Autumn

Assalamu alaikom; peace.

I've been walking for exercise. I started when the kids started back to school. After I dropped off Maryam at 8:30, I'd come home and go straight out to the trail by my house. I even increased the liklihood of me walking by wearing my walking clothes and shoes before leaving the house. My hurdle was not so much my laziness, but my hesitance to mess up Aisha's morning nap. She normally would fall asleep right after we'd get home from dropping off Maryam and then sleep 2 hours. But this time block was my only chance during the day to get out on the trail. So, I tried it out. I'd put her in the stroller and off we'd go. Most of the time she'd fall asleep, but would wake up shortly after getting home. That reduced her nap time to, like, 25 minutes, instead of 2 hours. I didn't like that at all, but I still did it most mornings.

Then, the weather started up. Windy, cool mornings made it hard to walk with the baby. I knew we had a plastic stroller cover, but hadn't bothered to know how to use it. So, anyway, I did my pilates dvd on the days I didn't walk. This morning was beautiful, though, and I really felt the need to get out there and WALK! So I figured out how to put the plastic on the stroller, and off we went. It was really really beautiful. One of those fall days. Crisp, fresh air. Clear skies, bright sunshine. Little critters along the path, birds chirping, and leaves falling. We even crunched some acorns along the sidewalk. I collected a few leaves from the ubiquitous Bradford Pear trees. They turn some wicked designs and colors!

I'm thankful to my friend who gave me a swift kick in the behind back in August. She said I had to get out there and work it. Walk, run, sweat, whatever it takes. She said I HAD to make that hour for myself, and I would be and feel better. She was right. May Allah reward you habibti and give you good health, too. When I go for one of my walks, I remember her and her great advice. I make sure to praise God often (which is easy to do when you're out in nature). I come back feeling physically and mentally renewed. Here is a verse from the Holy Quran, Chapter 7 Verses 57 and 58:

" And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain). Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water (rain) to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember or take heed. The vegetation of a good land comes forth (easily) by the Permission of its Lord; and that which is bad, brings forth nothing but (a little) with difficulty. Thus do We explain variously the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses) for a people who give thanks."

To Be Or Not To Be

Assalamu alaikom; peace :)

So, Facebook has turned out to be a funny, unique arena for one to express herself and to see into others' lives. It's actually close to blogging. You share how you feel, what you're reading, who you saw, and where you're going. We find out what you had for dinner last night, and which groceries you forgot while at the store today. Your car broke down, you ran into George W on the elevator at work, or your kids are all throwing up. It's brilliant, really. No one really has to answer. And what's easier is the 'Like' button. How great is that! You don't even have to think of anything to say... just "LIKE".

But here's the catch about facebook; there is no "dislike". It's kind of an unwritten rule. You cannot dislike, disagree, or 'dis' in general anyone's status or pic. Someone puts up a crazy drunk picture of herself, and you feel it is out of line. Have you ever read any comment that said "you look terrible" or "why on Earth would you publish this on the net"? I never have. And I've seen pictures from "friends" that have made me cringe. I've read status updates with some colorful words that have made me cringe. And what did I do? Scroll, scroll, scroll. What else is there to do? More than once I clicked to 'comment' but just couldn't. Because how rude and judgmental would that sound! So, ya, facebook is like the place where everyone will reinforce whatever you just said. "Cute!" "Great!" etc.. If you really don't like what you read, chances are you'll never say it, and you'll never know who agrees with you!

Hence, my blog.

This is one reason I was motivated to start it. I actually set up this account a few months ago, but I never started the actual blogging. Recently, I've felt that I've had to suppress what I really believe and really think to spare the feelings of those who read my Facebook. I know, it's kinda weird, but I see all sorts of things that over the course of the day end up bugging me b/c I never get the chance to speak my mind. Now, I'm not going to come here and backbite or gossip about who said what on FB!!! LOL, nope, but I will get to write about the beliefs I am passionate about and the way of life I love. It is kind of conservative, so that is one reason why the general masses on FB bother me. See, as a practicing Muslim, I try to do things that are going to please my Creator. I want to stay away from the doubtful, from the disliked, and from the things that will take me away from the remembrance of Him. When I see or read things that go against my beliefs, I recognize that that is someone else's choice, but to not say anything about it is what brings me down. The hardest part is when I see other Muslims doing those things, because we supposedly share the same beliefs and I want for them what I want for myself.

What I see coming up in this blog is an outlet for me to share the joys of my faith. I want to increase my faith, not let it get run down. I want to, once again, remember Allah in all of my actions and to purify my intentions. It should be for His sake alone. That is where the joy is...and I want to share that! I know a lot my friends and readers are not Muslims, but I hope you will keep checking back here even after this long blog today. You will see how alike we are, how alike our beliefs are. You will have to muddle through (or skip over) the Arabic words I stick in here or there :) But please please please do feel free to ask me anything. I am comfortable and happy to try to answer any questions you might have. And for my fellow Muslim sisters who are following, I hope to be, if anything, a bit of encouragement in your day :) Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!

 

Monday's Menu

Saturday I planned out what we'll be having for dinner this week, so I will share.
Mon-Tue; Spaghetti and meatsauce, salad
Wed; Vegetable curry with rice
Thurs/Fri; Chicken Paprika w/ rice; leftover veggie curry
Desserts: pecan pie, pound cake (when time permits..)

Briefly before bed...

If you like the taste of mexican food, here is a quick family dinner you can make (and alter) easily:
5-6 chicken breasts, cubed
1 cup salsa
1 pkg taco seasoning (I don't use that,so I put chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and 1T or 2T tomato paste.)
2 cups water
1 can black beans (optional)
Cooked rice

In a large skillet, cook chicken in about 1 T oil til it's white.
Sprinkle with seasonings, add salsa, water. Bring to boil, reduce and simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes. You can add the beans towards the end.

I serve with cooked rice, but another way is to put some minute rice in the skillet and let it cook with it. Top with cheese if you like.

On the menu for the next few days:
Homemade Hamburgers
Fasulieh (Arabic dish with green beans and cubed beef)
Chicken Paprika
Maybe a grilled something or other on the weekend.

Cluck Cluck

Assalamu alaikom, peace!

No, that's not the sound of me getting clucky, as in I am wanting another baby.. nooo nooo nooooo. It's the sound of the little hens I want to raise making their presence known in my head. Yes, I've been hearing them clucking away for a year or two now. Ever since we lived in Redmond with that gorgeous back yard, I've dreamt of having a few little egg laying chickens. Sure, they're messy and stinky. And noisy. But I thought it would be fun. Then I got pregnant with this last one, and I told them to be quiet in there b/c I wasn't going to happen soon.



Fast forward to my new house in Plano, and it seems it's become a craze now people raising their own chickens! What is this!!! The city of Dallas has made it legal to raise them in your backyard in the city, but Plano has not yet, at leat not on homes on small lots. They are getting pressured to, but it hasn't happened yet. In the meantime, I've met a lady who lives in McKinney who not only has chickens but a bunch of other animals. Ok, they live on some acrage, but I was curious. I love asking her about them. Then, I hear of these teeny tiny chicks that people are buying specifically for the backyard b/c they are sooo tiny that they're a breeze to take care of! And their eggs are tiny AND colored! Cute! How much more Dallas can you get? My husband commented today that I've been talking chicken a lot lately, and that he feels like I might be moving some in. I laughed. Yes, it's been a fantasy, but for now I'll stick to raising my 4 little monkeys :)

my life: meal planning

Assalamu alaikom and peace to you all!
Today being Sunday, I naturally wander to that place in mind called "What's For Dinner". Yes, there's a whole section in my head for this. It has to be there. I have hungry tummies to feed, masha'Allah, and I better not drop the ball! Years of experience have finally brought me to a very comfortable place where meal planning is no longer maddening. After reading countless blogs, website, and talking to friends about it, I've come to terms with this daunting part of my job. Basically, I have collected 30 main dish recipes that we all love to have for dinner. Well, it's almost at 30, I'm not far off and it takes a special meal to please all of us! So all of these meals have earned a spot in my card box. I've laminated them. Unsuccessfully. What? I used those laminating pages you buy at the office supply stores, but they peeled back and came off the next day!!! Ok, so now I have almost 30 sticky recipe cards, but they are THE top recipes in my life,right? So all i have to do is pick out about 4 or 5 cards that look good for the upcoming week and make sure I've got all the ingredients necessary. Voila. We do our grocery shopping on the weekend (Costco, Safeway, Halal butcher) I cook whichever one I want whenever it is convenient for me. Problem solved! This system has seriously worked wonders for me~ thanks to the ladies at http://littlenannygoat.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-heck-it-30-meal-plan.html

Boy do Sundays stink

Assalamu alaikom and peace to you all,
As far back as I can remember, I hated Sundays. Mom and I concluded it was the lack of structure to the day. Other theories come and go, but they all include feelings of sadness, boredom, disappointment, and blah-dom. So here I am, pushing 35, and I still don't do well on Sundays. Having children keeps me busy, busier than I ever was in the past, so I don't get as down on Sundays as before. Still, it's like something great should happen, and then it just doesn't. It's ok, I will deal with it. I just hope I don't pass it along to my kids!

On this particular Sunday, some negative feelings I've been pushing to the back of my head really made their way to the front. So I'm trying to learn how and when to just accept people for who they are and not let parts of their personality bother me. Once I accept that they are like this no matter what, then I realize, sadly, that we're not as close I wished we could have been. It's like this; I have to say 'ok, you are this way, and I cannot change you, but... because of this I cannot be close to you'. Does this make sense? Kind of dark for any day, much less a Sunday. So, ya, that's part of my stinky sunday. I feel this is a side effect of getting old. You are not so close with people. We get to where we just cannot just roll with it when people do things against our ideals and beliefs. That might be a good thing, a type of self preservation, but it doesn't do much for the social calendar!

For now, my kids are sitting on the floor playing a board game. I thank God for all my blessings, and pray for guidance and patience. Here's to a better Monday.

I'm here! Come on in :)

Assalamu alaikom and Peace to all of you!
I've had this blog page for ages but have never set it up. I finally got the urge to finish it up, and here we are!
It's a gorgeouos fall day here in Plano. 54 degrees right now and sunny. Perfect for a day at a pumpkin patch! We'll be heading out to Flower Mound in a little bit once Aisha wakes up and gets fed. This place has hay pyramids, tractor rides, pumpkin chunkin (lol), and pumpkins or course. I can't remember if they have barnyard animals or not, but they should! We went each year to this type of place back in Redmond, so I'm happy to have found something similar here.

I'll leave you with something sweet today:

Here's a great dessert I made yesterday that you layer into a long pyrex:
graham cracker crust (2cups crushed crackers mixed w/ 1 stick melted butter,bake 8min 350)
beat 8oz cream cheese w/ 2cups powdered sugar, spread over crust
slice 4 bananas, toss with juice of one lemon, spread over cream cheese
spread 1 can crushed pineapple over the bananas
cover with a tub (8oz) of whipped topping (cool whip)
top with maraschino cherries if you like, then freeze. pull out a few minutes before serving.