HAPPY NEW YEAR!

That's it!

Happy happy twos

My girls turned two years old and two months old yesterday. It was truly a very happy day in my life. I also found the perfect Arabic speaking babysitter which is very significant for me since I want my girls to learn Arabic. In case you're curious she's an Iraqi refugee who totally reminds me of my mom. I had her for the first time yesterday morning and Alahamdulilah I had a good vibe.

Later I had two of my friends over along with their kids. We went out for dinner at this cool ghetto Egyptian restaurant (they use a microphone to call people to get their food.. Totally Egyptian!! I say.. never give an Egyptian a microphone, If you've been to Egypt you'll know what I'm talking about:)) then we headed back home where all the kids played with the birthday girl's roller coaster birthday toy from Grammy. Thank you so much Grammy, the kids had a blast and they were as planned completely tuckered out by the end of the night.
And oh if you're wondering about the birthday cake, we had that earlier last week at geddo's(grandpa's) place, a very yummy carrot cake may I add.

So all in all it was a pretty fun day, except did anyone notice the disappearance of our winter snow? where did it go? or as my officially two year old girl would say " It is COMPLETELY GONE!" ( with an intense British accent, thank you Charlie and Lola!)

Btw I'll hopefully add the roller coaster Photo sometime tomorrow.

Have a good one.


Peace

A prayer

I have been deliberately not reading the news lately because it's too much for me. Obviously I can't shut my eyes from whats happening in Palestine. I know I usually don't talk politics in this space. But really all I'm asking is please don't forget to pray for the Palestinians in these horrific days.

Small things

As you might have noticed I'm into taking pictures these days. So I thought of sharing small things that bring happiness to my eyes and heart . The deep red in this winter berry branch, along with the cranberry beads I hung up yesterday morning.
Peace

White and sparkly

Winter is a time spent mostly indoors for me, especially with the new one's arrival, but every once and a while I will peek out of my cocoon and see all this beauty around me and think to myself" why don't I go out more often?"
So why don't I? really I should!

Hope you're enjoying this special season indoors and out!
Peace

Green gifting, Literally

My girls received the greenest gift yet, their super sweet Aunt planted two rain forest trees in their names. It's part of NRDC's new Revive a Rain forest campaign. Here's what you need to do if you want to send someone you love the greenest gift this season.

you go to this link pay 10$/tree and they'll send the person you're gifting a beautiful online Certificate of Rainforest Restoration that
can be printed and framed, you can also add a personal message along with it. How cool is that!

So if any of you are thinking of a last minute gift idea , or a green gift, here's your chance.

Happy holidays everyone!

Ten things I am loving right now!

Here's my cheering me up plus grateful for things in my life post, I am suspecting it wont be the last this winter, winters are hard here, so I need to remind myself more in this chilly season.

Here goes nothing:

1. Holding my new love, smelling her hair, skin, and listening to her little cute squeaky noises. And oh did I mention she started giving me those very cute toothless smiles about three days ago.. a total bliss:)

2. Listening to "This American life" on the i pod at bedtime.

3. Reading these books when my 7 week old has one of her many," mommy I'm up for the night" nights.

4. Looking at our lovely winter wreath hung in our living room door (nontraditional I know!)

5. Dancing with my two year old before her bedtime.

6. Etsy's hand made goodness(I like to support small businesses, they're greener and have so much baraka; good energy)

7. Looking forward to my hubby's winter break and Oh all the things we'll be doing, inshaAllah!

8. This blog entry, and how it inspired me.

9. My seal skins khuf. How can any Muslim live without a pair in winter?!

10. Chocolate chip cookies, my unfortunate addiction!

So feel free to share 10 or 5 or less, things you're loving right now, spread the good energy, it helps people like me:)

Peace

Winter Solstice

One of the things I enjoy about living in this part of the globe are the changing seasons. Where I come from we don't have drastic changes between seasons, so we don't make a big deal of it.
Here on the other hand I noticed people celebrate seasons in all sort of ways. They put out pumpkins on their door steps, not just for Halloween, but to mark the arrival of fall. They plant flowers in their yards to greet spring, have cook outs and inflatable pools to cool off those hot summer days, and finally I noticed other than the festive Christmas trees and holiday lights. I noticed the different wreaths people hang on their front doors. I think wreaths bring warmth and beauty to the cold winter landscape, which is what a plain front door reminds me of in this stark season.

I was given this beautiful wreath to celebrate winter and I just can't stop looking at it(thank you Ana!). I think I have just made up a new winter family tradition.

The winter solstice is coming up soon, I am really looking forward to the days getting longer again, it's nicer to spread those prayers out a bit huh! And get some more day in our day!

Stay warm everyone & happy hibernation.

BTW my new display picture was taken a day before our first sticky snow, my lil' pumpkin loves to instruct me of what to draw.

Peace.

The Simpsons

I wasn't going to post today, but I just finished watching the latest Simpsons episode and was very excited to see Muslim characters in it.
The episode is also very funny, so if you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

Enjoy:)