Saturday, March 30, 2013

Netflix or Hulu Plus, which one is better?


Hello Lovelies!
 
I know this isn't my typical post, but I found myself wondering this just a couple nights ago, and I felt the need to share my thoughts.
 
Now I have been a Netflix subscriber for a couple months now, and we watch at least one thing, be it a movie or show, on there everyday. I also just recently subscribed to Hulu Plus because I found out I could catch up on missed episodes of Glee, and Bones.(guilty pleasures) At first I found myself wondering which streaming service I should keep, because I really don't want to use two different services, but after doing a little more checking into Hulu I feel I can make a good decision on which one to keep, and possibly steer you in the direction of which one of the two is best for you.
 
 
Netflix
  • $7.99 a month for streaming service
  • Great selection of shows and movies for children
  • Great selection of classic movies
  • Decent "newer" movie selection.
  • Decent show collection, but not up to date. (If the episodes you are looking for are not on dvd yet then you will not find them on there.)
  • Neat layout, selections are easy to find.
  • Good rating system that helps to find things you would like.
  • You can search by genre, title, actor/actress.

Hulu Plus  
  • $7.99 a month for streaming service.
  • Great selection of up to date shows.
  • Terrible movie selection, unless you enjoy TONS of old movies and foreign flicks.
  • Messy layout.
 
 
 
 
 Overall, I started with the 7-day free trial to catch up on missed episodes and I plan on cancelling on HuluPlus before the trial ends so I don't have to pay for a full month. If you live to watch tv shows nonstop Hulu is the choice for you, but if you crave a good selection definitely go with Netflix. Also, if you decide to go with Netflix and would like a little more access to stuff that's newer you could pay an extra $7.99 a month and get movies mailed to you.

     

    Sunday, March 24, 2013

    Chanel

    I have wanted a Chanel flap bag for the longest time. I probably need to come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to have one and just stop including them in my outfits :'(

    Friday, March 22, 2013

    March Beauty Army Review

     Hello Lovelies!
    I normally do my Ipsy and Beauty Army reviews at the same time, but this month Ipsy shipped extra early, which is always a nice surprise, so this time around they are separate. Overall this month I was pretty excited about my choices, I had a good selection of brands and products.
    According to Amlactin's website the body lotion is a special formula that contains 12% lactic acid. Lactic Acid is a naturally occurring substance that promotes retention of moisture that even Cleopatra was rumored to use in her skin regimen when she bathed in sour milk. Although it is a natural product during my research I found it can still irritate skin, especially on allergy-prone skin. I have never heard of this brand personally, but after my research I found it has wonderful reviews and they happen to carry it at Walmart for $14 for a 7 ounce bottle. (Also at Target, Walgreens, and CVS) Now, that is a little expensive in my opinion, but it is a well working lotion. Amlactin is non-greasy, fragrance free, and works really well at moisturizing skin.
    Now if you have been sticking with my reviews you would know I had a decently bad experience with the last product from Grand Central Beauty even though many people's reviews were spectacular so I was quite hesitant to test this out, but I knew I just had to. After doing a little research on the website I found that this is a brand new product and doesn't have much of a following yet, which makes me a little excited yet scared to try it, my skin is so sensitive. The polish is suppose to smooth, moisturize, reduce-redness, unclog pores,  and invigorate tired skin, and it has a built in neutralizer so you have the option to rinse or not. 
    Directions (copied from the package)
    •  Apply 1 pump (dime-size) onto clean, dry face.
    • Massage face lightly and thoroughly for 30 seconds until clear sponge beads emerge, rolling away trapped dirt and dead skin cells.
    • Buff off gently with fingertips. Rinse optional.
    • Use at least 3x week on clean face.
    I tested this polish on freshly cleansed skin and applied the dime-size like directed, but it didn't seem to be enough, and the sponge bubbles didn't emerge, so I added a little more and continued to massage. Eventually little bubbles were created, they kind of felt just like the beads in an exfoliating wash, and were slightly difficult to buff off. After I went through the process my skin begin to feel a little itchy so I decided it was best for me to go ahead and rinse. At first I noticed my skin seemed smoother, but the morning after I noticed my skin was greasier than it has ever been. I am not sure if it's just my skin type, but I do know that I will not be testing anymore products from Grand Central Beauty.
    As you know I love this brand and put my full faith in the products they make and the acne daily scrub didn't change my mind one bit. I have been having a lot of little break outs lately due to stress overload so this sample came at about the perfect time. I was concerned at first if it would be tomato-ish scented, because I do not like the smell of tomatoes, but it was a quite pleasant scent. Even though it's a facial scrub it was gentle enough to be non-irritating and worked well at leaving my skin feeling smooth, clean, and refreshed. I actually picked up a tube at my local Walgreens the same day that I tested this little packet and have been using it since and adore it. Some of the YesTo products are a little pricey, but I found this one for $7 for a decent sized tube, but all of the products I have tested are well worth price.
    This is my absolute first dry shampoo and I was quite unimpressed. New York Streets is a brand I have never heard of before, but they specialize in hair products. For this size bottle of dry shampoo on the website is $17 which is a little pricey in my opinion compared to other dry shampoos I have heard a lot about, such as Freeman Beauty's Psssssst Dry Shampoo. One thing I did not like about this company is the website, they do not have customer reviews, and ingredients listings, and I find that it's important to have those open to the public. I tested this product in two day hair and the only thing it did for me was leave my hair smelling like my grandma. (I am not saying my grandma smells bad, just old, ya know?) Now, my hair doesn't really get greasy, even if I do skip a couple washes, so it's hard for me to tell if it adequately disguises greasy/shiny hair. I can say that it was easy and quick to comb through my hair, and it did seem to make a little difference when restyling. In conclusion I think that if you have styling products in your hair this will be no help to you, and it's not really worth the money if your hair doesn't get greasy.
    I am always excited to try items like this because I don't often get a chance to relax and these "spa-like" items are as much of a chance I can get. I applied the masks like instructed, on a freshly washed face, and let them sit for twenty minutes. At first they irritated my eyes a little bit and made them feel slightly itchy, but after a couple of minutes a cooling sensation set in and they began to feel good. After twenty minutes I removed the masks and rubbed in the leftover product around my eye area. I didn't notice an immediate dramatic difference, but I noticed that my skin felt softer. They are suppose to help fight signs of aging, decrease puffiness and discoloration, and improve firmness and tone around the eyes. Honestly this product may be amazing if used regularly, but for $36 for a small pack of four I can't see myself ever purchasing and giving them a good test.
    I have never been a fan of cream blushes, but this one by far is the best I have tested quality wise. This shade is called "teen tone" and is perfect to create a slight flush, or a nearly nude lip. Typically I have issues blending cream blushes, but this one blends better than the others I have tested and seems to last quite long. My favorite use for it so far is to create a nearly nude lip combined with my favorite lip primer by Too Faced Cosmetics and a touch of gloss. With all that said after developing my thoughts about this product I pulled up Skinn Cosmetics website and realized that it is $17, which is quite pricey in my opinion.
     
    

    Saturday, March 16, 2013

    Review of NuMe's Titan 3 Curling Wand

    Hello Lovelies!
    I recently purchased my first curling wand and wanted to share my thoughts, as you can tell from the pictures below I purchased a Titan 3 from NuMe. If you haven't heard of NuMe before they are a company that specializes in hair styling tools, hair products and accessories, and they have won quite a few awards for the products they make. I learned about NuMe through numerous bloggers, and vloggers hair tutorials, and I knew that eventually I wanted to purchase tools from them. Now, NuMe products are quite expensive so my suggestion is to add them on Facebook, and Twitter, because there are many bloggers that collaborate with them and hold giveaways, and they also put out MANY coupon codes. (I actually used one to purchase this.) 
    As you can see the Titan 3 has three wonderfully sized titanium interchangeable barrels. (19mm,25mm,32mm) Also the Titan 3 uses negative ion technology to help create a look that lasts without the damage of a regular curling iron. Typically the Titan 3 is $194, but with a coupon code I was able to purchase it for $72 (shipping included). Another nice point of the Titan is that it comes with a four year warranty. 


    Titan 3 Features & Specifications
    • Digital Temperature control ranging from 122°F to 392°F
    • 3 part Titanium wands (19mm, 25mm, 32mm)
    • Utilizes the latest in digital and titanium technology
    • Infrared heat technology
    • Negative ion technology
    • Ergonomic design
    • Dual voltage
    • A variety of size choices to create the most versatile curls and/or waves
    • Heat-resistant glove included

    I have been using the Titan 3 for about two weeks now and I absolutely love it. Yes, it is much easier to burn yourself with a curling wand, and it hurts much worse than a normal curling iron, but it's worth it. The curls that you can create with this curling wand are AMAZING, I do not have to use as much hairspray as I use to, and they last even longer, I can go three days (without washing) and still have lovely curls. In the near future I will be working on some tutorials, but for now here are some pictures of my hair using the Titan. 
    Day ONE

    Day THREE!!


    I love NuMe! 

    Hard Candy Nail Polish Review

    Hello Lovelies!
    My local Walmart just started carrying the new Hard Candy nail polishes and I decided I would test out a couple, I wasn't sure about the different shades they offer and if I would like them or not so I decided to go with just the three pictured below.

    Left to Right: Jubilee, Fireworks, Little Bo Pink          $4 each

     I was quite bummed out with the outcome of this polish called Jubilee, from the bottle it appears to have a darker green tint to it instead of this yellow-ish green that shows on my nail. In the picture above I applied two coats of Jubilee and as you can see the glitter flecks are quite sparse and it definitely looks much better in the bottle.
     After testing out all the colors of the polishes on my nails I created this look pictured below using two coats of  Julep's olive green polish called Laura, and two coats of Jubilee.
    Once again another polish that looks much better in the bottle, Fireworks. On my nail pictured above I have two coats of the polish and the it's quite sheer with just a slight touch of pink. I absolutely love the different shades of glitter though, I just wish they would show up more.
     Out of the three polishes I tried this is my definite favorite, and it's called Little Bo Pink. It is part of Hard Candy's Itzy Glitzy Collection, which I am considering trying more of, and it is pretty much the perfect shade of playful girly pink. I am typically a red polish kind of girl, but this is perfect when I am feeling like expressing my girly side. On my nail pictured above I used only two shades, but for future use I think I will be using three to create a better brighter pink. My favorite part of the polish is that it is shimmery, but not over the top.
    Overall I am not that impressed with the Hard Candy nail collection from testing these three polishes, they also seem more appropriate for younger girls. If you are looking for more budget friendly polishes I would stick with Sinful Colors, they are half the price of Hard Candy's polishes and much better quality.
    

    Sunday, March 10, 2013

    March Ipsy Bag Review

    Hello Lovelies!
    I was super surprised to see my package from Ipsy in the mail on Friday, especially considering that I had received the tracking code about ten minutes before checking the mail. I tested the products out later on Friday and just had to get the review out to you guys as soon as possible. 
    This month's theme is "the great escape" which seems a little more like we are welcoming summer instead of spring, but it's still nice to see something different. I do love the nautical printed bag, I am so happy that they finally agreed to do some prints, and I am hoping next month's in something more "springy" and possibly floral. Overall this month doesn't include much, this has to be the smallest amount of samples I have received yet, but the products we did receive are quite nice.
    Wipes such as these ones are a necessity for makeup bags, and traveling, although I do find these a bit expensive for such a small pack. These wipes do work well to remove makeup quickly, but they are a tad bit too greasy for my skin, and the scent makes me think of baby wipes. 
     I have heard a lot about the Glam RX Touch Up Palette but have never really wanted to purchase it for myself, and this is kind of a mini of that. The real touch up palette consists of concealer, lip balm, shine erase powder, black eyeliner, mirror, and magnetic bottom level that can hold your personal makeup that comes in a metal tray (They are $17). This Glam RX thing that we received with out Ipsy bag does not include any of the makeup, it's simply the mirror and magnetic bottom level. Considering most of my eye shadows are in palettes this wont really be of any use for me, except to hold my little sample trays I have received from Yaby, Coastal Scents etc. If you are the type of person who uses a lot of single eye shadows this palette may work nicely for you depending on how you like to organize you makeup, and if you feel like "de-potting" some of your shadows. 
     These small shadow samples are from Yaby Cosmetics, shadow in top picture is called "Sand Dune", and bottom is called "So Vein". "Sand Dune" is almost a perfect match to my skin color and works well for a nude natural eye, and I absolutely adore "So Vein" and it's bright shade of teal. (I am using the Glam RX palette to store these.)  Both of these shadows blend well and are highly pigmented, they especially pop when paired with a eye primer/base. You can purchase these trays in a 3 gram size for $3.15 each.  
    Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist  $22 for a 6.75 oz bottle. 
    This hydrating mist is made from organic ingredients and is said to be great for all skin types. The first thing I noticed when spritzing this upon my face is that not only does it feel refreshing, but it also smells refreshing. My skin instantly appeared brighter and it made me feel more awake and ready to go. As a hint on the products website they say to refrigerate this product in the summer months for an even more refreshing sensation, and I can not wait till it's warm enough to test that theory. This product in itself has me browsing through Juice Beauty's website and wanting to make a little order of my own, so stay tuned. 

    Overall this month's bag seems to be disappointing people because of the small amount of products, but I have decided I will just look at the positives. 

    1. I have never tested anything from any of these companies before, and they all turned out quite well. 
    2. We finally received a printed bag after asking for months, and I love nautical prints. 
    3. Ipsy attempted to compile a bag that would leave us happy in hopes that we were planning a spring getaway. 





    Coastal Scents Sweetheart Collection Review

    Hello Lovelies!

     As you can see I recently received a lovely package from +Coastal Scents which included the Sweetheart Collection. I didn't plan on making any big purchases of makeup anytime soon, but I just couldn't pass all this up for just $34.95. Plus, my lovely daughter decided to attempt to eat my favorite eyeshadow palette so I needed to find a replacement. Now the only products I have used from Coastal Scents in the past were eyeshadow samples I received in my monthly subscriptions, so I decided I definitely had to post a thorough review of everything.
    These little samples were extras and not included in the collection. I love that Coastal Scents provides such wonderful samples. I used the "Butterfly Garden" sample set to create the look pictured below, along with the brushes, blush too palette, and liquid eyeliner from the collection.

    I fully believe you can never have enough good brushes so I was excited to test this little set, but they didn't really leave me wanting to purchase any more brushes from Coastal Scents. Personally I thought that all the brushes were a little too stiff and that they were cheaply made, as I was applying my makeup I had little hairs from the brush left all over my face. Sold separately for $1.95-2.95 each.
    My first blush palette! I just recently really started to experiment with different shades of blush, and this palette has a great range of shades. Now, I am not a fan at all of the orange blush, but I bet there are women out there that can pull it off, I tend to lean to the lighter pinks on a regular basis. Sold separately for $19.95.
    Yay for more eyeliner! This liquid eyeliner has a standard stiff applicator that makes it easy to get a good straight line and create a winged eyeliner look, and at first I absolutely adored it. The liner is highly pigmented and dries quickly, but I find it flaking off after a couple hours of wear. Sold Separately for $2.95.
    I have never really been a fan of these gloss lip quads, mostly because they typically don't provide enough pigment for my liking, and because the gloss normally leaves my lips feeling waxy yet dry. This lip quad is pretty much just like the rest in my opinion, they do work well though for travel and on-the-go makeup. Sold separately for $6.95.
    Now onto the biggest most important part of the collection that makes it worth it, the eyeshadow palette. This palette includes 88 jewel toned shadows, and inlcudes more natural shades than any of my other palettes. These shadows blend well and are highly pigmented, especially when paired with a good eyeshadow primer/base. I have been using the shades of blues/greens the most and have been loving this palette. Separately this palette is $24.95.

    Overall I think the collection is a pretty good one, and separately everything adds up to about $65.

    Thursday, March 7, 2013

    My utterly superficial wishlist continued

    I am curently feeling sorry for myself because I am ill in bed with a cold :( To make myself feel better I thought it'd be a good idea to make a post of all the things that I can't afford and/or am not allowed to buy.
     
    Prada Saffiano. I love this leather! But it's so expensive I just can't bring myself to buying it. I was thinking though, I might ditch my pride and just buy a fake, what do you guys think? That's really cheap isn't it?
     
     
    Mercedes 2012 A-Class. I would have never thought in a million years that I would even like let alone want an A-Class; I always thought the fat, ugly 1997 model and all the generations that proceeded it would go down in history for being Mercedes' biggest screwup of all time. But they have well and truly redeemed themselves with this baby and I'm not surprised either - it was designed by the same guy who designed the SLS AMG supercar... I am so in love.


    A camel. No I'm not joking. I want a one-humped camel to my name, they're just so cute. I've sort of been obsessed ever since I rode one as a kid. Their milk is not too bad either. Look at the baby's face!!
     
     
    Miu Miu iPad case. Yep, it is beautiful, and it probably will protect my iPad from breaking but at £380 I figured that I should give it a miss and just buy a spare backup iPad with the money instead...
    And last but not least on my list:
     
     
    I'd have made the list longer but I'm only half awake, in fact it's quite amazing that I'm still typing in an actual language. Anyway, my list is never-ending so I'll continue it another day. Night!

    Saturday, March 2, 2013

    Walgreens Haul

    Hello Lovelies!
    About a week ago I had a little time to spare between when I got out of work and when I had to pick up the kids so I decided I would take a little trip to +Walgreens, I wasn't sure what I planned to purchase, but I just was in the mood to browse. Now, I don't often head to Walgreens considering I work at Walmart, but when I do I almost always find something I just have to have, and this was one of those days.
    New Nail Addiction
    So while browsing I happened to stumble across (almost literally) a display of nail polish by Sinful Colors and was amazed by the beautiful selection of shades they offered so I decided to pick up a few, at only $2 a polish they are DEFINITELY worth it. I was not sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved the colors and wanted to try it and I am glad I did. I purchased six different shades, and so far every one only takes one coat and dries quite quickly. Pictured above from left to right is Lush Life, Kissy, and Rise & Shine (Matte). After doing a little research about the company I also found out that they are made right here in the United States, which is always a plus in my opinion. Pictured Below from left to right is sweet nothing, sweet tooth, and sugar sugar. Another reason I absolutely adore Sinful Colors is because every polish from them has a wonderful name.
    Where to Buy:
    Walgreens
    Walmart (not in all)
    Target
    Meijers
    Rite Aid
    On my way out of the beauty section of Walgreens I happened to spot this little beauty from Wet N Wild's Fergie Collection called Make Them Boys Go Loco.
    Now, I have been curious about blending sponges since the release of the Beauty Blender, but I never seen the point of paying $20 for a sponge I wasn't sure I would like. So, when I came across this blending sponge by Studio 35 Beauty for only $6 I knew I had to try it. Now when opening the package the first thing I noticed was that it didn't include any instructions, so before I could even use the sponge I had to do a little research. I noticed some people use the sponge wet, and some use it dry, so I decided I had to test it both ways. The first time I applied foundation with the sponge dry and although I did get an even application I felt that the sponge was absorbing up too much of my foundation. The second time I tested it wet and it worked so much better, the sponge didn't absorb my foundation and the application looked smoother, and I didn't have to work at blending as hard as I do when using a brush. Now to get the sponge wet I ran warm water and just placed the sponge underneath until it filled with water, afterwards I squeezed as much of the water out as possible leaving the sponge only damp, you do not want the water to be able to drip out while applying your makeup. These sponges can be used for all sorts of makeup applications and they have the big rounded end for larger areas, and the small pointed ends for smaller areas. I have been using this sponge for a couple days now and I do like it much better than any previous applicator I have used.
    I have heard many other drugstore hauls mention Revlon's Just Bitten Lipstain and Balm, but I have no clue what they seen in it, I purchased it in a pink shade called Desire and I wasn't that impressed. For starters the lip stain took quite a few applications before you could even see a hint of color, and it made my lips feel extremely dry (maybe that is why they include some lip balm). The lip balm is just a generic simple balm that didn't last long, but did give my lips a little shine.
    I have been searching for some peel-off facial masks in a couple local stores so when I seen this I just had to grab it. I have tested a couple products from Freeman's before and liked them, so I wasn't hesitant at trying the brand, and I like the scent of cucumber. This mask is suppose to clarify and renew skin, and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed, soft, and clean.
     For the past about eight months I have been a rocking a lovely shade of natural red called Hot Tamale, and it takes A LOT of upkeep, so I bought this John Frieda Radiant Red Shampoo and Conditioner in hopes that it will help prolong my color. I have been using this for about a two weeks now and I have noticed that I have A LOT less washout of color, and my hair has more shine to it. This shampoo and conditioner also has a wonderful scent and leaves my hair softer, and less frizzy. They offer this shampoo for all hair colors and I would especially recommend it to women who have problems with washout.

    Explained - "Top 10 Quran quotes every woman must see"


    I recently came across this list of ten "controversial" quran iyat that supposedly shows how Islam oppresses women. The list is called "Top 10 quran quotes every woman must see" and contains verses that have actually been cut and also some misinterpreted. As this list has been reposted on so many sites and nobody seems to have defended them, I decided to do some research and put up an explanation to all these iyat.

    10. "Your women are a tilth for you so go to your tilth as you will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that you will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers." [Surat Al-Baqarah:223]

    In the list is it made out as though this means that women are objects for men to use however they like. The reality is that this iya was sent down to clear up a specific confusion that some people had over babies coming out with squints if a couple were to conceive in a particular way (the hadith can be read here [hadith number 3363]). The iya was simply telling them that their beliefs were unfounded and a couple can conceive however they like. It is important to note that this iya is talking about conception, which is why the word "tilth" has been used: it is making reference to the sowing of seeds. I do not see it as derogatory to women, quite the opposite actually; is it not important for a farmer to put care and attention into growing his crops?


    9. "Women who are divorced shall wait, keeping themselves apart, three (monthly) courses. And it is not lawful for them that they should conceal that which Allah hath created in their wombs if they are believers in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands would do better to take them back in that case if they desire a reconciliation. And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise." [Surat Al-Baqarah:228]

    Found it funny that in the list only the bold part of the iya was mentioned and they had added the words 'in status' at the end, which isn't actually part of the iya. Anyway, onto the explanation:

    The general consensus amongst scholars is that the highlighted part of the iya is basically saying two things:

    1. Allah (swt) gave a husband and wife similar rights over each other in responsibility...

    2. ... but He (swt) gave the man a greater degree of responsibility over the woman than that of woman over the man. It follows that the rights owned to the wife are nonnegotiable, whereas the husband has to give up certain rights.

    Al-Tabari in his Tafsir narrated from Ibn `Abbas: "The daraja ('degree') mentioned by Allah (swt) here is the forfeiting, on the man's part, of some his wife's obligations towards him and his indulgence towards her, while he is fully obligated to fulfil all his obligations towards her, because the verse came right after {And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them}.

    "The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives." - Prophet Muhammed (s)


    8. Allah directs you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases Is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether Your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise.." [Surat Al-Nisa:11]

    Again, only the bold part of this iya was mentioned in the list, deliberately deceiving in my opinion.
    Explanation:In Islam, the son is responsible for a family, while a daughter is taken care of by her husband and even if she does work she is not obliged to give her husband any money even though he is obliged to provide for her. For this reason, it is only fair that men would get a larger share of inheritance.
    Having said this, Allah (swt) commands in Surat Al Baqarah:180 that a will should be left to conform with the specific circumstances of the deceased. For example, if the son is rich and the daughter is poor, one may leave a will giving the daughter everything, or twice as much as the son. What is explained in the iya above is a recommendation of how the money should be spilt IF a will has not been left.


    7. "O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men, then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon." [Surat Al-Baqarah:282]
     
    I have discussed this iya with Muslims before and some of them explain it by saying that women are more emotional and therefore forget things more than men. I find that really patronising and undoubtedly wrong.

    The Qur’an has taught that the witness of a woman is just as valid as that of a man, and made no distinction regarding the sex of a witness in every single reference except this one – granting two female witnesses in legal cases where women had little knowledge or expertise. The intention of this concession was to prevent women being tricked or cheated by unscrupulous men who could take advantage of their inexperience in business matters - in those days men heavily dominated in businesses and women were generally not involved in such things.
    In every other kind of case, there is no reason why the witness of a woman should not be just as reliable as evidence as that of a man, and no distinction of either sex is made anywhere else in the Quran where witnesses are mention. E.g: "Those who accuse a chaste woman of fornication and do not produce four witnesses to support their allegation, shall be flogged with eighty lashes and their testimony shall not be accepted ever after, for they are the ones who are wicked transgressors."The text implies any four witnesses, who could be of either sex.

    Ridiculous places like Saudi Arabia and their "1 male witness=2 females" have got it so, so, SO wrong.

    6. And if he hath divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she hath wedded another husband. Then if he (the other husband) divorces her it is no sin for both of them that they come together again if they consider that they are able to observe the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah. He manifesteth them for people who have knowledge. [Surat Al-Baqarah:230]

    I don't understand why this is supposed to be oppressive to women. It's just discouraging men from proclaiming a divorce every time they get angry, and then changing their minds once they've calmed down. Let's face it, if you remarry and divorce 3 times, you probably shouldn't be together anyway. This iya is logical, and the only person it would 'oppress' is a fickle husband.
     

    5. "And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except 'ma malakat aymanukum'. This is the decree of Allah upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise."
    The phrase "ma malakat aymanukum", is often interpreted as "those who your right hand possess", which apparently lets men have sex with slaves outside of wedlock. I have never believed this interpretation, it goes against all logic. So what I found when doing some research into the iya was very interesting and far more logical:
    Explanation:The Arabic word "aymanukum" is plural for "yameenukum", which can mean either "your right hand", or "your oath". There are are many iyas in the Quran, where this exact same word appears, and is correctly translated as meaning: 'your oath'.

    Here are two examples, although there are many more:

    1. "And do not make Allah the subject of your OATHS (aymanukum). Be righteous and secure and reconcile among the people; and Allah is Hearer, Knower. Allah will not call you to account for your OATHS (aymanukum); but He will call you to account for what has entered your hearts... [2:224]

    2. "And do not use your OATHS (aymanukum) as a means of deception between you, that a foot will slip after it has been made firm, and you will taste the evil of turning away from the path of Allah, and you will have a great retribution" [16:94]

    "Ma malakt aymanukum" in the context of this iya is thought to actually refer to believing women who are married to disbelievers and escape their husbands, seeking to marry faithful men. The faithful swear an oath to take these women under their wing, because they no longer have anyone to care for them. Technically these women are now "committed by oath". This is an example of "ma malakat aymanukum". The faithful men can marry these women provided that the woman returns the dowry to her previous husband.
    The phrase does NOT mean "slaves that your right hands possess"
    "And for each We have made inheritors for what was left behind by the parents and the relatives. And THOSE BOUND BY YOUR OATHS ('allazheena a'akidat aymanukum') you shall give them their portion. Allah is a witness over all things" [4:33]

    The bottom line is that the ayah 4:24 is setting believing men a restriction: they are not permitted to marry certain women. Among these restricted women, are all married women except those committed to you by OATHS.

    4. "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or 'ma malakat aymanukum', that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice." [Surat Al-Nisa:3]
     
    1.Allah (swt) allowed polygamy only for helping the orphans as more women were needed to take care of the increasing number orphans from both sides after every battle. It was a real necessity of the time.
    2.Men must be fair to their wives or else to never marry more than one
    3. Notice how the iya starts and finishes with a reference to making sure justice is done to all those involved.
    4. This law was in no way instilled for the gratification of men. It was so orphans would be provided for and looked after. Although it is legal today in Muslim countries, there is no longer a need for it like there was at the time.

    3. And you will never be able to be equal between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [towards one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allah - then indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
     
    According to the list, this verse shows that men can, and I quote, "simply get rid of an undesirable wife". Sorry, how? All this iya does is make it even more difficult for men to take more than one wife.

    2. "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (their husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) 'idribuhunna'; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all)."

    This verse is often used by non-Muslims (and sometimes Muslims) to prove that Islam allows hitting of the wife as a "last resort". Muslims tend to say that the hitting must be very light, light enough not to leave a mark; some saying it should be done with a toothpick... The thought of having a husband that hit me with a toothpick as a last resort for my ill-conduct actually cracks me up. Anyway...
    Explanation:The Arabic word used in verse 4:34 above is "idribuhunna", which is derived from "daraba", which means "beat". The thing with all of the Arabic words that are derived from the word "daraba" is that they don't necessarily mean "hit". The word "idribuhunna" for instance, could very well mean to "leave".
    Allah (swt) used the word "darabtum", which is derived from the word "daraba" in the SAME surah to mean "go abroad" for the sake of Allah Almighty:

    "O ye who believe! When ye go abroad (darabtum) In the cause of Allah, Investigate carefully, And say not to anyone Who offers you a salutation: 'Thou art none of a Believer!' Coveting the perishable good Of this life: with Allah Are profits and spoils abundant. Even thus were ye yourselves Before, till Allah conferred On you His favours: therefore Carefully investigate. For Allah is well aware Of all that ye do." [4:94]
    The word is also used in another iya to mean "give" in the phrase "give an example". So "daraba" can mean "beat", "travel/leave" or "give".
    I am inclined to believe that the term "daraba" in this iya means "to leave" the wife altogether. It's more logical, first you talk to her, if that doesn't work you refuse to share her bed and if that doesn't work, you leave her altogether (or hit her with a toothpick, you decide).

    1. "The waiting period of those of your women who have lost all expectation of menstruation shall be three months in case you entertain any doubt; and the same shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated. As for pregnant women, their waiting period shall be until the delivery of their burden. Allah will create ease for him who fears Allah."
     
    Apparently the bold part of the iya means that premenstrual girls are allowed to get married in Islam. This is a controversial subject so I'm just going to stick to the basics. The most logical interpretation of this iya is that "those who have not menstruated yet" is referring to the women that are still waiting for their period simply because it hasn't come yet; there are many different health reasons why a woman's period can be late or missed altogether. In Islam, a large part of marriage is about producing offspring, why then would Muslim men marry girls that cannot bear children? The answer is, they wouldn't.
    I really hope that this was helpful and cleared up some of the many misunderstandings about women in Islam.
     
    "And of His signs is that He created for you wives from among yourselves that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought" [30:21]