MARCH GIRL OF THE MONTH: MIMI GHANDOUR

Mimi is wearing the Butterfly Dress in Salmon.

Our March Pitusa Girl Of The Month is Mimi Ghandour, blogger, mother and Miami mama-on-the-go. Just like we do with each of the amazing women we feature–we have a Mimi inspired discount! Enter MIMI25 at checkout for 25% off your order!* Mimi is an inspiration: not only is she an accomplished and successful businesswoman, she is also a committed healthcare activist—she raises awareness about Hypotonia, a muscle condition her daughter, Hala, was born with, also known as floppy infant syndrome. Her blog covers everything from her impeccable style to healthy recipes to yoga, as well as what it’s like to be the mother of a child with a disability. She owns a wildly successful bakery in Saudi Arabia called Munch Bakery and she started an organization to inform and help parents with children suffering from Hypotonia. Of the organization, Mimi says: “It places an emphasis on the importance of early intervention, physical and occupational therapy, as well as speech therapy in patients. Throughout Hypotonia.org I log Hala’s journey as an example to help parents navigate their way through this struggle.” Did we mention that she’s also a yoga teacher? She’s so busy we can barely keep up!

For Mimi it runs in the family: she was inspired from a young age to be self-motivated by her mother who was a stylist to many clients in the Middle East. She grew up working in her mother’s boutique and it was there, she says, she developed a “passion for fashion”. But it wasn’t until last year, when Mimi was in one of her daily yoga classes (she practices Ashtanga Yoga 6 days a week), and a fellow practitioner asked her if she was a fashion blogger that she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps. When asked about her style, Mimi says: “I think what makes my style unique is that I don’t ascribe to anything specific —it’s dynamic and constantly changing. It depends on my day, my mood, where I’m going. I really like to change it up.” Mimi loves wearing our Kimono with our Wrap Belt– she’ll throw it over her yoga clothes from class to a dinner out. For a beach day with her daughter, Hala, she says “I love a classic Pima Abaya. So light and easy.”

Mimi doing yoga in the Cheetah Jumpsuit.
Mimi doing yoga in the Cheetah Jumpsuit.

 

One of the most rewarding aspects of having her website and Instagram is that she is able to connect with other parents with disabilities, and it’s what keeps her going: “I discovered that being open is critical for myself as well as for others who have children with Hypotonia or special needs. Staying engaged through social media provides a platform for other mothers to relate and share similar experiences as we struggle through this journey. Together we can learn more about the condition and most importantly, all special needs mothers can feel that they are not alone!”

If you spend even just a few minutes with Mimi or read her posts, it’s clear she has a real belief in the power of positivity: “I believe that our struggle together brings us closer every day. Hala and I are the best of friends and her resilience, strength, strong-personality, and will is infectious. As I look into her eyes every day, I become more and more motivated to find new and better options for her and her future. She drives me and gives me strength that I never knew I had. My advice to someone who is struggling with a similar situation is to take it one day at a time. Stay strong through your journey, love yourself, and always remember that we were blessed with our special children so they can stand out rather than blend in.”

Mimi is most certainly a strong, multifaceted renaissance woman—like all women are really, so it’s fitting to have her with us during Women’s History Month. We asked her to share some of her amazing recipes with our Pitusa readers. Mimi went a little bit healthy, a little bit naughty with her Raw Banana Pie Jar (which she has almost every day as an afternoon snack) and Whole Wheat Manaeeesh (which is a great crowd pleaser for parents and kids alike)!

Mimi wearing the Santorini Dress in White.

Raw Banana Pie Jar

(Layer 1) – For the base
INGREDIENTS
– 1 cup pitted dates
– 1/2 cup pecans
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 tbs cocoa powder
>> Mix all together in the blender until a dough is formed, then place in each jar a small amount to cover the base.

(Layer 2)
INGREDIENTS
– 3 frozen bananas
– 1 cup coconut water
– 2 tbs coconuts flakes -raw
– Handful of cashews
>> Blend all together and for over the first layer.

(Layer 3)
INGREDIENTS
– One cup frozen strawberries
>> Blend and pour over layer 2
>> Then place in freezer until frozen. Before serving top it with some fresh blueberries and enjoy!

Whole Wheat Manaeeesh

INGREDIENTS
– 2 cups whole wheat flour
– 2 cups regular flour
– 1/4 cup olive oil
– 2 packets self-rising yeast
– 1 tbs brown sugar
– 1 tsp salt
– 1.5 cups of warm water

PREPARATION
>> Preheat oven to 350F
>> In a bowl put the 1.5 cups of water and add the two packets of yeast. Mix with whisk and leave 15 min.
>> Then, add all the rest of the ingredients and mix until a dough is formed.
>> In a separate bowl, brush it with 2 tbs of olive oil and transfer the dough to it.
>> Leave the dough in a warm area of your kitchen and cover the bowl with a kitchen towel until the dough rises (about 2 hours)
>> Then roll the dough out on any smooth surface and sprinkle with whole wheat flour so it doesn’t stick.
>> Cut out small circles
>> Top with cheese or Zaatar mixture
>> Put in oven for 10 min and enjoy!

Mimi is wearing the Santorini Dress in White.
Mimi lounging in the Bali Wrap Dress.
Mimi wearing the Bali Fringe Cover-Up and the Wrap Belt.

 

*Discounts don’t apply to SS18 collection.


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