be substituted by cream cheese if you must

• Espresso: can be any coffee/decaf you have available

• Heavy Whipped cream

• Granulated Sugar

• Vanilla extract: or substitute imitation vanilla

• Cocoa powder: for dusting on top

Quickly dip half of the ladyfingers in coffee syrup and arrange them in your dish/casserole

2 Combine 6 yolks and 3/4 cup sugar and continue whisking over a saucepan of simmering water for 9-10 minutes (double boiler method) Remove from steam and whisk for a few minutes to help it cool

3 Beat 16 oz mascarpone in the cooled yolk mixture until blended

4 Whip 2 cups of cold heavy cream to stiff peaks With a spatula, fold half into the mascarpone mixture then fold in the remaining half until blended

5 Spread half of the cream over the first layer of ladyfingers Dip the remaining ladyfingers and arrange over the cream Spread on the remaining cream Cover and refrigerate overnight then dust with cocoa powder and serve

2) Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle cookies are a beloved and common dessert made during winters and are essentially German cinnamon rolls but in the form of cookies instead

Unsalted butter

Sugar: brown sugar can be used instead of the average sort

Large eggs

Vanilla extract

Flour

Baking soda

Salt

Cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream 130g of butter and 195g of sugar for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the 2 eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Mix for 1-2 minutes longer.

3. Stir in 360g/3 cups of flour, ½ a teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt

4. In a small bowl, stir together 32g of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

5. If you have extra time, wrap the dough and let it refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

6. Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat well. Using a spoon, coat for a second time, ensuring the cookie balls are completely covered

7 Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet Bake for 9-11 minutes Let cool for several minutes on the baking sheet before removing from the pan

Santa's nice list

Karen Santamaria

Ainyn Sofia

Muhammad Shahbaz

Mashael Faisal

Amael Amin

Iqra Hashim

Alisha Fatima

- A special thanks from Muses Society Heads