When Yasmeen shared with me that she would be celebrating her 6 years of sweetness at the MET I was ecstatic and shocked. I mean...a party... at the MET?... THE. MET?! Only months ago the most star-studded ensemble of celebrities graced the same steps at the MET Gala and I was going to walk those same steps to celebrate my friend’s success. NOT TO MENTION Yasmeen would be celebrating her success in none other than the Temple of Dendur, where the actual Gala dinner is held. *Gasp* How does Yasmeen do it? The past couple of years alone have been a whirlwind. She sprinkled her sweetness at the Forbes 100 Year Anniversary Party, Instagram, Facebook, and with the one and only, Oprah Winfrey. It is amazing to see Yasmeen build her empire while at the same time, illuminating as a single mom to her 10 year old entrepreneur, Zain. Only Boss Ladies can juggle life the way she does! Am I wrong? So the moment I got her invite, I booked the first flight to New York from Dallas. That’s how the Traveling Hijabista Flies.
When I arrived at the MET with my girl tribe we were welcomed with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. I was dressed in a long formal dress designed by Turkish designer, Rasit Bagzibagli which sparkled under the glamorous MET lighting. As a hostess escorted us into The Temple of Dendur, we all were stunned. Pillars of flowers towered overhead as a romantic palette of soft rose and velvety navy draped the room. Gilded flowers and candles gave the whole room a warm and inviting glow. Style by Marc’s florals and lighting brought a modern twist to the Temple and I just couldn’t believe that we were going to have mocktails in one of Egypt’s 1st century BCE Temples. As an Egyptian, I think my ancestors would’ve absolutely loved how Marc’s vision came to life.
Yasmeen, wearing a stunning, embellished cape-like dress designed by Ese Azenbor, welcomed us to her sweetness wonderland, and yes, sweetness wonderland is a thing when you’re with Yasmeen. I had no idea where to start my sweet tooth journey. Every corner of the exhibit had one of Yasmeen’s signature pieces.
And then it caught my eye… Is that a blow torch? No, it’s Yasmeen’s newest creation, the Zphere making its debut in pure Yasmeen fashion. Zphere is an edible vapor bubble top on a mocktail and it is something to be experienced! The mocktail began aqua blue in color and then pour a splash mango nectar and, in a couple of seconds, voila! my drink was a beautiful emerald green color. Wait a couple moments more and it was topped with a Zphere. The fog that vaporizes when the sphere pops, and the infusion of mango and berry makes this drink extra magical.
Throughout the night I indulged on South African peppermint crisp popcorn and a myriad of macaron flavors while talking to some of the guests. We mixed and mingled for hours chatting about how Yasmeen had sweetened our lives.
One of my favorite parts of the night was getting to see some of what happened behind the scenes. The Make Your Life Sweeter team worked together like a family. I truly understood why Yasmeen’s empire is so successful. It takes a village
Celebrating Yasmeen’s 6 Year Anniversary in the same space that the MET Gala is hosted annually was truly a magical, unforgettable experience. What a way to toast to her success!
Happy Anniversary Yasmeen!
With Love,
Alaa
@thetravelinghijabista
