Links

I love washing kale, so beautiful.

We have been keeping ourselves busy here, driving through town, getting lost (thanks a lot GPS!) and feeling overwhelmed by the feeling of universal brotherhood everywhere. We are currently staying with my in-laws and they are a street away from the famous Capitol square in Madison/WI.
I will probably share some photos for the awesome crowds there. You see I am an Egyptian married to a Madisonian, my children are seasoned protestors by blood.
 Mei never fails to ask for our banner once we hit the square. She and her sister both rock political pins on their winter coats, as requested by both of them.
We went to an international festival and on the way there, the numbers, and the sight of the people standing up for their basic rights reminded me of Tahrir square, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks as I quietly pushed the girls in their stroller to where the festival was held.

On with the links already, right?

I just finished watching the first season of this show and I am completely smitten. Also, shocked at how all this stuff was considered normal in living memory.

I started reading in Arabic again. I am a slow Arabic reader (shame!) but loving it.

Warning, there's no coming back once you click this link. Plain awesome.

On my to do list.

Love, love, love her!

I am trying to get this for Mei (I had one when I was little) but there's something wrong with my paypal. Grrrrrrr!

His voice! He re-sang all of Sayed Darwish's old songs. Bliss.

Thanks for checking. Feel free to share something you love this week.

Peace.

moments, lists and links ::

This is my moment for this week. Smitten Kitchen's Butternut Squash Galette. It was so good I had it for breakfast the next day cold.

***

Inspiring::

I've been carrying trash in my pockets, bags and later car ever since I was in school. Check out this inspiring initiative. I hope it spreads in every little nook in Cairo. Do spread the word!

Loving::

The Makwagy (the ironing shop down our street, essential for every Egyptian's household, will iron all your clothes for next to nothing. Heart, sigh )

Wanting::

 This book! and this one too.

Sewing::

and some more things...

Listening::

To THIS show. Seriously, go have a listen, if you're not hooked already!

Happy::

Alhamdulilah, all praise to God:)

Happy Friday everyone!

Peace.

Monday link loving

This is my view from our living room couch, where I usually sit and blog.  This is Mei's room, and tonight for the very first time Grabby's crib has been moved downstairs to join her sister's room. Mei is especially ecstatic about not being alone anymore.

She's been creeping into our upstairs bedroom at the wee hours of morning (around 3am) every night, declaring that she's all alone. She broke my heart.

I hope this new arrangement settles things down a little.

On with the links:

I think it's safe to say that I am drawn to female vocalists more than male ones. I linked to them before but they are just lovely.

If you were my friend in school you probably know that I am a hat lover. I was probably the only Egyptian girl (at the time) with boy-cut orange hair (trust me I turned many heads in my time, not happy turns though. I got spat at once). So to cut down the attention I often times wore head coverings (ah the irony) including hats, bandannas, turbans (it's true! ah youth.) Here's what I would be rocking right now except I think hats and hijab are two ingredients that should NEVER mix. (if you are amongst those who mix the two, apologies in advance. Can't blame a woman for her opinion.)

I Heart this woman's photography skills. She makes me want to be a better photographer.

So purty.

Five dollar sale at Urban right now. gotta love summer sales.

Happy Monday.

Peace.

spacey splashy links

 Today, I went shopping... it's true. I sat down with a piece of paper and a pen, and wrote down my shopping list-- which entailed asking the other decision maker in our household if he needed anything. I even proceeded into checking the fridge and under the kitchen sink to make sure I got EVERYTHING... then off we (Mei, Grabby and I {someone will be pleased with this sentence *wink* I hope}) went.

We came back from the grocers with three big re-usable (I wasn't spacey in this department, thank you very much!) bags. Logical. Right?...

... think again.

I somehow managed to forget the items that no one needs a list for. Like what you ask? Like milk for cereal, eggs for everything, bread for sandwiches,  you know, those kindda things. Plus I purchased the wrong kind of toothpaste that I always (ALWAYS!) get for Grabby. True story.

What happened after that?... I proceeded the day in the same fashion that I started. But let's just leave it at that. Also never speak of it again. Deal?

***

Links:

I want to try hooping with Mei this summer. (I am trying to find any decent youtube hooping videos, but to no avail) I used to hoop in my youth. I wonder if it's like riding a bicycle?

Speaking of hoops. NO WAY!

My new camera takes movie quality videos (I kid you not!) I am currently trying to figure out how to setup a private page where I can add video's to share with family. Any tips (I tried wordpress but to download movies I have to pay. me-no-like-y!) any help would be appreciated.

Apparently I am into oud music these days.

***

And finally SPLASH!

Peace.

eye candy and links

Why hello there,

Shall we...

This my friends is what my normal yard leaves look like with a D90, I jazzed it with a warm filter and... TADA... Leaves!

 Strawberry rhubarb crisp from here.

I know we still have rhubarb!

hands

Toes

wall

bottle

 curls

 I know I am stating the obvious, but I am just so excited... can you tell?

Links:

She's possibly my new favorite. Sooooooo feminine. you gotta love that British accent of hers!

Ah Egyptians!

A favorite Aunt introduced this song to our dance routine. The girls ask for it almost every night.

This one is dedicated to my mellow babe:)

A new summer favorite show. Seriously so much fun.

Did I ever tell you that I have a chair fetish? No? well I do. Here are two that I am loving right now.

Peace.

Link loving

Today: sheets upon sheets of rain, and tornado watch. Insane!
 I am secretly (alright, not so secretly) admitting that I loved it.


Here's some link love, for I have nothing more to add:

Love this print.

I want this book... and this one.

Awesome and beyond!

 We watched this today at the theater (Mei loved it). I am waiting for this one to come out.

Awwwwwww! (excuse me as I collect my molten-self from the floor.)

Cheesy songs from my I.G.C.S.E and freshman years in college (I still love them). I am currently in a rut. Any audio suggestions would be much appreciated.

Peace.

Parkour

 It rained today, it might hail tonight... but lets just watch this:



Peace.

It's 12:05am and I can't think of a good title for this post, this will do for now...

Blogger is getting all fancy, so I am getting fancy too... fancy this new template? no? no worries, we'll be playing for a while until I settle into a "new home"-- feedback is appreciated.

On the counter:
There's an admirably sized chuck roast, thawing... waiting for it's marinade. I consulted with a couple of my favorite foodie peeps (Mr. Bittman, and the late yet still fabulous *Laurie Colwin) and they both assured me that for a dinner party, chuck roast is a pretty good idea... for winter, but no one will know. It's been raining cats and dogs and this counts in my dictionary as a reason for such a hearty meal. Let's all hope the temperatures don't go back to soaring tomorrow (I forgot to mention, the dinner party is tomorrow night.)

In the refrigerator:
chocolate cream pie, made by the happy bakers at whole foods. I am currently very proud of my will power for waiting 3 whole long hours and I am currently waiting some more--until Fantastic Mr. Husband, finishes whatever it is he's doing, so we can sit like two civilized (not so sure when I see that pie if I'll follow through) people to eat our dessert... hmph and hmph!

In the WIP (work in progress, if you're not familiar with the abv. *wink*) basket:
Three whole things that I am currently in the middle of finishing. The sewing machine hummed briefly today. Progress.
(photos when everything is done and ready for a flash light)

Links:
I got a kick from Glee's take on loser.

 Zara was my favorite store as a teenager. We now finally have a branch about 10 minutes from where I live. Danger-roo! Even though Mei is now rocking awesome florescent-colored-leggings (not pictured) and new shimmery kicks! 

I LOVED this article about the ever controversial niqab (face veil). I teared at the end:(

This Bench Monday is so cute. Did you know that Mei calls all Benches Bench Monday now. As in "mommy look at the Bench Monday" (pointing at a bench)... what have I done? *whacking own head.

Isn't this so neat?

I want this and this. Because books like these make me think I am a better parent.

Guys, Taking it to the streets count down. If you're in Chicago or greater Chicago make sure to come (June 19th). seriously dude!

that's it have a good one.

 Peace.

* about Laurie Colwin. I mentioned before how her two cook books are amongst my most prized possessions (for real!) I was gifted these two books when I was F.O.B or more accurately F.O.P
While reading her short back cover bio, I somehow skipped the part where it mentioned that she had passed sometime in the late 1980's. After making her pseudo poached eggs with veggies (I'm pretty sure she didn't name her dish that, but if you have the book you'll know why I call it that) I was so happy with her that I decided to read her short bio again... what she's dead? oh no, but  I wanted to be her friend, and invite her over for chuck roast or something. How can she be dead? but she's still making jokes about having her friend drip cream from his luggage all the way from London to America because she loves English cream so much. I was going to gift her real fresh Egyptian cream from a water buffalo and then we were going to be best friends, because she'll recognize the superiority Water Buffalo cream over regular cow cream.

But you see, this is what I love about books. I get to travel through time, and have telepathic powers... I get to go to Saudi Arabia in the twenties and live as a nomad through Mohammad Asad's words. And then consult Laurie Colwin on how to cook a chuck roast for a dinner party, and get a whole lot of humor and stories as a bonus.
Laurie, I'll see you tomorrow night for dinner, and maybe next time I'm in Egypt we can celebrate with a dollop of water-buffalo-fresh-cream on Egyptian feteer meshaltet

** I was working on this post all day, so the roast is fully thawed and waiting in the refrigerator, and the pie... oh the pie was great. (It was almost gifted to our next door neighbors, after reading gelatin in the ingredients. Thank goodness for stubborn me-- I called whole foods and they assured me that it was fish gelatin. Phew!)

this should be a post on it's own.

Peace again:)

Photo of the day :: First day of summer

Hot. Sticky. Buggy. Goodness, so much fun. Even for a bug-o-phobic?(wait...just googled it) an herpetophobic like moi!

Links:

I am finally coming around, and finding the appeal in Glee. I know!

I don't know if you are familiar with the Darabuka, I know how to do a few basic beats, but she really rocks it!


would have loved to attend this show.

Ninety degrees today, Ah yes! (btw, this is not me, oh noooooo)


And this is why I love etsy.

I don't wear heals, but heart!

I have farmers market asparagus, waiting for us to stay indoors for just a few hours, so I can make this.

My mother owned that same exact dress in lilac in the seventies, with the same braided fabric belt. Too bad she's about a foot shorter than I am.

Peace.

m&ms poisoning and links

Last night I thought I was dying. It seems that I've been living in this country way too long and it's safe to say that I am spoiled-- for the past four years, last night was my first night to get food poisoned in this country. What you don't follow?

A little clarification to my non-Egyptian readers: In Egypt it is not rare to get food poisoned, especially if you are a frequent restaurant eater. The strange thing about my food poisoning is, it wasn't from regular food (and I know that because, me and my husband ate exactly the same things through out the day) It was from the one thing I ate and my husband didn't... m&m's, and yes I am sure-- my stomach felt funny as soon as I was done eating it (who gets food poisoned from m&m's?). In my defense m&m's is my traditional movie munching treat at the theater-- we watched Iron Man 2 in case you're curious, and yes I liked it. My favorite part was when Scarlet Johansen kicked butt and that's that.

My Camera is currently not in my possession, and I would have shared sunny photos from today's all day outdoor adventures, but my phone camera has all "face" photos. The girls were way too cute today to try and capture anything else... Fail!

Links?


I should be looking for summer sandals, but I have an obsession with boots. I really do!

Is it okay to say that I am in love with a bowl?

The fabric, the cut, the design, only problem is I can't wear it, otherwise...

Thinking about joining this weekly challenge.

Must. listen. to reason.

Is into her music these days.

Peace.

Links

Today was another beautiful, sunny, warm, Breezy, day. We started out by finishing off our weekly shopping (which by the way never ends up being a once a week endeavor, but you get the idea) Mei is pretty good about picking up her Mei sized shopping cart and helping out with the list. I do find a few stray items by the cashier, but considering her resistance to the cake/candy/cookies isle... no complaints. Also here's a discovery: Do shop before nine in the morning, the grocery staff are all smiley and offering their time and help every five seconds. You might also score a one day expired pistachio box for free. Since when do pistachio's expire... ah Americans!

We finished off by breakfast in the yard and some serious side walk chalk drawing. My help is no longer required, Mei does just swell on her own. Also Grabby, disregarding the stuffed mouth and the bits of chalk dribbling down her chin--ewww, and she won't eat sweet corn, she has serious taste buds dysfunction I'm telling you)

This is all I'm here for today, along with some links:

I am probably renting this movie so very soon (I am a big Audery Tautoo fan, also a Coco Chanel fan {not that I can afford her stuff, still}.)

This movie is on our net flix queue for Me before Mei.

If you are reading this and you're not a family member than you are from the lucky ones. I am absolutely smitten by this iphone app. and have been bombarding my family with all things hipstamatic. Get yourself one if you have an iphone, it's insanely cool!

Do you believe me now?

If you are into massive Muslim crowds, enjoy raw art performances, or have young ones and live in Chicago or the greater Chicago area, do mark your calendar. Taking it to the streets 2010 is happening this June inshaAllah.

It's getting hot and I am into these pants again, I want to get them in mustard yellow.

Leaving you with a song from memory lane.

Peace.

Still here

Still in Canada. With a chaos of a schedule for the girls. It's 12:15 in the morning and Grabby is still going strong. So here's what you get from me, an all time favorite song that I am currently in the mood for, and some links.



I discovered a new fav. food blog, check her out.

I am in love with these green chairs.

My awesome, super, uber significant other found Totoro merchandise. I want them all!

After not entering a MacDonalds for over three years, I caved and we now own most of the dragon collection from the happy meal (Mei calls their grilled cheese sandwich the best sandwich ever! what have I done?)

Now I need to go watch the movie, after all me and the girls own most of their characters (hey I choose the apple slices instead of the fries... no? I know *frown*)

Did you know that Hulu, ABC, and NBC don't work in Canada. Any Canadian, TV-less readers out there? how do you get your fix?

peace.

the color green

St Patrick's day is on March 17th. Here are some green crafts dedicated to the color green:

Green slime. I am totally giving this a go this year. Mei is currently obsessed with slime. "mommy it's eww, but we can eat it, right?"... "Um,wrong!"

Green glow water.  I don't own a black light, but it's still neat and green.

Green homemade play-dough. To make it green just use green food coloring. So st. patricky right?

Any crafty ideas dedicated to the color green in your quarters? please share

***

When I first got pregnant with Mei, I signed up to receive their updates, four years later and two babes they're still going strong.

In their weekly emails they have a section called fun facts for the week, here's this week's fun fact:
The biggest Rat in the world is as big as a dog. (should've been titled the scariest and grossest fact of the week!) I so did not want to know that!

Peace, hmph!

Scenes from our weekend and links

We've been having lots of sunshine (except for today's dreary weather) and above freezing temperatures. In celebration, anticipation, gratification and any other fitting-adjective-than-ends-with-ation, we bought one of those make-your-own-cheap-birdhouses from Target. (I now know why it only costs what it did, don't buy it) it took about a thousand years to assemble, not to mention the hammering noises that woke a napping baby up and the frustrations. It now lives in one of our bookshelves waiting to be further secured-- I don't want no little bird's blood upon my hands.

 

(on the upside Mei had a fantabulous time painting it)

 

sun + above freezing temperatures = quickly lets go outside!

(At an Egyptian restaurant--kebab, black tea with mint and loud Egyptian music. It can't possibly get better than this!) 

(1cup warm water+1/2 cup salt(stir)+ 1 cup flour +2tbsp cream of tartar + a couple of drops food coloring. Mix everything on a burner = Awesome homemade play-dough. Store in an airtight container)

(homemade eggplant pizza from the five minute book)

Links:

This was the number one song on the year I was born (oooh oooh oooh, and yes I know I'm old!)

This is crazy cool. (A very important someone mentioned that they would like to know what the links are about so they don't have to open something that might be a dud, so this one is about the origins of the moonwalk, clear!)

 
This is on the weekly desert menu.  simple. easy. delicious (the three most important ingredients for anything to get done in this household by moi)

I want to go watch Alice in wonderland in 3D because I heart Alice, also I heart wonderland and the title of the movie contains both of the words I just hearted but that's just me, I can't let it be, you see! (I couldn't help myself, sorry!)

 How did your weekend look like?

Peace.

No Complaints...

Today is a good day, for I have successfully managed to transfer my photos from one device to the next without loosing any toe or bathroom tile in the process.

And you really can't go wrong when at sun down your kitchen window looks like this:

(disregard the random items scattered on the floor, and if you're wondering about our dinner table chairs...

 

mystery solved, they were turned into a train of course!)

 

It is also a good day because Grabby said "snow"today-- and she says it exactly like that, without any mispronunciation or anything.

And because of her

 

And him...

Here's another Happy-Inducing-Link. That's it... no complaints...

Have a good one!

Peace.

Deleted Bench and links

I was just going to log on, give you a very late, yet silly Bench Monday which entailed a puppet camel and a thrifted chest, but I indeed have bad Camera mojo these days. I some how managed to erase all of today's captures... go me!

So instead you get links:

Her niece could really use some help.

I am considering getting this for Mei in yellow (her favorite color).

They have giant sale at urban outfitters, hop over there quick!

I had no idea that new bowls are a mood changer. Feeling restless towards the end of the season... treat yourself to some bowls!

Spring cleaning on my mind. (inspired by her, also check out her links)

What an awesome pattern!

I am all about solid scarves these days (they go with everything and are simple and straight to the point) I found some reasonably priced over there.

We are currently into this show. It's really interesting once you pass the first episode.

Anything you guys care to share?

Peace.

loving and Friday links

Loving::

Mei's new emerging face drawings, she's definitely a lefty btw.

The girls sharing, breakfast and a highchair.

The sun finally decided to give us a long visit. (forty degrees today!)

Dreaming::

About utilizing some time for this.

Making this sometime this week(God willing). (I have a pound of organic, very-cold-chicken livers in our freezer... waiting. I know some of you are gagging right now, four words: you're missing out!)

Listening::

To this song over and over and over. (blogged before)

This album, and this. (blogged before)

This podcast (hilarious, and entertaining)

Reading::

Raising your spirited child.
Playful parenting.

Looking forward to:
Our beloved's (Peace and Blessings on him) Mawlid (birthday--it's on the 26th this month)
here's a Yusuf islam song in his honor.

I am planning on making our "Moon Cake" in celebration. How are you (people who celebrate the occasion) planning to celebrate the Mawlid? (other than fasting, praying, attending a Mawlid gathering, reciting the mawlid...etc) Any kids craft ideas?

Peace.

I didn't...

...cook today--we ate left overs.

...take any pictures-- no inspiration.

...cut my nails-- can't find my nail scissors (I have a bad scissor mojo so it seems)

...listen to any music today-- I just didn't.

...mind.

Here are some links just because:

How cute is this?

This is awesome on so many levels.

I love this print.

Mei's current favorite song. ( I am so making the girls the wings in the video inshaAllah)

I love everything in this shop.

I never watched the winter Olympics before (they weren't aired in Egypt) and I don't know a lot of the sports involved, but I am enjoying watching some of them this year. If you don't own a TV like us you can catch them here. ( also is it just me or are all these suicidal sports? My heart goes out to the luger's family.)

Middle-East meets Far-East. Check out this innovative Arabic Calligrapher if you're not familiar with his work already. ( this one says Allah al Adheem: God the Greatest)

Peace.