Olive oil

Is probably an ingredient every household has. It's wonderful on so many levels. I use it pretty much in everything, from rubbing it on my baby's bum to polishing my wooden furniture (If I get a chance that is, with two kids under two, a squeaky clean house becomes less than a priority!).

Olives are one of the foods sworn by in the Quraan. It's a very special fruit with many worldly and spiritual benefits. I'll leave the spiritual benefit part to the scholars.

Here are some worldly benefits/recipes:

For skin care:

Ingredients:

Olive oil

Rub some olive oil on your hands. Benefits: Protects hands from dry winter weather.

I can also swear by olive oil on my baby's bum, I rub it in the diaper rash area once spotting a start of a rash. The rash usually disappears by the second diaper change (or if it's too intense, the third).

For wooden furniture polish:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
20-30 drops lemon essential oil

Shake well before using
(2 teaspoons lemon juice may be substituted for lemon oil but then must be stored in refrigerator)

Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and rub wood in the direction of the grain. Use a soft brush to work the polish into corners or tight places.

For cooking:

Ingredients:

Olive oil
2 eggs

Are you serious? Do I really need to tell you how to cook 2 eggs with olive oil?!!

If you have an olive oil recipe feel free to share:)

Peace.

Children

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.


These poetic words from Khalil Gibrans Prophet collection are dedicated to all you mommies out there. Mom's with yet to be born children, mom's with young children, moms with far away children and mom's who have lost their children.

Peace.

Listening: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

Wanderers this morning came by
Where did they go
Graceful in the morning light
To banner fair
To follow you softly
In the cold mountain air

Through the forest
Down to your grave
Where the birds wait
And the tall grasses wave
They do not
know you anymore

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

In the town one morning I went
Staggering through premonitions of my death
I don't see anybody that dear to me

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

Jesse
I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself to a demon
I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself to a demon

I love love love this song cover on you tube. Here's the original. And here's another cover with a ukulele that I love just as much.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Peace.

An abundance

As the days get shorter and nights grow longer and colder, I start freaking out about how to keep my little ones warm and toasty.
With a new born it seems simpler, baby wear in the day time, and co-sleep at night time, no problem!
With my toddler, I feel less confident. Especially that I suffered all my life from cold feet. I have a blood circulation problem, so growing up in Egypt, (even though our winters are pretty mild) was tough on my feet. It's not common to have central heating in Egypt, the temperature in winter is pretty much in the fifties all the time, indoor and outdoor. Plus our windows aren't well sealed, so it gets quite drafty. I had to wear two pairs of socks over one another, cuddle under a blanket and blast our space heater on my feet.

As a result I have a foot fetish, anything that goes on the feet I love. From socks to you name it. So naturally when the girls grandparents ask to get something for the winter, I never hesitate to ask for house booties.

We have an abundance this winter, thank you guys:)

This lawn is your lawn

Both my munchkins are sleeping, which should give me time to clean, organize, or rest. Instead, I stayed up reading news and surfing blogs, so I came across this neat video and thought to share.


This Lawn is Your Lawn from roger doiron on Vimeo.

My fall baby fell right out:)

November 4th was my official due date and what a great day in history it has turned out to be. Congratulations to everyone on a great Obama victory!
It feels great to be living in Chicago right now.

Baby number 2: born Wednesday October 29th . An October baby after all. Pushed her out in 15 minutes. She really just fell right out. birthed in water with a great midwife, nurse and the loving nail printed hands of a smiling father waiting to meet his second daughter.

Baby number 1: loves her baby sister and smothers her in hugs n kisses.


PEACE